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Profit with Purpose Insight Report

Profit with Purpose - Unity Trust Bank · Compared to mainstream businesses, Socially Conscious Businesses have an increased share of job growth, making up 29% of businesses who created

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  • Profit with Purpose Insight Report

  • Hidden Social EnterprisesUnity Trust is a commercial bank with a difference; we only work with organisations and businesses who want to help create a better society.

    Why now?

    There has never been a more important time to address the role of alternative business models in the UK. Slow real wage growth relative to inflation has placed more individual households into the “just about managing” category.

    This should be the moment for socially conscious businesses; companies that are motivated by social or environmental goals rather than solely by the pursuit of profit.

    They may make profit, after all some form of surplus is critical to invest in a better future, but they do not have profit as their only motivation and will often reinvest that profit in their employees or in the social objectives that they set out to achieve. Because of this, they potentially offer a stakeholder- based way of operating that doesn’t necessarily make less money but will make that money in pursuit of social and environmental objectives, reinvesting accordingly.

    We focus on delivering positive social impact, not simply maximising profit. This is known as our ‘double bottom line’ strategy.

    In October 2017, we surveyed 1,050 UK companies to gain a better understanding of what it means to be a ‘Socially Conscious Business’.

    We set out to:

    — Understand the differences between mainstream and socially conscious businesses

    — Estimate the size of the market for socially conscious business

    — Better understand their needs

    Established over 30 years ago with a vision to create a bank that would serve the needs of its customers and enrich society, our purpose is to enable organisations to prosper, and contribute to economic, community, and environmental change.

    Based in Birmingham, we offer an ethical alternative for organisations and businesses with a social conscience.

    02 Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose

  • turnover for over 30% of the Socially Conscious Businesses sample, and more than 50% of turnover for a further 29% of those sampled.

    Socially Conscious Businesses operate across a wide range of sectors, and although they are more likely to operate in education, health and welfare-related areas, ICT and professional services also have a substantial number of Socially Conscious Businesses’.

    Geographically, Socially Conscious Businesses are widespread throughout the UK.

    Methodology

    This report was produced in collaboration with Dr Rebecca Harding for Unity Trust Bank.

    The methodology was survey based, sampling a business population in the UK rather than specifically UK social enterprises. It surveyed 1050 businesses comprising of 276 founders and 774 senior decision makers from companies of any size. The survey was conducted online Quarter 4 2017 by Research Now. No samples or quotas were set by sector or region.

    44% of these Socially Conscious Businesses are for profit, private limited companies; they are not charities and have legal structures consistent with investment led growth:

    — 18% of them paid a dividend to directors

    — Nearly 30% paid a dividend to shareholders

    — Just over 70% reinvested some or all of their surplus and

    — 25% shared any surplus with their workforces.

    Socially Conscious Businesses have much larger workforces and turnovers than expected, with nearly 30% having turnovers greater than £500 million.

    Compared to mainstream businesses, Socially Conscious Businesses have an increased share of job growth, making up 29% of businesses who created between 50 and 99 jobs, and 25% of businesses creating between 100 and 249 jobs.

    The survey revealed that sources of income for Socially Conscious Businesses were similar to those of mainstream businesses. Over 80% of Socially Conscious Businesses generate all or part of their turnover from sales, with revenues comprising 100% of

    We found that as many as 66% of the 1,050 companies surveyed had social or environmental objectives as part of their business goals. Interestingly, 22% of UK businesses have social or environmental objectives as their main motivation.

    Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose 03

  • 30.5

    20.8

    45.3

    51.7

    33.0

    12.7

    36.0

    29.7

    17.6

    1.2 4.5

    10.5

    4.8

    13.7

    29.1

    8.3

    3.3

    12.79.5

    5.3 1.0 2.0

    0

    10

    20

    30

    40

    50

    60

    % o

    f res

    pond

    ents

    Follo

    wing

    idea

    or d

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    follo

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    the m

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    mpa

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    lders

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    ing a

    differ

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    Shar

    ehold

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    turn

    Othe

    rNo

    ne

    General motivations (% of respondents) Primary motivations (% of respondents)

    What is a Socially Responsible Business?

