YouGov’s latest B2B Omnibus reveals that the majority of SME decision-makers place high importance on Corporate Social Responsibility and are dissatisfied with large multi-national corporations which avoid paying full tax
Nearly three-quarters (72%) of SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) decision-makers surveyed have a negative opinion towards large multi-national corporations which avoid paying the optimum amount of tax on UK revenues. Older decision-makers are more likely to show negative attitudes towards these types of multi-nationals, especially those aged 55 and over, 76% of whom display a negative opinion. This compares with just over half (52%) of 25 to 34 year olds who think the same.
SME decision-makers are also clear in the importance they attach to businesses implementing policies and processes that promote Corporate Social Responsibility. A business’ reputation ranked top in terms of the benefits that are brought from the promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility, with almost four-fifths (79%) of SME decision-makers saying this. Just under three quarters (73%) regard the promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility as being important in relation to economic stability in Britain.
Decision-makers from medium-sized companies (50 to 249 employees) place a higher degree of importance on a business’ reputation in relation Corporate Social Responsibility, with 84% stating this compared to 78% from small-sized companies (fewer than 50 employees). Conversely decision-makers from small-sized companies place more emphasis on economic stability in Britain than those from medium-sized companies do, with 74% and 70% respectively citing this.
In terms of the industry sectors surveyed, it is SME decision-makers from the retail trade place the highest amount of importance on the promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility, with 85% stating the importance of business reputation and nearly four in five (78%) of economic stability.
In other areas, more than two-thirds (68%) of SME decision-makers believe that Corporate Social Responsibility is important for community development, such as by investing money in the community. As well as this, a similar number (67%) think the promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility is important in relation social stability in Britain, while 63% said this about environmental stability.
