There’s Power in Number. CSR in SMEs
So often, the individual environmental and social impacts of Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SME) are perceived as small in comparison with big corporations and multinationals. However, according to the European commission, 99 out of every 100 business are SMEs; there are about 24 million SMEs in the European Union that employ 2 in every 3 employees[1].
Due to the numbers, the individual impact of a SME can’t be disregard anymore. The accumulative impacts of all SMEs bring to light the importance of managing SME performance.
However, there seems to be the idea that Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR) is only suitable for big companies and it is effectiveness for SMEs due to the lack of visibility and resources[2]. Therefore, nowadays we are living a dual reality, the social perception of CSR for large companies plus the accumulative impacts of SMEs.
Nevertheless, according to Ian Talbot (Chief executive, Chambers Ireland) the idea that CSR is for big companies is a myth and it is perfectly suitable for SMEs given their flexibility, innovation and entrepreneurship[3]. SMEs interact with employees, suppliers, customers and communities and CSR is about managing these relations. In fact, “a large proportion of SMEs have always done things that could today be called CSR”[4].
So, how to manage these actions to make a bigger impact and have more visibility and engaging?
One option could be through partnership between SEMs. The idea is to turn the cumulative negative impacts to positive impacts by the collaboration of different businesses that have similar goals, activities and visions.
The characteristics of SMEs make necessary a new approach different to the one big companies are following to solve the lack of resources and visibility that some SMEs are facing. A collaborative approach could add multidisciplinary skills and perspectives, credibility, reputation, knowledge, accountability, cost-efficiency resources and social capital.
This collaborative approach could result in more reach and impact by involving a combination of actors, companies and sectors and allows creating a tailor-made approach between companies that share vision and values but also necessities ad activities.
[1] Annual Report of SMEs 2013/2014, European commission (http://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/business-friendly-environment/performance-review/files/annual-report/infographics_en.pdf)
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_regulation_of_small_and_medium_enterprises
[3] New guide highlights benefits of CSR for SMEs and how to choose a charity partner. Business and leadership (http://www.businessandleadership.com/sustainability/item/50329-new-guide-highlights-benefi)
[4] How to help more small businesses to integrate social and environmental issues into what they do, European Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sustainable-business/files/csr/documents/eg_report_and_key_messages/key_messages_en.pdf)
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03 May 2015
por
Nadia Gutiérrez
IMSD /
CSR, partnership, SMEs
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