Businesses are being challenged to put community and the environment at their heart with the suggestion from social entrepreneurs that this can actually increase profits, not cut them.
That’s the message of a British Council event on Sustainable Business Practice which aims to explain how social enterprises can engage with big business for mutual benefit through corporate and social responsibility (CSR) programs and wider activities in support of social and economic development.
The event, recently held in Ho Chi Minh City, featured prominent Vietnamese corporate and social enterprise leaders alongside Government participants.
With the emphasis on Social Enterprise, not charity, British Council aims to promote the value of social enterprise as a way to develop a sustainable business model where responsible social and environmental behaviour drives the business.
In Vietnam, British Council is partnering with the Centre for Social Initiatives Promotion (CSIP) and Social Enterprise London. Working together on raising awareness of the benefits that Social Enterprise can offer to the community, they aim to enhance the capacity of local entrepreneurs.
They do this by sourcing practical advice, identifying sustainable funds and finding partners as well as providing training and mentoring programmes based on UK and international expertise. They also help link local social entrepreneurs with international counterparts in order to share new approaches.
British Council Vietnam Director Robin Rickard said: “No business or organisation works in isolation and we all benefit from serving and building links with our wider communities. There’s no doubt social responsibility is not only morally welcome, it also boosts brands, reputation, awareness and loyalty – not just from customers, but from staff themselves.”
“Vietnam’s development is a success story that has been noted across the world – we’re looking now for the same entrepreneurs that helped fire that development to look at how their organizations can further contribute to their communities and ultimately their country. We are lucky that Vietnam boasts a number of fine social entrepreneurs who are proving to be excellent ambassadors in this field.”
Supporting the event, CSR Asia shares the belief that CSR is vital to operating in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner, while balancing the interest of diverse stakeholders.
Dang Yen
Vietnamese
