Investec is an international specialist bank and asset manager that provides a diverse range of financial products and services. The company was founded as a leasing company in Johannesburg in 1974 and expanded to serve a select client base in three principal markets, the UK and Europe, South Africa, and Asia/Australia. Today the company has a dual listing in London and Johannesburg and is a FTSE 250 company (the FTSE 250 is an index composed of the 101st to the 350th largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange in terms of market capitalisation). In the almost 40 years of its existence, the company has grown its capital from less than £1 million to the existing £5.4 billion. From the onset, the founders of the company were committed to building a sustainable business, one that has been able to survive and thrive through all conditions, growing earning from £0,16 million in1981 to £491 million at the end of the 2018 financial year. This business is conscious, not only of their duty to clients and shareholders, but also to employees and the broader community they serve. Investec has a deeply rooted tradition of active corporate citizenship which has been widely recognised internationally.

Investec’s corporate responsibility philosophy is closely guided by their organisational purpose, which is to create sustained long-term wealth. At the heart of their corporate responsibility is a caring approach to their people. The company provides staff with a safe, healthy, and stimulating work environment to ensure that they are motivated and equipped to deliver exceptional customer service. Their approach towards corporate social investment is to provide their beneficiaries with a ‘hand up’
instead of ‘hand-out’. As such, they have focused approach that seeks to make a difference through
entrepreneurship and education.

The aim of CSI projects is to promote lifelong skills development that can contribute towards building and growing economies of countries in which they operate. In South Africa, the company has contributed towards transformation through several projects, amongst them the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme. This programme, launched in March2018, aims to find employment for approximately 1200 youth annually. The company also recognises the challenges that climate change presents to the global economy and thus supports activities that either reduce the impact on or prolongs the life of our planet. Investec’s commitment towards social responsibility, as well as the achievement and recognition of their efforts, are summarised in the figure on the next page.

Investec’s business strategies and decisions are driven by their values and the intention to live in society, and not off it. Clients of this company know that they deal with a sustainable, financially resilient business, which is here for the long term.

Questions:

1. Evaluate the main drivers of Investec ‘s Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. (30)
2. Analyse how Investec’s CSR programme finds expression in its corporate governance. (30)
3. Examine Investec’s contribution to sustainable development. (30)

Answers to above questions on Corporate Citizen

Answer 1: Businesses in the 21st century are required to operate in a socially responsible manner which implies that they are required to focus on the impact of their business activity on the social environment in which they operate. In the given case scenario of Investec, it is evaluated that the main drivers of the company’s corporate social responsibility program are the mission and vision of the organisation which state that the company has a caring approach towards the people and community in which it operates. The company is highly caring towards the environment, and tries to have no impact on it with its business activities.

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