    To understand what differentiates a Socially Responsible Business from the mainstream we questioned respondents about their motivations for being in business and asked them to select the most important factors.

    General and primary motivations

    Making a positive social impact is the most important aim for 60% of Socially Conscious Businesses.

    For 18% it is making a positive environmental impact, where as for 17% it is creating jobs.

    We asked 1,050 respondents to select as many motivations as they wanted from a series of options that might be business goals. If respondents selected ‘creating a positive impact for stakeholders’ or ‘making a difference’, we then asked them to identify their most important business objective.

    30.5

    20.8

    45.3

    51.7

    33.0

    12.7

    36.0

    29.7

    17.6

    1.2 4.5

    10.5

    4.8

    13.7

    29.1

    8.3

    3.3

    12.79.5

    5.3 1.0 2.0

    0

    10

    20

    30

    40

    50

    60

    % o

    f res

    pond

    ents

    Follo

    wing

    idea

    or d

    ream

    Helpi

    ng ot

    hers

    follo

    w

    an

    idea

    or d

    ream

    Pursu

    it of m

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    t opp

    ortu

    nity

    Pursu

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    rofit

    Achie

    ving s

    omet

    hing d

    iffere

    nt

    in

    the m

    arke

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    loping

    scien

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    Crea

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    mpa

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    lders

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    ing a

    differ

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    Shar

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    turn

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    rNo

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    General motivations (% of respondents) Primary motivations (% of respondents)

    30.5

    20.8

    45.3

    51.7

    33.0

    12.7

    36.0

    29.7

    17.6

    1.2 4.5

    10.5

    4.8

    13.7

    29.1

    8.3

    3.3

    12.79.5

    5.3 1.0 2.0

    0

    10

    20

    30

    40

    50

    60

    % o

    f res

    pond

    ents

    Follo

    wing

    idea

    or d

    ream

    Helpi

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    follo

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    an

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    Deve

    loping

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    mpa

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    Othe

    rNo

    ne

    General motivations (% of respondents) Primary motivations (% of respondents)

    04 Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose

  • For comparative purposes, three other groups were also created within mainstream businesses:

    — Innovation-based: those who wanted to achieve something different in the market place or were pursuing scientific research

    — Entrepreneurial: those who were pursuing a dream or helping others to pursue a dream

    — Market-focused: those who were motivated by profit or giving a dividend to shareholders

    For the purpose of this report, unless otherwise stated, Socially Conscious Businesses refers to the 22% of all organisations surveyed.

    The responses to these two questions produce the definitions used in this report:

    Socially Conscious Businesses

    Either producing a positive outcome for stakeholders or making a difference is their primary motivation.

    Taken as a proportion of UK businesses this equates to 1.2 million businesses.

    22% 78% MainstreamAll other motivations.

    Taken as a proportion of UK businesses this equates to 4.29 million businesses.

    Socially Aware

    Being either motivated by the desire to produce a positive outcome for stakeholders or to make a difference either socially, environmentally, or in terms of job creation.

    Taken as a proportion of UK businesses this equates to 3.6 million businesses.

    66%

    Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose 05

  • 63.3

    43.9

    11.8

    39.5

    12.4

    6.8

    4.6

    4.9

    7.9

    4.9

    0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

    Mainstream (%)

    SociallyConsciousBusinesses (%)

    % of respondents

    Private Limited Company Redistributive or not for profit

    Company Limited by Guarantee Sole Trader Partnership

    63.3

    43.9

    11.8

    39.5

    12.4

    6.8

    4.6

    4.9

    7.9

    4.9

    0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

    Mainstream (%)

    SociallyConsciousBusinesses (%)

    % of respondents

    Private Limited Company Redistributive or not for profit

    Company Limited by Guarantee Sole Trader Partnership

    What is the legal structure of Socially Conscious Businesses?

    Legal structure by type of business

    Socially Conscious Businesses are investible.

