Why join the new CR professional institute?

Claudine Blamey is Chair of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS) and Head of Stewardship at The Crown Estate. 

I started my career in Corporate Responsibility as Environment Manager for Honda UK in 1997. At the time I wasn’t sure where my career would end up. It was difficult to plan a career path and to identify what advancement would look like, other than just an increase in salary. A supportive Institute would have been extremely value to me at that time, as it is now, and in response to the demands of practitioners, the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS) is now here!

The ICRS will support ALL those with a role or interest in Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) – those for whom it’s a full time job, those who have it as a small part of their role, those who are studying, and those who just take an interest in the subject. Whether you work in a corporate role, for a consultancy, in academia, government, or civil society, the doors of the ICRS are open for you.

The ICRS is supporting its members in various forms. There is a competency framework that sets out the skills a professional in this field needs. On applying to the Institute, individuals are assessed against the framework and awarded the appropriate level of membership. The Institute will provide a voice for the Industry, and the opportunity for members to learn from each other. Crucially, we will help our members build their professional knowledge and skills by providing resources, peer-to-peer learning, and events which highlight best practice and champion innovative and emerging ideas.

This industry is evolving at a great pace. There are pockets of innovation and great examples of individuals driving that innovation. We will help our members learn from these individuals and equip them to be brilliant in their jobs. The Institute will provide a forum where members can access and contribute to leading edge thinking around CR&S, including that which challenges the status quo.

Our vision is of a world where all businesses act responsibly, sustainably and have a positive impact on society, the communities where they operate, and the future wellbeing of our planet. We want to support CR&S professionals to achieve this goal.

Are you still wondering why you should become a member of the Institute? In summary, it will help you develop your career, it will recognise your experience, and it will let you demonstrate that experience to employers. If that’s not enough, it will also create a network for you to test ideas, make you part of a wider movement, and ensure that you stay on top of your game.

Joining the ICRS now gives you the opportunity to shape the organisation and set its direction of travel.

If you have any questions, get in touch with us at info@icrs.info or call us on 020 7839 019