The Business Case

During this difficult economic period, we are highly aware that it is even more crucial for companies to maintain or where possible enhance their CSR endeavours.  Here are our top 10 reasons why companies are continuing to work with us.

1.    Recover staff morale
Staff morale, affected by current economic circumstances and impacting on productivity levels and your bottom line, can be fixed.
“Feedback from employee volunteers who have participated in volunteering programmes demonstrates that involvement in community projects (be they of a physical or intellectual nature) improves employee morale, provokes innovative thinking, challenges methods of current practice and provides excellent cross business networking opportunities.”
Nick Wright, Managing Director, UBS

2.    Boost brand perception
A sustained Corporate Community Investment (CCI) programme contributes greatly to delivering your brand promise. It ultimately leads to an improved brand perception amongst your key stakeholders.  For those of you whose brand perception has taken a hit as a result of the global recession, now is the time to strengthen your CCI programmes in order to help offset negative press attention.

New findings from this year’s “goodpurpose” global study of consumer attitudes reveal that nearly 7 in 10 (68%) consumers would remain loyal to a brand during a recession if it supports a good cause and half (52%) of consumers globally are more likely to recommend a brand that supports a good cause over one that does not.

3.  Be an “Employer of Choice”
Graduates and talent want to work for ethical employers who are socially and environmentally responsible.  Companies need a robust commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility in order to be able to continue to recruit la crème de la crème of the annual cohort of graduates.  Talented employees drive high performance, which in turn makes them satisfied and happy at work.

4.    Step up skills development
ELBA can provide your talent development team with a series of bespoke opportunities to enhance staff competencies.  Improved teamwork is the most common skills developed, alongside better communication, problem-solving and influencing skills.  These transferable skills are often best developed though experiential rather than theoretical training.

5.    Bolster innovation
By working innovatively and collaboratively with other companies you can pool resources and maximise social and economic impact, all whilst minimizing costs.  ELBA has an enviable track record in pioneering many new community investment programmes such as our award winning “Banking on Shadwell”, as well as wide-ranging initiatives in Shoreditch, Canning Town, Spitalfields and now Stratford.

6.    Secure customer loyalty
Hanging on to your customers has never been more crucial that it is now.  Numerous studies correlate consumer purchasing preferences with ethical and socially responsible business conduct.  Your CCI programme can contribute to safeguarding your customer base if communicated well.

7.    Enhance your licence to operate
Strong relationships with NGOs, local authorities and other strategic bodies, forged through your membership with ELBA, play an important role in enhancing your social capital helping to preserve your social licence to operate.  In an economic downturn there is even more reason to keep key agencies close and to demonstrate practical, positive action in your communities.

8.    Safeguard investor allegiance
Socially responsible investing has also accelerated greatly in recent years with investor groups, increasingly pressurising companies on social issues.  Institutional investors and private shareholders are swayed by the CSR agenda and companies that address this agenda have growing access to capital that might not otherwise be available.  

9.  Help East London ride the storm
The downturn will have a disproportionate impact on East London potentially undoing some of the great work ELBA’s members have achieved over the last 20 years.  Employment statistics are a good example.  Some of the boroughs ELBA supports have the lowest employment rates in the UK.  Tower Hamlets is at 55%, Newham 57% and Hackney 59%.  The London average is almost 70% and for the UK the number is 74.9%.

10.    Rest in safe hands
Whether your primary interest is in our strategic work or in the many CCI initiatives available, we have a comprehensive range of value for money solutions, alongside the resources, experience and expertise to deliver.