    They are large and to a substantial extent, have legal structures consistent with investment-led growth. Companies limited by guarantee and not for profits

    are traditionally associated with social enterprises but 44% of Socially Conscious Businesses are for profit, private limited companies. Nearly a quarter of mainstream businesses are not-for-profit and companies limited by guarantee.

    06 Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose

  • Sourcing of funds to set up

    The investment required to start up Mainstream and Socially Conscious Businesses is similar and amounts to £20,000.

    Mainstream founders tend to fund a larger percentage of the start up fund (83%) compared to Socially Conscious businesses (70%).

    Amount required to start business

    5

    0

    0 to

  • Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    Where are Socially Conscious Businesses located?

    Geographical distribution of Socially Conscious Businesses versus Mainstream Enterprises

    Socially Conscious Business are found all over the UK, but the regions with the most Socially Responsible Businesses are Scotland, the South East, the South West and the East of England.

    The regions with the lowest proportion of Socially Conscious Businesses are the North of England and Northern Ireland.

    08 Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose

  • Education, Health & Social Care

    Total

    Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

    Profession, Business & Admin services

    ICT & Media

    Energy, Utilities & Construction

    Wholesale, Retail & Logistics

    Food, Tourism & Leisure

    Manufacturing 90.6 9.4

    86.8 13.2

    83.1 16.9

    82.3 17.7

    81.7 18.3

    81.0 19.0

    80.3 19.7

    77.8 22.2

    50.0 50.0

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    What sectors do Socially Conscious Businesses operate in?

    Sectoral distribution of Socially Conscious Businesses versus Mainstream Businesses

    Education, health and social care have the highest proportion of socially conscious businesses while manufacturing has the least.

    Finance, professional services and ICT have the second to fourth highest proportions of Socially Conscious Businesses but they are significantly below the average of 22.2%.

    Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose 09

  • What is the turnover and size of Socially Conscious Businesses?

    Turnover distribution by business type

    A common myth associated with investing in Socially Conscious Businesses is that they are smaller and financial return must be sacrificed in the interests of pursuing a social impact.

    This is not the case; Socially Conscious Businesses are more likely to be represented in higher turnover brackets compared to lower turnover brackets.

    45.8

    30.3 28.9 28.9 29.719.7

    32.6

    32.631.5 30.9

    28.8

    10.2

    12.510.4 11.6 14.1 13.7

    8.0

    11.9 19.420.1 22.1 22.8

    3.4 3.0 2.7

    24.027.7

    4.2 5.61.1 1.7

    36.934.4

    39.0

    0

    10

    20

    30

    40

    50

    60

    70

    80

    90

    100

  • Workforce size by business type

    29.123.9

    26.2

    14.68.8

    28.2 28.3

    1.9 1.8

    37.2

    50 to 99

    36.8

    36.8

    31.5 28.9 20.632.4

    31.424.1

    38.3

    11.512.8

    15.2 11.6 11.39.5

    10.3 14.3 18.122.1 24.8

    26.9

    4.6 4.73.0 2.32.02.0 2.92.9

    34.4

    0

    10

    20

    30

    40

    50

    60

    70

    80

    90

    100

    0-10 11 to 49 250 to 499 Total 100 to 249 >1,500

    % o

    f re

    spo

    nden

    ts

    39.4

    37.6

    500 to 1,499

    Entrepreneurial Innovators Socially Conscious OtherMarket Focused

    Socially Conscious Businesses do not have small work forces as perhaps expected. Socially Conscious Businesses are likely to employ over 50 employees.

    29.123.9

    26.2

    14.68.8

    28.2 28.3

    1.9 1.8

    37.2

    50 to 99

    36.8

    36.8

    31.5 28.9 20.632.4

    31.424.1

    38.3

    11.512.8

    15.2 11.6 11.39.5

    10.3 14.3 18.122.1 24.8

    26.9

    4.6 4.73.0 2.32.02.0 2.92.9

    34.4

    0

    10

    20

    30

    40

    50

    60

    70

    80

    90

    100

    0-10 11 to 49 250 to 499 Total 100 to 249 >1,500

    % o

    f re

    spo

    nden

    ts

    39.4

    37.6

    500 to 1,499

    Entrepreneurial Innovators Socially Conscious OtherMarket Focused

    Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose 11

  • What is the growth and performance of Socially Conscious Businesses?

