From left : Muckle ' s managing partner Jason Wainright , director of HR Nicola Leyden , director of operations Debbie McCormack and senior partner Hugh Welch .
Doing good , for goodness ' sake ?
Law firm Muckle LLP is encouraging others to put social value at the top of their agenda
The idea that maximising profit should be the only business of business is becoming an increasingly outdated concept . The world is changing , and both consumers and employees are choosing to work with companies that demonstrate that they are about more than just making money .
However , cynics might argue that altruism in business is inherently selfish – after all if doing good makes you look good , are you really being good at all ?
Muckle LLP , a leading law firm for business , is one of the companies tackling this dilemma .
It recently became the first law firm in the North-East to receive B Corp Certification , given to organisations that meet high social and environmental performance standards , transparency and accountability .
Hugh Welch , Muckle ’ s senior partner and head of its ESG programme , understands the predicament businesses face when deciding to pursue an ethical strategy .
“ They say there ’ s no such thing as a
70 selfless good deed , but if businesses get caught up in the idea that doing good will simply be seen as performative , then we ’ ll never get anything done !” said Hugh .
“ As long as you ’ re actually doing good , rather than just trying to be seen to be doing good , it ’ s fine to talk about your achievements , especially if it encourages other businesses to follow suit .”
So , where should you start ?
DO WHAT YOU DO BEST Don ’ t try to do everything – focus on your strengths . Social value that aligns with your business , industry , and skill sets will not only be easier to implement but potentially have a bigger impact and be more likely to embed itself within your organisation .
Muckle carries out pro bono work . It ’ s not a new concept , but it doesn ’ t have to be ; it is a tried and tested way of making an impact that plays into the firm ’ s strengths .
Muckle was also one of the founding members of the innovative North East Solicitor Apprenticeship Scheme ( NESA ), created in response to growing university fees .
Similar schemes are now popping up all over the country , bringing some great new talent into the legal industry .
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS Think about why you chose a charity to support and what you can do to grow that relationship .
Hugh says : “ We work with a lot of charities through our grant giving , but we always try to see how else we can support .
“ I was introduced to Teesside charity Clean Slate Solutions through our grant giving , now I ’ m a trustee .
“ Our best relationships with charities are where there ’ s a genuine sense of partnership rather than simply a one-way donor / recipient connection .”
COLLABORATE What can you learn from others ? It ’ s not about copying and pasting because your strategy has to be driven by your business