StraughanConsulting has helped eighteen companies join forces in a groundbreaking consortium designed to deliver a full corporate social responsibility (CSR) service to businesses.

 

The CSR Consortium will provide strategic and tactical expertise to enable organisations to make the link between responsible business practice and improved financial performance.

 

The pioneering "one-stop shop" will cover key business areas such as stakeholder strategy, people strategy - including leadership, diversity, development and socially responsible recruitment - performance management, health and safety, environmental management, organisational change and supply chain management. It will also focus on community engagement and regeneration and customer service.

 

Media agencies with a keen involvement in the CSR agenda have been also brought on board to ensure that clients' messages are communicated responsibly.

 

The companies are: Abraxas Business Solutions Ltd, Abeceder Ltd, Acquire Resources, Breathing Space HR, Brian Daniels Consulting, FWA Consulting, Ideas into Action, Ixabiso, Matchpoint Recruitment, MH Safety, PeopleProfitPlanet, Primeast, Quest Public Relations, SaltaSustainable, Silverleaf Ltd,, StraughanConsulting, The Ark Design and Print Ltd and Walton Environmental.

 

The consortium is the brainchild of Mervin Straughan who came up with the idea at the beginning of 2007 and began identifying consultancies that shared common values and ones that could collectively reflect the full breadth of the and depth of the CSR agenda.

 

He said: "The CSR Consortium draws on a vast array of private, public and voluntary sector experience.

 

"This unique marketing initiative will help us to demystify CSR and assist companies in integrating the relevant strands into their operations and culture. Through this process, companies can realise and reap the powerful benefits such as improved recruitment, retention - and profitability.

"There isn't a week goes by without some business research emerging about the impact of a responsible approach, often warning that businesses that fail to recognise and act on the opportunities will be caught out."

 

Further information about this press release is available from:

Sharon Cain, MD, Quest Public Relations 01423 564192

Mervin Straughan, StraughanConsulting 01423 750304

 

 

 

Management consultant Mervin Straughan has become one of the first coaches to be accredited under the new national occupational standards for coaching.

 

His newly-accredited coaching certificates were awarded by Newcastle College, a Department for Education and Skills Beacon College that is recognised as a model of excellence across the sector.

 

Mervin launched StraughanConsulting to provide strategic corporate social responsibility and corporate communications advice as well as a corporate coaching service to help employers get the most from their people.

 

He set up StraughanConsulting after senior communications management roles with organisations that included steel giant Corus and Yorkshire Electricity

 

Mervin said: "I've been coaching managers and non managers since 2002 and having certificates that are accredited under the new national standards is a firm endorsement of my approach."

 

 

The year 2007 has seen the launch of StraughanConsulting, a consultancy specialising in strategic services for corporate social responsibility and corporate communications. A third service, corporate coaching, has also been lined up to help professionals reach their potential.

 

Director Mervin Straughan, who has held senior management roles with Corus,Yorkshire Electricity and Business in the Community, said: "Businesses are asking about the strategic importance of corporate social responsibility or responsible business practice as itis sometimes known.

 

"Thereis a lot going on at tactical level but organisations need to develop a strategy that underpins business performance. Thatis because responsible business practice touches every aspect of business. Bosses know thereis a lot of individuals and groups taking a keen interest in how responsibly their organisation is run."

 

"And weire hearing from communication professionals who are too close to the action and who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to assess the organisationis current profile and where it is going. We will be assisting them with our communications strategy service. We also have several partner agencies and consultants who can advise on implementation"

 

According to Straughan, the growing service economy means that a brandis reputation will depend even more on its people, people who need to be highly motivated and working to their potential.

 

He added: "All too often, managers and staff with enormous potential hit a plateau and begin drifting. With a systematic goal-setting approach, we help them to help themselves in having more positive professional and personal lives. The two are inextricably linked."

 

For further information, please contact StraughanConsulting at info@straughanconsulting.co.uk or by telephoning 01423 750 304.