    Socially Conscious Businesses are slightly more muted about their growth. They tend to be bigger so their growth in terms of turnover and jobs is lower.

    16.8

    59.3

    20.7

    3.2

    13.1

    60.4

    18.0

    8.6

    0

    10

    20

    30

    40

    50

    60

    70

    Faster than expected As expected Slower than expected Don’t know

    % o

    f re

    spo

    nden

    ts

    Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    How growth has been against expectations

    12 Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose

  • Expectations of Socially Conscious Businesses

    Percentage by which turnover has grown in the last three years by business type

    All other motives (%) Pure socially conscious (%)

    5

    0

    10

    15

    20

    25

    30

    35

    40

    7.8

    25.823.7

    20.7

    10.211.911.7

    30.2

    27.2

    15.4

    8 7.4

    0 1-5% 6-14% 15-24% 25-39% >40%

    8.1 7.4

    129.7

    12.510.6

    16.1

    21.8

    30.529

    26.8

    30.528.2

    31

    26.3

    31.4

    22.1

    32.9

    22.7

    34.5%

    of

    resp

    ond

    ents

    5

    0

    10

    15

    20

    25

    30

    35

    % o

    f re

    spo

    nden

    ts

    Advic

    e fro

    m

    pro

    fess

    iona

    ls

    Advic

    e fro

    m p

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    sec

    tor a

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    Acce

    ss to

    R&D

    Proc

    ess o

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    g fin

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    Taxa

    tion

    Proc

    ess o

    f rec

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    g rig

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    am

    Regu

    latio

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    Mac

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    mat

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    Proc

    ess o

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    Proc

    ess o

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    ernm

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    s

    Mainstream SCBs

    Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    Almost one-third more Socially Conscious Businesses have reported zero turnover growth over the last three years and compared to mainstream. The distribution of growth for Socially Conscious Businesses is skewed towards the lower end.

    Note that some of these organisations are heavily dominated by public sector organisations, and even if they have private revenues, for these organisations turnover growth has been limited.

    Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose 13

  • Socially Conscious Businesses are expecting growth but at lower levels.

    This again may be a function of size.

    Percentage by which employment is expected to grow in the next 3 years by business type

    10.1

    13.2

    38.2

    43.7

    23.422.2

    11.8 11.4

    7.5 6.69.0

    4.0

    All other motives (%) Pure socially conscious (%)

    0 1-5% 6-14% 15-24% 25-39% >40%

    5

    0

    10

    15

    20

    25

    30

    35

    40

    45

    50

    % o

    f re

    spo

    nden

    ts

    Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    Expectations of Socially Conscious Businesses

    14 Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose

  • Socially Conscious Businesses are more likely to expand their workforces in the next 3 years with nearly 52% responding that they expected their workforce to grow by between 1% and 14%, compared to 45% of mainstream businesses.

    Expectations of job growth in next 3 years

    5

    0

    Zero 1-5% 6-14%

    10

    15

    20

    25

    30

    35

    40

    37.935.5

    31.4

    35.5

    13.9

    16.6

    15-24% 25-39%

    7.75.9

    % o

    f re

    spo

    nden

    ts

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesess

    4.3 3.04.8 3.6

    >40%

    Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose 15

  • Socially Conscious Businesses assess their intangible performance the same as, or slightly better than mainstream businesses with one notable exception; environmental performance.

