Social ethics are playing an increasingly important role in planning
company strategy
David Rigg Camelot
‘Companies should take an ethical stance on issues which affect the day-
to-day operation of their business or affect the interests of their key
public. Major UK companies have a responsibility to be seen to be good
corporate citizens within the communities which support them.’
Terry Thomas Co-operative Bank
‘Our customers have stated clearly how their money should and should not
be invested. For example, the supply of arms to oppressive regimes is
one of their paramount concerns. I believe that, in the future, all
financial institutions will be called upon to justify their investment
policies on ethical as well as financial grounds.’
Locksley Ryan British Aerospace
‘Yes, but a stand must not be just emotional prejudice. The real issue
is not whether a company should take a stand but, does it have the
competency to do so? British Aerospace makes and exports defence
equipment. Every export sale must be agreed by the Government, as only
it has the expertise and international infrastructure to judge against
established criteria the suitability of a particular piece of equipment
in a particular country. Departure from this principle would be an
extremely dangerous step.’
Roger Hayes British Nuclear Industry Forum
‘As corporate citizens, companies have responsibilities - unquestionably
one of these is to behave at all times in an ethical and moral manner.
My own industry earns widespread recognition for its moral behaviour. It
is, for example, the only major energy producer that actually cleans up
after itself. I welcome the fact that, as consumers become more
discerning, companies will come to be judged on far wider standards than
those currently prevalent.’
Will Whitehorn Virgin
‘It is not possible for companies to play God about rights and wrongs
but they have to take a moral stand when sourcing products, for example,
by not using child labour. Virgin Atlantic also decided not to fly to
South Africa until it had a democratic system. But you can take a cause
to extremes. It ends up being counter-productive when companies are
being so moralistic that the media starts to think they must be
cynically promoting their own business interests. But the basic morals
of company life should start with a clear culture where employees are
discouraged from breaking the law.’
Edited by Rebecca Dowman
