Newsletter
from Robert Craven,
Keynote Speaker, Author and MD of
The Directors' Centre
June 2006

Greetings... Corporate Social Responsibility... 'Yawn! Yawn!' or 'Yes! Yes!'?

In this month's newsletter:

• Three new articles for June 2006, and June press cuttings
• An article only available to Website/Newsletter subscribers
• Corporate Social Responsibility - key links, articles etc
• Free Stuff from the new website

Regards,

Robert Craven

P.S. 'Let's Talk' continues to be my motto...

• Let's Talk... do give me us a call on 01225 851044
• 'Let's Talk... Bright Marketing' - the Barclays show is back on the road (7 venues)
• 'Let's Talk... More Profit' - the new Barclays workshop (14 venues)

JUNE 2006 Articles

Plan of Action - Robert Craven reveals the real reasons for business failure - and provides some top tips for start-up success (Making Money, June 2006).

The Elevator Pitch - Article specifically adapted for women in banking and finance. Robert Craven (Women in Banking and Finance, May/June 2006).

The Bright Marketing Manifesto - Part One of Three. The unique Barclays Bright Marketing Seminars have changed the lives and fortunes of thousands of the UK’s small businesses. So what’s it all about? (Start Your Business Magazine, 2006).

June 2006 Press Cuttings

More Profitable Future For Businesses With Free Seminars From Barclays - Barclays has developed a brand-new seminar to help small business owners boost their profit (emediawire, May 2006).

No One Talks Business Like Barclays - With its new national initiative, Let's Talk Business, Barclays is helping to improve the skills of local businesses across the country through a programme of free interactive seminars (www.nfea.com, May 2006).

Barclays Offer Free Seminars - Clipping from the Financial Times (May 2006).

articleS for newsletter subscribers only!

Corporate Social Responsibility is immoral, unfair and positively damaging to the health of your business… it should carry a government health warning… it is tantamount to signing a death warrant for your employee’s job security.’ - Pre-publication final draft, CEO Magazine

MAY 2006 Articles

Pitfalls To Avoid - Robert Craven reveals the top ten issues that inhibit the growth of a business (Making Money Magazine, May 2006)

Success At What Cost? - Success is a bit of a paradox for the growing business. On the one hand, we seek the popularity and profits that go with it but, on the other hand, our product loses its intimacy with the success. (ServiceManagement365, April 2006).

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Two Faced Capitalism - Corporate social responsibility is all the rage. Does it, and should it, make any difference to the way firms behave? The Economist, 2004.

Good Thinking, Bad Practice - Corporate social responsibility is a great doctrine. But once it is just another set of initials, CSR can lead to all manner of ills, says Simon Caulkin, The Observer.

New Study Indicates Corporate Social Responsibility Not So Profitable - Noted economist Arthur Laffer says 'CSR May Hurt – Not Help- The Bottom Line'. CSR Watch.

And some excellent links from the CSR Network:

• Corporate social responsibility - CSR Network
• Fortune Global 100's Accountability Rating - CSR Network
• Top 15 UK retailers' Accountability Rating - CSR Network
• Why don’t sustainability reports talk about sustainability?
• How to create immeasurable wealth: the secret of CSR
• CSR and the supply chain
• Independent assurance: false sense of security or real test of transparency?
• Why bother with CSR?
• Measurement: the Holy Grail of CSR
  

FREE STUFF ON THE SITE

We are especially proud of the Free Stuff pages on the new website - but it looks like they won't be free forever! It includes:

• 21 Free Workshops - Let's Talk About... '...More Profit' and '...Bright Marketing' workshops run by Barclays ... (standard delegate ticket price should be £225!)
• 70+ free Articles and Reports This site offers you the opportunity to download Business Guides and Direction, Articles and Reports
• Free Business Surgeries... a particularly powerful way of talking to us in a one-to-one environment - in effect it's a 'Try Before You Buy' (TBYB).

Take Action Now - THINGS that won't wait!

If there's one thing we'd like you to do, it is to call us today, on 01225 851044. More specifically, We'd like to get to understand what your issues are, and what kind of help you might be looking for!

I am 'on the road' for most of the coming week and will be happy to talk to you from my mobile. Leave a message on 07721 892 592 and I will get back to you.

Other actions you could take...

• Book into one of the Barclays events '...More Profit' and '...Bright Marketing'
• Check out the free stuff on the site
• Find out about the new service offerings.

NEWSLETTER LINKS

• Kick-Start Your Business and Customer Is King
• Free Business Surgeries
• Free Telephone Seminars
• The New Service Plan
• 21 Barclays Free Workshops with Robert

ABOUT ROBERT CRAVEN, MD of The Directors' Centre

Robert Craven works with the ambitious directors of fast-growing businesses who feel that they could be doing even better.

• As a keynote speaker his style is challenging, honest and goading; free of business school hyperbole, he makes his audience think.
• The Financial Times describes him as 'the entrepreneurship guru'.
  
• Mentoring and Coaching - The Directors' Centre team work with a select number of Managing Directors to help them grow their businesses. Phone Robert direct to know more on 01225 851044.
  
  
  For more details go to the Directors' Centre website

BUY THE BOOKS NOW AT A SPECIAL DISCOUNT PRICE FROM AMAZON

Robert Craven, The Directors' Centre, 1 The High Street, Woolley, Bath BA1 8AR, UK - +44 (0)1225 851044 - www.directorscentre.com

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