Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance (ESG) & Human Rights Compliance
It is the statutory duty of every company director to have regard to the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment, and to the desirability of the company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct. A company’s environmental, social and corporate governance compliance, together with its wider legal and regulatory compliance, support directors in ensuring that they meet these obligations.
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued ‘Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights’ which recognise that “The responsibility to respect human rights is a global standard of expected conduct for all business enterprises wherever they operate”. Ensuring that your organisation - and its supply chain - complies with and respects human rights, equality and other laws is critical to meeting its ESG agenda, with environmental sustainability and responsible business practices also now becoming determining factors in many procurements.
We work with executive and non-executive directors, charity trustees and their organisations to assist them in understanding their obligations and in developing or seeking to audit their ESG/CSR and responsible business practices, and conduct equality impact assessments, human rights impact assessments, community impact assessments, and advise on the establishment of related governance mechanisms.
We recently successfully lobbied the Institute of Directors to reflect that risk management and a focus on business resilience are fundamental tenets of responsible business to which directors must have regard in fulfilling their obligations under the Code of Conduct for Directors.
Handley Gill’s specialist ESG consultants consider the implications for company directors of the Institute of Directors’ recommendations for corporate governance best practice as set out in its voluntary Code of Conduct for Directors, and identify practical measures executive and non-executive directors can take to meet good industry practice in complying with the responsible business principle. Download our free primer on directors’ statutory duties under the Companies Act 2006 and best practice principles of the Institute of Directors’ Code of Conduct for Directors.