3 New Year’s resolutions your business must make to help achieve net zero

By Professor Ian Thomson Director of Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business Business, University of Birmingham 2021 was an important year for climate change, with COP26, Global Citizen and the COVID-19 pandemic cementing it as a priority for governments and the public. But time is running out to reach net zero and limit global warming. … Continue reading “3 New Year’s resolutions your business must make to help achieve net zero”

UK business is failing to step up to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

By Professor Ian Thomson Director of Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business In September 2015, after the largest public consultation in history, all 193 Member States of the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These ambitious targets aim to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet by … Continue reading “UK business is failing to step up to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals”

Providing essential services in lockdown

By Dr Juliet E. Kele, Research Fellow In HRM Department of Management and Lloyds Centre for Responsible Business, University of Birmingham COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on every aspect of life across the UK, including business. For its entrepreneurs and 5.82 million small business owners in particular, these are stressful and uncertain times. And … Continue reading “Providing essential services in lockdown”

How COVID-19 has made the invisible silent killer of air pollution visible

By Dr Nana Osei Bonsu, Research Fellow Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, University of Birmingham In the battle to slow the spread of COVID-19, countries around the world are restricting social gatherings, encouraging working from home, closing schools and restricting public events. As a result, this brutal pandemic has inadvertently made the invisible … Continue reading “How COVID-19 has made the invisible silent killer of air pollution visible”

Responsible consumption and the decision over Heathrow’s third runway

By Professor John Bryson Department of Strategy and  International Business, University of Birmingham I have a problem that I need to reconcile. This problem is the tension that exists between being a responsible consumer and being a responsible citizen. This tension should be central to all discussions regarding responsible business. For me, this tension takes … Continue reading “Responsible consumption and the decision over Heathrow’s third runway”

The Hallmark of Change: Bride and Prejudice

By Dr Juliet E. Kele, Research Fellow In HRM Department of Marketing and Lloyds Centre for Responsible Business, University of Birmingham The US TV channel Hallmark, known for its family-friendly movies, has come under criticism for its decision to withdraw an advertisement for a wedding planning website featuring a same-sex couple. The company have since apologised … Continue reading “The Hallmark of Change: Bride and Prejudice”

Free Broadband for All: Fairy-tale Policies and Economics?

By John Bryson, Professor of Enterprise and Economic Geography, Department of Strategy and International Business  The Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, has released a £20bn plan that would ensure that free full-fibre broadband is available throughout the Kingdom. Labour’s plan would make broadband ubiquitous and free. The £20bn cost is perhaps an underestimate. The plan to … Continue reading “Free Broadband for All: Fairy-tale Policies and Economics?”

World Water Day 2019: Leaving No One Behind

By Dr Nana Osei Bonsu, Research Fellow Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, University of Birmingham Water is life – and rising human daily consumption patterns is causing water scarcity in many parts of the world. This over-consumption of water comes from not only everyday domestic use but the often invisible water used in … Continue reading “World Water Day 2019: Leaving No One Behind”

The Spice Girls and Comic Relief: from ‘girl power’ to ‘sweatshop scandal’

By Dr Charika Channuntapipat, Lecturer in Accounting Department of Accounting, University of Birmingham To the delight of many, the Spice Girls have announced a reunion tour starting in June this year. A group that has long stood for gender equality and female empowerment, the band have been credited with sparking the fourth wave of feminism … Continue reading “The Spice Girls and Comic Relief: from ‘girl power’ to ‘sweatshop scandal’”

Is recycling crisp packets enough for Walkers to become a responsible business?

By Dr Roshan Boojihawon, Senior Lecturer in Strategy Department of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham After its recent decision to make recyclable crisp packets in response to mounting pressure from its consumers, Walkers seems to have become known as the ‘responsible’ crisp manufacturer. Although some see this as a responsible move, I would … Continue reading “Is recycling crisp packets enough for Walkers to become a responsible business?”