On March 5, 2025, finance leaders from across the Northwest gathered at the Farington Lodge Hotel for a discussion on the importance of embedding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into business strategy.
The immediate feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with lively networking before and after the event. The panel of specialists provided valuable insights into why ESG should no longer be viewed as an optional initiative but as a core component of any successful business strategy.
ESG as a whole, not in parts
A critical takeaway from the discussion was that ESG must be considered in its entirety. Businesses can no longer afford to selectively implement the easiest or most visible ESG aspects. Environmental, Social and Governance factors must work in unison to drive real, lasting change.
Our experts’ thoughts
"The big takeaway from the finance leader’s session was clear, ESG has to be considered in full. It’s no longer enough to pick out the bits that are easiest to deliver on, or shout about. Environmental, Social and Governance factors all need to work together if we’re serious about driving real change."
The social factor needs more attention
While environmental impact and governance regulations often take centre stage, the social component is equally crucial.
The social side still isn’t getting the attention it deserves. Without proper metrics, clear KPIs and something meaningful to measure, it’s impossible to show the real impact. People, culture and community are just as fundamental to business as carbon reporting or regulatory compliance, and it’s time they were treated that way.
Simon Speak from AFR Consulting echoed this point, stating,
I work with a number of companies who are now including CSR and ESG objectives into their job descriptions and briefing documents that they supply to potential candidates. As a recruiter, I’m increasingly seeing businesses promote these elements as part of their talent attraction strategies. Job seekers want to feel good about the businesses they are hoping to join. Whilst salary and career development are still important, candidates also want to feel their values are aligned with that of the employer and are likely to ask questions around this during the interview process.
Regulations are tightening—and that’s a good thing
The regulatory framework surrounding ESG is becoming increasingly stringent, pushing businesses to integrate sustainability into their core strategies. This shift is driving ESG out of the “nice to have” category and positioning it as a business necessity. Rather than seeing regulation as a burden, companies should view it as an opportunity to strengthen their business model and future-proof their operations.
ESG requires a concrete plan
ESG cannot be an add-on—it needs to be embedded into the business with a clear value proposition and a strong commercial rationale. Without a well-thought-out plan, companies risk falling into “greenwishing”—making sustainability claims without a credible action plan to back them up.
Dale Hudson from Save Money, Cut Carbon, reinforced the growing interest in ESG, stating,
It was brilliant to hear some different perspectives from our area of work and how people are tackling it from a social and charity sector side, and the problems of waste and compliance to really build a bigger picture. In a climate of rising costs and pressures of legislation, interest in ESG is growing, and it’s becoming more important than ever. People are thinking creatively about how to solve it, and the key thing for me is that people really understand the importance. Even when they have the pressures of running their own business and keeping afloat, they know this is important to integrate into their strategy and be innovative with.
Honesty and transparency in reporting ESG efforts were highlighted as essential
"When it comes to reporting, honesty matters. If something can’t be done, say so. It’s far better to be upfront than to get caught out making claims you can’t back up. Greenwishing – hoping for the best without a credible plan – helps no one. ESG is only moving in one direction, and the time for waiting has passed. Either it’s in the plan, or it isn’t"
James Valentine also from AMRC, noted the value of bringing industry professionals together, stating,
It was very important to see people willing to spend a good chunk of their morning discussing what is a very significant topic. We focus heavily on the manufacturing sector, and this is the hottest of hot topics for companies—whether that be from a cost-saving perspective or from a customer drive. Both of those have an impact on businesses, and events like this essentially introduce us to ways of assisting those businesses. There is a support network for these businesses to be able to get the information they need, and it’s local to them. They don’t need to fight that fight themselves, and events like this prove that.
The road ahead
Businesses of all sizes must recognise that implementing an ESG strategy is not just about compliance; it is about securing long-term profitability, attracting talent and gaining a competitive edge. Companies that take ESG seriously now will be the ones leading the way in the future.
A lot of people see sustainability potentially just about the environment, but there needs to be a wider discussion on social value, social impact and actually good governance in organisations, where you’re looking after your organisation properly in terms of business planning and looking after the finances bottom line.
The event concluded with a call to action: ESG is moving forward, and businesses must keep pace. The time for waiting has passed—it’s time to integrate ESG into the core of business operations and make it a defining part of corporate strategy.
For those interested in continuing the conversation and staying ahead of ESG developments, we encourage you to join us for future events in this series. Let’s work together to drive sustainable success for businesses and the broader community, now, for tomorrow.
Brian Williams - Cumbria Waste
I think in terms of business planning, most companies will be on different stages of their ESG strategy journey and there’s no shame in being at the start, but it’s a good idea to know where you’re heading and have a bit of a roadmap in place of how to get there.
