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Partnership - Trustees from Middlesbroughbased charity Clean Slate Solutions including Muckle ’ s Hugh Welch ( second left ) with , from left , David A Kerfoot CBE DL , Tracey Brittain and Dr Warren Harrison .
In 2023 , Muckle became the first law firm in the North- East and Cumbria to receive B Corp Certification
attendance , staff retention and morale – what business wouldn ’ t want that ?
Everyone working at Muckle gets two days a year to volunteer ; it ’ s important that we encourage first-hand connections between our people and local charities , as it ’ s also a fantastic way to see the tangible impact we can have on our local communities .
It ’ s a part of doing business Being a responsible business isn ’ t just a nice-to-have – it ’ s a must . Clients , employees and stakeholders expect businesses to play their part in tackling social and environmental issues , so I would suggest that this should be a key part of any strategy .
It is a potential differentiator and an opportunity to compete on grounds beyond just price , particularly if your business is bidding for contracts in the public sector .
The public sector is the biggest purchaser of goods and services in the UK , and most , if not all , tenders have social value requirements built in . Anyone wanting to supply the public sector in any significant way must detail the economic and social
benefits they will create through the delivery of the contract .
Many charities are working directly with communities most impacted by various issues – so who better for a business to ask about what they could do to create or add value ? Having those pre-existing relationships with charities and community groups makes delivering on those social value commitments that much easier .
Making funding go further As our strategy has grown and developed over the years , we ’ ve looked at moving beyond simple donations to working more closely with local charities to support lasting change through shared goals and values .
That isn ’ t to say financial help isn ’ t important ; funding will always be a major priority for charities as the cost of providing services becomes more expensive and the need in our communities becomes greater .
Our Muckle Fund at the Community Foundation has been active since 2002 and , in that time , we ’ ve given almost 750 grants to local charities . In 2024 , we supported 30 separate charities , and four of those charities we ’ d given grants to in the previous two years .
This included Teesside-based charity Clean Slate Solutions , which supports people across Teesside and North Yorkshire with a past conviction into paid employment . The charity ’ s ethos aligns with our fund ’ s aims , particularly in terms of improving social mobility . Since our initial grant in 2022 , we ’ ve supported with three grants totalling £ 11,000 .
That initial connection , made through our fund , has allowed us to build a lasting and beneficial relationship with the charity and has opened up opportunities for volunteering , pro bono and trustee support .
This has been our experience with many of the charities we work with ; the more we both put into the relationship , the more everyone benefits .
Being a responsible business is an important part of modern business strategy . Collaborating with charities will not only create better social and environmental impact but also help build stronger relationships with stakeholders and improve long-term business success .
You can find more information about business as a force for good at bcorporation . uk .
If you ’ d like to speak to Muckle about its journey , contact Hugh Welch at hugh . welch @ muckle-llp . com
The voice of business in the Tees region | 101