Comment: Business - what is it 'good' for?

Tuesday 20 November 2018

From environmental concerns to diversity, the CEO of a healthy eating charity has said business in the island should lead the way when it comes to community impact.

Caring Cooks' Melissa Nobrega thinks that Jersey is the perfect place for businesses to consider their wider contribution outside of the office.

After the launch of the Jersey Good Business Charter - an initiative aimed at celebrating ethical achievements and encouraging improvement in corporate citizenship - the Express columnist wrote about the opportunity this presents businesses in Jersey...

"Back in February, I was privileged to have had a front row seat in the FT Building in London for the book launch of Purpose Inc - a book written by a visionary for change and one of the world’s best social entrepreneurs, John Wood, founder of 'Room to Read'.

Pictured: The Caring Cooks CEO shared her views on how Jersey businesses should be encouraged to think about their wider-world contribution. 

The book is about integrating purpose into the values and business model of today’s companies, making success more than just about delivering profit to shareholders and more about aligning purpose or impact on society and the communities we live and work in, with their business goals.

I left the FT Building, armed with a load of signed Purpose Inc. books, with the intention of telling people about it in Jersey.

Since that night, I haven’t felt truly excited about much this year apart from the incredible summer we had and the much needed arrival of our incredible Children’s Commissioner Deborah Macmillan - that is, until 13 November when the Jersey Good Business Charter launched with an inspiring, motivating and truly thought-provoking evening at the Royal Yacht.  

Pictured: The Jersey Good Business Charter launched at the Royal Yacht last week.

Jersey is quite often hesitant about new things and could sometimes be classed as a late adopter when it comes to change and innovation, so the momentum that this charitable organisation has gained in such a short space of time, and the breadth of experience and people it has behind it, is incredible.  

The Charter is a model built very similar to Purpose Inc, but is, in my opinion, better. Created for Jersey but referenced to the ISO 2600 guidance, and based around five areas of good business: customers, environment, people, supply chain and community and society, it gives companies the opportunity to embrace all they do in these areas. Given Jersey’s size, governance, expertise and high regard for community value, with this model, I believe we can lead the way globally in this area.    

But why do we need this charter status? Companies are being increasingly called up to demonstrate diversity, flexible working, and a strong social fabric, particularly among millennials so applying for Charter status is the perfect way for companies in Jersey to look at these areas, build a model around them for what is important and then demonstrate this commitment.

Pictured: "Given Jersey’s size, governance, expertise and high regard for community value, with this model, I believe we can lead the way globally in this area."

The Charter has been created for companies with greater ability, both financially and people-wise, to do good in their community, but who many of us do this without thinking. We buy our colleagues a coffee on the way to work, we avidly recycle even when it’s pretty inconvenient, we tip our barista for the hazelnut latte we buy and we donate our unwanted goods to charity shops - and what a great way to live a fulfilled life. So, imagine how far we can go with the charter - hence why I think we can lead the way on this!

My organisation, Caring Cooks, believes that the health of our island’s children is everyone’s business, and it’s great to see that the Charter, its Board, its Council and 150 other people who came last night agree that the future of our island; its people, its environment, its heritage, is too, everyone’s business and are honestly prepared to be a part of making that happen.

A huge well done to everyone involved!"

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and not of Bailiwick Express.