Worlds away, back in March, “it’s on all of us” is how the then-rookie chancellor, Rishi Sunak, set out the challenges ahead. “We want to look back on this time and remember how, in the face of a generation-defining moment, we undertook a collective national effort – and we stood together. It’s on all of us”.
Continue reading ““It’s on all of us.” Three things responsible firms do”
Survival has been the name of the game, but it is not an end game.
For many firms, the main focus so far has been to batten down the hatches in the face of rising uncertainty.
It is time to start rebuilding. Gradually, the economy will start to splutter back into life. We will be at the foot of a tall mountain.
How should businesses and brands start to rebuild? What should they do differently? Where is the solid ground to build on? Will they regret cutting marketing spend? Continue reading “Six steps to prepare for the recovery”
Too much has been written about what Brexit might or might not mean.
What it does mean is that business, ordinary people and politicians will all soon have a much bigger role in the decisions that shape our everyday lives. Continue reading “A new type of corporate citizenship?”
This first appeared in The Article on 7 November 2019
Is it possible that Dany Cotton, the head of the London Fire Brigade, is so conceited and heartless that she really would do nothing differently if Grenfell played out again?
I don’t know, but I doubt it. It’s hard to believe that anyone could willingly be so crass. Continue reading “The Grenfell inquiry illustrates the need for an Apology Act”
This blog first appeared over at Prolific London.
Just when you think there isn’t room in the world for another business index, the very smart people at communications agency Portland have created the Total Value Index. Continue reading “Purpose? How should business value be measured?”
This article first appeared in The Brief, the specialist law pages of The Times.
It argues that while it is often easy to see why lawyers’ first instinct is to be cautious, there are times when embracing the apology clause would serve their clients better. Continue reading “Saying sorry can be a good business decision”
The blog below originally ran on Reaction, to make the case for the Apology Clause campaign which, together with a couple of others, we have conceived and will run on a pro bono basis.
The campaign is to make it easier for businesses to behave with compassion when things go wrong, and thus for victims to have better recoveries. Continue reading “Sorry needn’t be the hardest word to say”
The Apology Clause campaign has launched this week. It aims to make it easier for businesses to behave with compassion, instead of fearing the law, and for victims to get apologies they deserve, so helping their recovery. Continue reading “Apology Clause campaign launched so business can be compassionate”
There’s been an awful lot said about the role and responsibility of business in society, and whether or how big business should recover the trust it once had with the public, or in many cases its customers. Continue reading “$200,000 of sage comms advice”
Two-minute summary
Brands in the spotlight
From horse meat to tax evasion to energy price rises, consumer trust in corporate institutions has been rocked by scandal after scandal. Continue reading “Brands in the spotlight: managing reputation in the face of greater consumer accountability”
This blog first appeared in Real Business
The question of City bonuses will always be contentious but the facts remain that economics show us that price restraints don’t work. A one-year bonus cap may not trigger a brain drain, but over a prolonged period people are likely to go where the money is, and the markets that can attract the talent will reap the benefits. Continue reading “Time for business to engage its critics”
The cricket-loving world has been turned upside down since news of the spot-fixing scandal broke late last Saturday.
The police and customs are making their inquiries. Pakistan’s government and high commission are closely involved in the proceedings. Continue reading “Crisis comms: if cricket had a share price…”
Corbet Communications 