    0

    20

    10

    30

    40

    50

    60

    70

    39.3 37.9

    49.6

    4045.9 45.1

    50.448.5

    58.8

    49.2

    58.2

    51.7 51.851.756.5 56.9 57 57.1 58.9 59.1

    52.2

    63.2

    % o

    f re

    spo

    nden

    ts

    Crea

    tion

    of

    non

    -sala

    ried

    jobs

    Posit

    ive e

    nvio

    rnm

    enta

    l

    im

    pact

    Crea

    tion

    of sa

    laried

    jobs

    Mar

    ket s

    hare

    Profi

    tabi

    lity

    Main

    taini

    ng h

    ealth

    y cas

    hflow

    Mon

    etar

    y valu

    e of

    com

    pany

    Bran

    d bu

    ilding

    Shar

    e ho

    lder

    divi

    dend

    Prot

    ectin

    g int

    ellec

    tuall

    pr

    oper

    tySo

    cial im

    pact

    Empl

    oyee

    welf

    are

    Mainstream SCBs

    58 58

    Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    This may be because they are more sensitive to environmental challenges and therefore are likely to downplay their performance.

    Performance of companies

    What is the performance of Socially Conscious Businesses?

    16 Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose

  • But more innovative across the board

    5

    0Product or service new

    to some or all customers

    10

    15

    20

    25

    30

    35

    40

    31.9

    28.8

    Product or service notoffered by competitors

    38.5

    33.3

    Spend regular % ofturnover on R&D

    New approach totechnology or sector

    20.2 19.8

    14.9

    17.1

    All of the above

    9.611.7

    None of the above

    18.4

    25.2

    % o

    f re

    spo

    nden

    ts

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesess

    Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    How innovative are Socially Conscious Businesses?

    Socially Conscious Businesses are innovative across the board.

    Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose 17

  • What are Socially Conscious Businesses sources of revenue?

    Sources of revenue by business type

    Mainstream and Socially Conscious Businesses are similar in terms of their revenue generation. 82% of Socially Conscious Businesses and 86% of mainstream businesses have revenue from private sources.

    % of respondents

    16.4

    34.2

    85.9

    82.4

    0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

    Mainstream (% answering yes)

    Socially Conscious Businesses(% answering yes)

    Revenue from sales or charging for services

    More than half of funding comes from public money

    % of respondents

    16.4

    34.2

    85.9

    82.4

    0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

    Mainstream (% answering yes)

    Socially Conscious Businesses(% answering yes)

    Revenue from sales or charging for services

    More than half of funding comes from public money

    18 Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose

  • Sales income as a percentage of revenue

    60% of Socially Conscious Businesses generate more than 50% of their turnover from revenues.

    Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    5.5 6.0

    10.7

    27.7

    16.4

    9.3

    14.2

    29.0

    0

    10

    20

    30

    40

    50

    60

    0-10% 11-25% 26-50% 51-99%

    50.1

    31.1

    100%

    % o

    f re

    spo

    nden

    ts

    Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose 19

  • Where do Socially Conscious Businesses invest?

    Distribution of profits or surplus by Socially Conscious Businesses

    Socially Conscious Businesses distribute their profits and surpluses in a variety of ways. Most commonly, Socially Conscious Businesses reinvest their surplus to achieve their social goals. Only 10% never have a surplus to redistribute.

    Never have any surplus

    Give to charity

    Pay a dividend to directors

    Invest in community, health or social work

    Share with workforce

    Pay a dividend to shareholders

    Reinvest in the business 70.7

    29.3

    24.8

    24.8

    14.0

    9.9

    0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

    17.6

    20 Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose

  • Sources of advice

    What are the needs of Socially Conscious Businesses?

    There are differences in the types of business support used by mainstream businesses and Socially Conscious Businesses.

    Socially Conscious Businesses are more likely to access legal or accounting advice, while mainstream businesses are more likely to access support from banks.

