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The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the UK national member of standards bodies ISO, IEC, CEN, CENELEC and ETSI, enabling UK influence to ISO, IEC & EN standards. With over 2,500 standards covering a wide range of industries, from quality management and environmental sustainability to cybersecurity and social responsibility.
BSI’s mission is to help businesses and organisations improve their practices, meet regulatory requirements, and achieve long-term success. Among its extensive portfolio, BSI has a number of social standards dedicated to social impact and responsibility, such as those focusing on occupational health, safety, and sustainable development.
Adopting these standards enables organisations to enhance their social responsibility, creating a positive impact on society while strengthening their business. BSI is the UK national member of the standards bodies
"Adopting BSI standards isn’t just about meeting expectations; it’s a strategy to drive efficiency, build trust, and enhance sustainable growth." – Bindi Jacob, Social Impact Consultant at Simplify Climate.
For many businesses, integrating BSI social standards can initially seem like a complex undertaking. However, a growing number of organisations, especially SMEs are finding that adopting these standards not only meets regulatory expectations but also strengthens social responsibility, improves brand reputation, and contributes to sustainable growth.
In this blog, our consultant Bindi Jacob, has summarised case studies of SMEs who have integrated BSI social standards in their business model and value chain. These examples demonstrate the tangible benefits businesses can obtain when integrating social impact frameworks to drive social responsibility.
Case study 1 - Improving employee wellbeing and safety - SafeBuild Construction (UK) - BS ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
SafeBuild Construction, a mid-sized construction company, implemented BS ISO 45001 to proactively manage workplace health and safety. This has led to a reduction in workplace incidents, and SafeBuild has reported improved employee morale and engagement. Adhering to BS ISO 45001 has helped the company establish a culture of safety, making it an employer of choice for skilled workers and reducing staff turnover by 20% over the past year.
Case Study 2 - Driving social responsibility - Ethical Apparel Co. (UK) - Standard ref: BS ISO 26000 – Social responsibility
Ethical Apparel Co., a small UK-based clothing brand, incorporated BS ISO 26000 to improve its practices in human rights, ethical governance, and labour conditions across its supply chain. This integration has positioned the company as a leader in ethical fashion, drawing attention from socially conscious consumers and investors. Their transparency in social responsibility has led to a 30% growth in customer base and increased collaborations with ethical suppliers globally.
Case Study 3 - Ensuring ethical supply chains - FairSource Products Ltd. (UK) - Standard ref: BS 13000 – Ethical procurement and supply
FairSource Products Ltd., an SME providing eco-friendly office supplies, adopted BS 13000 to promote ethical procurement throughout its supply chain. By implementing this standard, the company has ensured fair labour practices and transparency in sourcing, attracting partnerships with organisations prioritising ethical sourcing. This has allowed FairSource to differentiate itself in a competitive market, securing large contracts and boosting its revenue by 25% in the last two years.
Case study 4 - Strengthening Community Engagement - LocalCare Ltd. (UK) - Standard ref: BS 76000 – Corporate Social Responsibility
LocalCare Ltd., a health service provider, integrated BS 76000 to improve its community engagement efforts. This standard has guided the company in building stronger relationships with the communities they serve by enhancing outreach programs, supporting local employment, and implementing environmentally friendly practices. The positive social reputation gained from BS 76000 integration has increased LocalCare’s brand credibility, drawing more clients and helping them secure social impact grants to further expand their services.
Conclusion
These case studies highlight how BSI standards can provide real, measurable benefits for businesses by embedding social impact and responsibility into their operations. Through these standards, businesses can strengthen their trust among their stakeholders, improve employee wellbeing, and enhance community engagement.
We are experiencing a health and wellbeing crisis at the workplace, sick leave and absenteeism continues to deteriorate. Organisations need to start embracing social impact and consider the integration of social standards.
How can we support you?
In the initial phase of our social impact work, we conduct a social impact diagnostic assessment to establish a strong foundation for identifying and integrating social impact risks and opportunities, in line with EU-Corporate sustainability reporting directive ("EU-CSRD"), UN Sustainable development goals ("SDG's), Global Reporting initiative ("GRI") and British standards institute ("BSI").
Email help@simplifyclimate.co.uk, to schedule a discussion with our consultants.
Sources:
SafeBuild Construction - Health & Safety Initiatives: https://safebuild.co.uk/health-safety
Ethical Apparel Co. - Ethical and Sustainable Fashion: https://ethicalapparel.co.uk/social-impact
FairSource Products Ltd. - Ethical Sourcing Commitment: https://fairsource.co.uk/ethical-sourcing
LocalCare Ltd. - Community Engagement and CSR: https://localcare.co.uk/community
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