Corporate social responsibility: how does it affect recruitment?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ethical procurement is not new news within the procurement function, however, the increase in global sourcing means that there is a growing emphasis to ensure that suppliers are compliant.

At Michael Page Procurement and Supply Chain, we are continuing to work closely with people in their first four years of procurement who are evidently increasingly motivated by an organisation’s social conscience. So how are businesses attracting these professionals to join their team and why does CSR matter when competing for talent? 

Emma Leonard, Head of Supply Chain for Meter Provida Ltd, has spent most of her career working for a number of large organisations with a strong view of CSR in procurement. In her role with Meter Provida, Emma devised a new supplier manual which focused heavily on ethical procurement with the goal of expanding a supplier base in the Far East to complement UK supply. During the recruitment process for a number of positions, Emma has sought candidates with strong experience in contract management and SRM; during these discussions, the topic of ethical procurement has enabled Emma to increase brand integrity and attract top talent to a smaller organisation.
This trend of utilising CSR and ethical practices within businesses to aid in recruitment is rising across a number of industries. On the topic, a client and candidate of ours, a procurement director in the packaging industry had this to say; 
“The inability of buyers to identify ethical issues within their supply chain can lead to serious implications, not only economical but can also affect brand integrity; something which potential investors and employees will research. The key to your new recruit will be your own business’ CSR and sustainable practices; they want to know that their welfare and environment is at the forefront of your business as well as those of your suppliers. I have been regularly asked about CSR in our business during interviews for purchasing positions; it seems to be an increasingly hot topic across the consumer industry as the press are reporting on the subject to a greater level.”
A supply chain manager, working for a client of ours, from within the aerospace industry highlighted that their previous employer had been the most proactive and perhaps aggressive with their CSR activities which had positive benefits on their brand’s perception and as a result aided in attracting talent.
“With many Head Office employees holding roots in the communities, around the facilities they continually looked to reduce their environmental impact. This resulted in an extremely positive employer brand in the local area.”
In the food industry, particularly within global supply chains, there is much to consider surrounding CSR and ethical practices. A supply chain director, another client of ours in the industry, shared that they actively engage in open discussions surrounding their CSR activities with candidates.
“Having seen many articles in the press over the last few years, such as the horse meat scandal, it has become absolutely crucial to ensure supplier manuals are documented and followed rigidly. There seems to be a shortage of talented candidates for certain levels or job types and I regularly talk about our company’s CSR activities. When interviewing prospective employees I believe there is a real need to sell our business capabilities as much as we need a candidate to sell their own abilities. I believe in some instances, that’s what sets us apart from the competition.”
It is clear that CSR and ethical practices are both key interests for many talented professionals seeking employment in the current market. Because of this, businesses are choosing to enhance their brand by using their CSR policies as USPs to entice top talent to join their team – and it works.

Interviewing with ethical procurement in mind

Those who are responsible for procurement are required to, now more than ever, have a clear understanding of their industry’s standards and policies regarding ethical matters. We are often engaged to perform first stage interviews for clients and, alongside other competencies, asked to assess a procurement professional’s understanding on: 
  • Development of Supplier Requests for quotations that ask suppliers to detail their CSR policies 
  • Detailing basic minimum requirements such as a quality policy that details an organisation’s compliance to ETI Base Code which follows nine core areas, very similar to International Labour Organisation
  • Policies which comply with modern slavery, anti-bribery, fraud and corruption 
  • Health and Safety accreditations such as ISO18001
  • Environmental accreditation ISO14001
  • Accreditations for Quality Management Systems which incorporate ethical and sustainable practices such as ISO9001
Understanding these strengths or weaknesses in potential employees could prevent a plethora of economic issues further down the line. Ensuring both the employer and employee are well informed on these key policies is crucial in the market today. 

Competing for top talent

The competition for highly skilled procurement professionals, often with a desired industry-specific background, is at the highest level we have seen for some years. We are finding that job descriptions are becoming much more specific and candidates who meet the criteria regularly have interest and/or offers from two or three other businesses.  
Our consultants are regularly faced with difficult scenarios surrounding offer management, particularly multiple offers and buy-backs. The importance of brand awareness in these discussions is fundamental and will often be the deciding factor for top talent; sometimes over-ruling larger package offers from competing businesses.
In summary, it seems that it is no longer merely a desirable option to include CSR in your procurement function; it is now a crucial factor in attracting the best talent. This is something we are regularly asked about when presenting opportunities to candidates; they want to know that their welfare and environment is at the forefront of your business as well as those of your suppliers. 
If you would like further information on any of the topics in this article or wish to find out more about how we can help with your recruitment process, please contact Laura Scott today for a confidential discussion.
Laura Scott
Manager, Michael Page Procurement & Supply Chain
T: +44 114 263 6016