    0

    10

    5

    15

    20

    25

    30

    35

    40

    3.5 2.7

    7.8

    11.3

    4.55.0

    10.6

    8.6

    12.3 12.214.4

    19.4 19.8

    29.3

    10.4

    18.4 18.4

    13.4% o

    f re

    spo

    nden

    ts

    Othe

    r

    Fam

    ily m

    embe

    r

    A pe

    rson

    al fri

    end

    Pote

    ntial

    inve

    stor

    s

    Anot

    her e

    ntre

    pren

    eur

    Your

    ban

    k

    A m

    ento

    r or c

    oach

    A bu

    sines

    s or e

    ntre

    pren

    eur

    su

    ppor

    t net

    work

    Gove

    rnm

    ent s

    uppo

    rt

    ag

    ency W

    ork c

    ollea

    gue

    8.7

    25.5

    36.5

    A pr

    ofes

    siona

    l (e.g

    .

    acc

    ount

    ant o

    r law

    yer)

    36.2

    Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose 21

  • Broader operating conditions such as the regulatory environment, tax, and the macroeconomic climate are more likely to negatively impact Socially Conscious Businesses.

    0

    10

    5

    15

    20

    25

    30

    35

    40

    8.1 7.4

    12 12.59.7 10.6

    16.1

    21.8

    30.5 30.5 31 31.432.9

    34.5

    29

    26.8 26.328.2

    % o

    f re

    spo

    nden

    ts

    Advic

    e fro

    m

    pro

    fess

    iona

    ls

    Advic

    e fro

    m p

    ublic

    sec

    tor a

    genc

    ies

    Acce

    ss to

    R&D

    Proc

    ess o

    f

    acc

    essin

    g fin

    ance

    Taxa

    tion

    Proc

    ess o

    f rec

    ruitin

    g

    rig

    ht te

    amRe

    gulat

    ion

    Mac

    roec

    onom

    ic cli

    mat

    e

    Proc

    ess o

    f gov

    ernm

    ent

    proc

    urem

    ent p

    roce

    ss

    Proc

    ess o

    f acc

    essin

    g

    gov

    ernm

    ent g

    rant

    s

    Mainstream SCBs

    22.1 22.7

    Impact of the external operating environment on growth (% responding negative or very negative)

    Scotland

    South East

    SW and Wales

    East, North East and Y&H

    Total

    Midlands

    London

    North West and NI79.7 20.3

    79.3 20.7

    79.2 20.8

    77.9 22.1

    77.3 22.7

    76.6 23.4

    76.4 23.6

    71.9 28.1

    0 20 40 60 80 100 120

    % of respondents

    Mainstream Socially Conscious Businesses

    What are the effects on growth of external support

    22 Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose

  • Key Findings

    Socially Conscious Businesses are creating jobs, addressing education, health and welfare issues, as well as environmental issues. They have the potential to ‘step-up’ and address the biggest social and economic challenges that UK society is currently facing. However, to do this some of the obstacles for growth need to be addressed.

    Socially Aware Businesses are more likely to be looking for finance than their mainstream counterparts. Typically, they are looking for finance to grow,

    With 22% of UK businesses classed as ‘Socially Conscious’ and 66% being socially aware, the market is large. Yet Socially Conscious Businesses are not being effectively catered for by mainstream financial institutions.

    or provide working capital to the business and, like mainstream businesses, they are most likely to be looking for loans and overdrafts in order to do so. However, they are less likely to go to a bank for advice or support and more likely to go to a lawyer, or accountant or government agency, as they report more negative experiences with accessing the “system”in terms of recruitment, finance, procurement and grants.

    of UK businesses have a social conscience. This equates to 1.2million businesses

    22%of UK businesses are socially aware, this equates to 3.6million businesses

    66%

    are nearly twice as likely as mainstream businesses to be looking for finance

    Socially Conscious Businesses of Socially Conscious

    Businesses are for profit businesses

    44%

    This is resulting in businesses with social motivations not fully realising their potential.

    As an ethical bank that works exclusively with organisations and businesses seeking a positive social impact, Unity Trust Bank brings over 30 years of experience of straightforward banking solutions, helping our customers prosper.

    BANK WITH US. BANK ON US.

    Unity Trust Bank Profit with Purpose 23

  • Unity Trust Bank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Unity Trust Bank is entered in the Financial Services Register under number 204570. Registered Office: Nine Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2HB. Registered in England and Wales no. 1713124. Calls are recorded and may be monitored for security, quality and monitoring purposes.

    Contact Us

    0345 140 1000 [email protected] unity.co.uk