Establishing Relationships with Business Bill Mithen 18 th October 2012

SMEs in Geelong SME – Small Business < 20 employees – Medium Business employees – Large Business 200+ (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Small Businesses – 5,600 or 37% (2010/11 COGG Economic Indicators Report) Medium Businesses – 546 or 3.6% (2010/11 COGG Economic Indicators Report)

GWYL SME Relationships Receive a financial contribution from 300 SMEs 230 – Allow Workplace Giving 12 – Match employee contributions 70 – Make individual business contribution 30 individual companies donate Loaned executives

Quick CSR / SME Research in Geelong Think that CSR exposes their brand to a wider audience 65% Think that it is very important that business supports the community 86% Can support the community to the same level or more in the coming 12 months 68% Strategically budget and prepare for CSR activities 46% * Give Where You Live / Brand Bureau SME Business Survey 2012

Broader CSR / SME Research Did not have a pre-determined CSR budget 58% Undertake CSR to build company image and be viewed as a good community member 59% Regard time as the biggest impediment to conducting CSR activities 58% Lack knowledge or understanding of CSR and the benefits 45% * CSR in SMEs – Southern Cross University 2011

Why CSR? To build company’s image and brand (Southern Cross University) – Opportunity to align brand – Opportunity to leverage To create a competitive advantage (Engaging SMEs in CSR – Canadian Business for Social Responsibility) – Local v’s national – e.g. Cotton On Many businesses have found CSR to be more effective than traditional advertising (Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy) “Companies can not be successful in unsuccessful communities. The success of the community MUST come first otherwise companies are simply taking resources from the community which will ultimately lead to the company’s failure” Mike Hirst, Managing Director of Bendigo Bank at AICD lunch in Geelong.

Be a good corporate citizen – contribute resources to the community; improve quality of life Philanthropic Responsibilities Desired by Society Be Ethical – Obligation to do what is right, just and fair. Avoid harm Ethical Responsibilities Expected by Society Obey the law – Law is society’s codification of right and wrong. Play by the rules of the game Legal Responsibilities Required by Society Be Profitable – The foundation upon which all others rest Economic Responsibilities Required by Society Dr. Archie Carroll’s CSR Pyramid 1991 Companies with their eye on their 'triple-bottom- line' outperform their less fastidious peers on the stock market" - The Economist

Office of Community Sector Guide A step by step guide to the process of building partnerships Developed with a Reference Group from the sector – Philanthropy – Government – Business – Not-for-profits

Office of Community Sector Guide A practical tool that has an attached tool kit – Strategy and partnership plan templates – Partnership proposal template – Risk mitigation – Exit checklist Contains examples and case studies.

Guide at a Glance 1. Getting Ready: Understand your organisation Checklist of questions to ask own organisation Create a Strategic and Business Plan Maribrynong City Council; Our Community; Australian Business Arts Foundation 2. Finding a Partner / Relationship Mud map of potential relationships Research Template Australian Business Arts Foundation; National Australia Bank; VicHealth 3. Approaching a Potential Partner Develop an Elevator Speech Pitch document Proposal Template The RE Ross Trust Social Compass and Transfield Services 4. Establishing the Relationship Plan on a page Draft MOU Risk Management NSW Council of Social Service; DEECD; Public Interest Law Clearing House 5. Keeping it on Track Communication Plan The World Health Organisation; Vic Health 6. Review/Renew/Next Steps Review/ Renew Exit Checklist Our Community; Australian Business Arts Foundation