Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations are an important part of planning for the future of any business. But knowing where to start, or how to gain and
retain momentum, can feel a bit overwhelming. That’s why we, at GMi Insurance Services are sharing expert tips produced in partnership with Aviva and Enterprise Nation.
1. Write down what positive
impact you’d like to make
For example, “to improve diversity” or “address social
mobility within the industry”. That positive impact statement will help you set an overall direction for the
business
2. Decide how you’ll measure progress
It may be useful to track energy use per employee or
the percentage of managers from underrepresented
groups, for example. Ratio measures tend to be more useful for setting short, medium and long-term goals.
3. Encourage better travel
habits
You could carry out a travel-to-work survey and, based on your results, consider actions such as changing start and
finish times, investing in car charging points or providing changing and shower facilities.
4. Provide support for a community cause
Ask what they would benefit most from skills and time can
be just as valuable as financial support. For example, a marketing agency could provide copywriting time to
create newsletters and
fundraising materials.
5. Be more transparent
Commit to being transparent about how your business
is run and willing to improve. Acknowledge the importance of governance and focus on, for example, developing a robust code of ethics, or
sharing financial results internally, more regularly.
To help you get started, visit the Plan it with Purpose hub which offers free educational support, online events, resources on a range of sustainability issues and a free ESG diagnostics tool.
