Younger workers helping to drive a more positive perception of UK business

There has been a rise in the number of people who believe businesses in the UK have a good reputation, with a significant number of younger people helping to create this positive picture. The research, comparing perceptions of businesses between May and November 2017, reveals 2 in 3 people think UK businesses have a good reputation, up 7 percent in 6 months. The tracker, conducted by the CBI in partnership with global PR agency, Porter Novelli, and research company, Opinium, revealed that the public are more aware of the value business provides in local communities with an increasingly vocal business community emerging in recent months. Importantly, the improvement in business reputation has largely been driven by young people and those in work, with a significant 15 percent rise in positive views among 18-34 year olds. This reinforces the view that younger people are more engaged in the debate about the UK’s future, with the Brexit negotiations and a sharper political debate intensifying the focus on jobs and the economy.

The survey found that the key driver of business reputation is a sense of pride in British business. The quality of British goods and services and the global reputation of UK business were cited by the public as having the biggest impact on reputation. Members of the public are also increasingly aware of the UK as a ‘service economy’, with more people of the opinion that businesses’ biggest contribution to society are services (35 percent) rather than goods (31 percent).

The tracker shows most people have a positive relationship with their employers (67 percent) and highlights the importance of businesses treating their employees well, with a 9 percent rise in the number of people saying that this is the best way to improve business reputation (now 69 percent). The same principle applies to the treatment of customers too, with a 7 percent rise in those saying customer service is a priority when interacting with business (now 72 percent).

There remains however a serious challenge for business with only half of people saying they understand how a company works, and 68 percent believing that CEOs are out of touch with people’s lives. 82 percent of respondents also said a firm’s record on data security is important when choosing which businesses to buy from – a clear warning sign to businesses given recent high-profile data breaches.

Commenting on the research, Fenella Grey, Managing Director of Porter Novelli London, said: “There are a number of genuinely surprising results that go against expectations.

“The fact that the reputation of business has improved over the past months despite a backdrop of uncertainty caused by Brexit and slowing economic growth is really positive news for the UK. It shows ‘UK plc’ is alive and kicking, and remains an important place to do business.

“What is really unexpected is that this positive shift in opinion occurred amongst millennials who in reality have the greatest number of reasons to be unhappy, as they will be working with an uncertainty created by a Brexit the majority of them didn’t want.

“Over the last 6 months this tracker has revealed an interesting change in what drives people to think positively about business, and it’s all about people. Businesses need to see that the better you regard your employees, the better the public regard you.”

Added Josh Hardie, CBI Deputy Director-General: “Businesses up and down the country can do more to step up their engagement with employees and customers, to explain how they are making a positive difference in their communities and workplaces. Business must redouble their efforts to show that the horror stories of tax avoidance, poor employment practices and excessive pay are the exception not the rule.

“Treating employees well is the best place to start. Our findings show that companies which look after their employees will be rewarded by the public, who say this is the best way to improve their views about business.

“Clear communication about the value businesses create locally is also essential – all must junk the jargon. And companies should focus on the issues which matter most to people, starting with business value being an integrated part of local industrial strategies.

“Making a link between company performance and social outcomes is the very best way to shape the public’s view of companies as responsible citizens.”

You can view the report here.