New charter to encourage 'good business practice'

Wednesday 21 October 2020

Grant Thornton has launched the Guernsey Good Business Charter - a not-for-profit company aimed at helping businesses improve their practices across seven core areas.

The Charter offers accreditation at various levels to businesses with robust plans for ethical, sustainable practices which support their employees, stakeholders, and communities.

Support and guidance will be offered on how to meet the standards of the Charter, taking into account the business' size, available resources and industry.

Susie Crowder, who brings her experience as Human Capital Director for Grant Thornton to the Charter, was clear that all businesses will be able to succeed at accreditation, whether they are a "small business with all eyes on the bottom line", or a larger corporation with the resources to spare.

“The Charter is a blueprint for your organisation to demonstrate good business practice,” she said during the launch event at the Old Government House. “It’s being led by a good team of people who genuinely care about doing the best they can to help you.

“The accreditation scheme will help build resilience into your business model. It’s a simple system, with a robust framework that will help businesses in the likely difficult 8-12 months ahead.”

Pictured: Lord Digby Jones speaking at the launch event for the Guernsey Good Business Charter, where it was announced that he will be the Chair of the organisation.

Ms Crowder stressed that any businesses from the public or private sector will be able to apply and that even third sector and charitable organisations would benefit from the scheme.

“The more people who join, the better it will be,” she continued. “I hope in 12 months we can look back and say that 80-or-so percent of businesses, or organisations, or charities are part of the program.”

Lord Digby Jones, Chair of the company, echoed this hope and called on larger businesses to sign up, setting a good example for smaller businesses to follow.

“Businesses need to be able to come to the table with clean hands, and say that they’re creating wealth in the right way,” he said. “We shouldn’t walk down one side of the street when we see someone who needs help of the other side of the street.”

He argued that the Charter accreditation will be an important mark of differentiation for the island: “Guernsey is going to be in a battle over the next few years to remain a place of choice to do business. It’s important that we arm ourselves with as many bullets in our magazine as possible.”

Applications for the Charter can be made through the company’s website, which goes live on 1 November. Businesses that would like more information about the support and accreditation available should contact Susie Crowder at susie.crowder@guernseygoodbusinesscharter.com.