It’s All About Good
Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District (Manchester BID) has commissioned a new report, undertaken by Creative Concern, to show the commitment and approach by city centre businesses to tackle major environmental and social issues.
The 2022-23 Manchester BID ‘Environment, Social & Governance’ Review is the first study of its kind in the city.
Dubbed an ‘ESG Healthcheck’, hundreds of Manchester city centre businesses have been assessed on their approach to a range of environmental issues, including reducing carbon emissions and waste, how they embrace diversity, and their commitment to charity partnerships.
The research demonstrates a genuine breadth of action across sectors from fashion and hospitality, to health & beauty and banking in the city centre.
Strong sustainability themes emerge across all sectors including the reduction in single use plastics, zero waste to landfill, climate action, biodiversity and the circular economy. Social action was highlighted too including diversity and inclusion, educational partnerships, LGBTQ+ rights, fair trade and action on poverty.
And while many of the businesses highlighted have a national or international footprint, the report highlights a number of examples of partnerships impacting on a local scale too.
These include jeweller Mappin & Webb’s support of the Manchester Food Bank, commercial law firm Hill Dickinson’s foundation which gives small grants to community organisations in Manchester, commercial property specialist Bruntwood’s support of a raft of biodiversity and climate change projects, and Patagonia’s support of Manchester’s City of Trees.
The report aims to act as a starting point for work across the city to ensure this good practice becomes standard across the board, and includes a specific action to leverage more global corporate commitments on ESG into local partnerships and programmes.
A dedicated task group of business leaders taken from the BID membership will take forward the report’s findings, drawing-up a programme of activity to help celebrate its findings and work with BID levy payers to boost their levels of ESG and in doing so ensure that Manchester city centre really is a place that works to balance people, planet, and profit.
To discuss the report and joining the BID Sustainability Committee, email Manchester BID Manager phil.schulze@cityco.com or call 0161 838 3250.
Environment, Social & Governance Review
Report Contents:
- Introduction
- Food & Hospitality
- Case Studies
- Health & Beauty
- Case Studies
- Fashion
- Case Studies
- Home & Lifestyle
- Case Studies
- Jewellery
- Case Studies
- Banking: High Street & Investment
- Case Studies
- Other Sectors
- And Next?
