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Responsible Business Consulting Conrad Young

Responsible Business Consulting Conrad Young. London Business School 22 May 2009. Introduction. Net Impact Founded in 1993 by MBA students www.netimpact.org 10,000+ members in 200+ business schools and professional chapters

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Responsible Business Consulting Conrad Young

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  1. Responsible Business ConsultingConrad Young London Business School 22 May 2009

  2. Introduction Net Impact • Founded in 1993 by MBA students www.netimpact.org • 10,000+ members in 200+ business schools and professional chapters • Student membership is $30 per year (the chapter to which you affiliate gets a cut of your membership fee as rebate) • Resources include Jobs Board, Issue in Depth podcasts / presentations, bookstore, member search • NI London Professional: http://london.netimpact.org.uk • Consultants represent 35% of NILP members 2

  3. Introduction Venturegen • Network of consultants and social entrepreneurs • Developing new business solutions to sustainability challenges • Focused on corporate carbon reduction programmes, green market drivers and sustainable supply chain management • Watch this space 3

  4. Responsible Business Consulting Companies Ethical Performance – CSR Professional Services Directory lists 553 service providers globally, including: • Larger consultancies taking a strategy consulting approach e.g. PwC, Accenture, KPMG • Assurance/verification houses e.g. Bureau Veritas, LRQA, SGS • Communications/PR agencies e.g. Context, Futerra, Flag • Environmental consultancies e.g. WSP, URS, Enviros 4

  5. Responsible Business Consulting Salaries Sample size = 350 Consultants = 100 Source: The CSR Salary Survey 2008/9, authored by Acona, Acre, Ethical Performance; www.glassdoor.com Compared with e.g. Accenture Senior Manager = £98-155k Senior Consultant = £54-60k Consultant = £40-58k 5

  6. Responsible Business Consulting Activities Source: The CSR Salary Survey 2008/9, authored by Acona, Acre, Ethical Performance • Annual corporate social responsibility / sustainability report: • Data collection • Design • Audit/Assurance • Carbon Disclosure Project report • Industry-specific compliance reports, e.g. Equator Principles compliance (Project Finance), Portman Group Code of Practice (Alcohol) 6

  7. Responsible Business Consulting Activities Reporting 7

  8. Responsible Business Consulting Activities Source: The CSR Salary Survey 2008/9, authored by Acona, Acre, Ethical Performance • Environmental Management Systems • Regulatory compliance • Environmental Impact Assessment 8

  9. Responsible Business Consulting Activities Environment Source: Management Today, April 2008 9

  10. Responsible Business Consulting Activities Source: The CSR Salary Survey 2008/9, authored by Acona, Acre, Ethical Performance • Print and web publications • Media relations & PR • Focus groups and stakeholder panels 10

  11. Responsible Business Consulting Activities Source: The CSR Salary Survey 2008/9, authored by Acona, Acre, Ethical Performance • Carbon footprinting (including trading / offsetting) • Energy efficiency advice • Low carbon technology assessment / procurement 11

  12. Responsible Business Consulting Activities Climate Change 12

  13. Responsible Business Consulting Activities Source: The CSR Salary Survey 2008/9, authored by Acona, Acre, Ethical Performance • Stakeholder engagement • Volunteering programmes • NGO Partnerships 13

  14. Responsible Business and Gender Broadly speaking, the split is: • Male = Environmental technical analysis and environmental system investment • Female = Social, performance audit and communicative disciplines Source: The CSR Salary Survey 2008/9, authored by Acona, Acre, Ethical Performance 14

  15. Responsible Business Job Satisfaction • 2008-9 responses showed increased insecurity • But 80% said they felt satisfied in their job • 97% would recommend the job to others Source: The CSR Salary Survey 2008/9, authored by Acona, Acre, Ethical Performance 15

  16. Anecdotal Advice: Net Impact members Three consultants responded, from a pool of six invited. CSR Communications Consultant, male, No MBA. Sustainable Building Consultant, male, LBS MBA Environmental Consultant, male, Cranfield MBA 16

  17. Anecdotal Advice 1 What is the current state of the market? CSR Communications Consultant: For consultants with no technical specialism - generally very weak with over supply of new entrants and those with 1-2 years “sustainability” experience, even with relevant second degree. Openings are still available for mid-career sector specialists recently retrained. Sustainable Building Consultant: 'Discretionary' sustainability/CSR spend has slowed in line with the economy. In the renewable energy sector the only constraints are the reduced price of oil and limited access to capital. Environmental Consultant:There's lots of opportunities appearing as standard management consultancy advice to cleantech and related organisations. 17

  18. Anecdotal Advice 2 What is the long term drivers of demand for consultants? CSR Communications Consultant: Recent downturn has lead to a postponement of projects and a cancellation of spending on new strategic thinking in this area. In 18 months the inertia will have to slacken as it becomes recognised as a restriction to overall corporate recovery. Sustainable Building Consultant: There are strong (massive) regulatory drivers for sustainability, particularly for buildings and energy in the UK/Europe. How quickly will these medium term (ie 2016+) targets impact on activity in the market and the consequent demand for consultants? Environmental Consultant:Complexity management, legislative compliance and helping companies make the most of the opportunities out there. 18

  19. Anecdotal Advice 3 What are the career trade-offs or benefits of consulting in this space? CSR Communications Consultant: Can be marginalised into lower paid ghetto. Don’t expect high pay - your recognition will be (in heaven?) (in the pub?) (in your children’s grateful faces?) Sustainable Building Consultant: No shortage of work to do! You will feel good about what you do and potentially make a real contribution in dealing with climate change and other sustainability issues. Environmental Consultant:Trade offs - training is still not very structured, clients still often don't really know what good looks like, quite a lot of competition, breaking in can be hard. Benefits - its great, ethically, socially and morally rewarding, you can get rich, fascinating opportunities (including travel) in a growth sector 19

  20. Anecdotal Advice 4 Any other advice for current MBA students CSR Communications Consultant (No MBA): Do chemistry, physics, enviro tech degree if you want to make money and be employed in a downturn. Sustainable Building Consultant (LBS MBA): We need really talented and committed folk to join us! Environmental Consultant (with MBA): Be brave, make short term sacrifices for long term gain, be entrepreneurial, drive your career with long term goals - don't expect others to do this for you - look for opportunities where others see problems. Have a career that is focused (eg technically) then broadens then focuses again (eg sector based) then repeat. Most of all Enjoy! Its a great place to be! 20

  21. Thank You! Conrad Young Chair Net Impact London Professional conrad.young@netimpact.org.uk 21

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