Providing private-sector support for local community

Initiating community involvement programmes by businesses
Developing corporate citizen programmes
Improving the community through industry sponsorship

Description

Providing private-sector support for local community involves mobilizing business resources, expertise, and networks to address community needs, foster local development, and enhance social well-being. This strategy includes direct investment, skills training, job creation, and partnerships with local organizations to remedy issues such as unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to services. The practical intent is to strengthen community resilience and self-sufficiency through targeted, sustainable private-sector engagement.

Implementation

According to a survey of the prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum, a very significant proportion of companies involved in Corporate Community Programmes intended to increase their activity within the next five years. The major activity areas were education programmes, environmental improvement, arts and cultural activities and social and health services. The survey showed that support comes mainly through cash donations, employee volunteer activity and donations of equipment and products. A significant number of the companies became involved in corporate citizenship programmes to create a good image in the community, whilst other important reasons included employee respect/motivation and to improve social or education facilities.