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Investing at the Margin: Business approaches to tackling poverty and social exclusion in the UK
An SRI Briefing Paper published by Henderson Global Investors and TwentyFifty Limited encouraging companies to take a strategic approach to engaging with poor and marginalised communities in the UK.
The first few months of 2008 have seen dramatic increases in the costs of fuel, food and finance which fall disproportionately on the poorest members of society.
The research found that while companies in the finance, telecoms and utilities sectors are able to describe a variety of initiatives to engage with poor and marginalised communities, few if any demonstrated a clear understanding of the:
- business risks
- societal impacts
- opportunities of engagement with marginalised groups
The paper outlines a set of questions that could be used by businesses and investors to assess current practice and develop a strategic approach to such communities encompassing:
- providing employment opportunities
- innovating products and services and handling debt
- community programmes and charitable giving
- participating in government-led initiatives
To download a copy of the briefing paper click:
http://www.henderson.com/content/sri/publications/reports/investing_at_the_margins_research.pdf