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The latest thinking from across business, in brief.
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What Is Included

Hot Topic
& Checklist

A key topic for great leadership, right now.

High performance
management

The latest ideas and fresh thinking from around the world.

Innovation
leadership

New findings on building the innovative enterprise.

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Viewport

Guest expert shares their latest insights on the future of leadership

Recent Hot Topics
Research

Data collection, storage and reporting processes

Data collection and storage is the set of processes through which an organisation gathers CR&S data from its various sources and holds it securely so it can be processed, analysed and reported. This Hot Topic explores the principles of CR&S data management across its full lifecycle. How data is collected consistently, cleaned and processed accurately, stored securely and prepared for reporting and why getting these processes right is critical to credible CR&S delivery.

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KnowledgeBrief

Data Collection, Storage and Reporting Processes

CR&S data sources, metrics and performance indicators
Research

CR&S data sources, metrics and performance indicators

CR&S data sources are the specific origin points of data, information, and frameworks used to measure and report a company's environmental and social impact. These sources generally fall into three distinct categories: the organisation itself, its sector, and its stakeholders. Once gathered, that data is turned into metrics and performance indicators that measure how an organisation is performing. This Hot Topic explores where CR&S data come from and how they are converted into meaningful measur

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KnowledgeBrief

CR&S Data Sources, Metrics and Performance Indicators

Comparing qualitative and quantitative CR&S data
Research

Comparing qualitative and quantitative CR&S data

Quantitative data shows what is happening in numbers, while qualitative data explains why through words and accounts. CR&S performance can only be understood fully when the two are compared and brought together. This Hot Topic explores the techniques used to compare qualitative and quantitative CR&S data, and how to use them to form evidence-based conclusions about performance.

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KnowledgeBrief

Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative CR&S Data

Social and physical determinants of health
Research

Social and physical determinants of health

Health is not simply a matter of individual lifestyle or genetics. The conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age determine the majority of health outcomes. Organisations play a direct role in shaping those conditions. This Hot Topic explores what the social and physical determinants of health are, why they matter for responsible organisations, and what CR&S practitioners can do to address them.

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KnowledgeBrief

Social and Physical Determinants of Health

Human Impact on Communities, Culture and Individuals
Research

Human Impact on Communities, Culture and Individuals

Every organisation affects people through how it employs them, sources from them, operates near them and engages with them. This Hot Topic examines the evidence on how business activity impacts communities, cultures and individuals, the international frameworks that define organisational responsibilities in this area, and what CR&S practitioners need to understand to manage and report on human impact credibly in their own organisations.

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KnowledgeBrief

Human Impact on Communities, Culture and Individuals

Global Inequalities and the Social Protection Floor
Research

Global Inequalities and the Social Protection Floor

Global inequality has reached alarming levels, with the richest 1% of the world’s population now owning 40% of all global financial and non-financial assets (Zucman, 2019). The Social Protection Floor (a framework of minimum social security guarantees adopted by the International Labour Organization in 2012) represents the international community’s response. This Hot Topic explores what these issues mean for CR&S delivery across industries and why they cannot be treated as distant concerns.

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KnowledgeBrief

Global Inequalities and the Social Protection Floor

The Role of CR&S in Organisations and Governance
Research

The Role of CR&S in Organisations and Governance

Where CR&S sits in an organisation, determines whether it shapes decisions or reports on them retrospectively. This research article explores how governance structures influence what a CR&S function can achieve. Understanding this relationship is essential for any practitioner who wants to build a CR&S capability that creates lasting impact rather than one that operates at the margins of organisational life.

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KnowledgeBrief

The Role of CR&S in Organisations and Governance

Responsible Corporate Approaches and Societal Value
Research

Responsible Corporate Approaches and Societal Value

What does it mean for a business to be genuinely responsible, and does responsibility have to come at the cost of commercial success? This Hot Topic explores the relationship between responsible corporate approaches and societal value, drawing on research to show how organisations that align business goals with wider social benefit are building more resilient, trusted and competitive enterprises for the long term.

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KnowledgeBrief

Responsible Corporate Approaches and Societal Value

CR&S, Reputation, Branding and Talent
Research

CR&S, Reputation, Branding and Talent

A credible CR&S strategy does not only reduce harm, but most importantly it actively shapes how an organisation is perceived, how it presents itself, and who chooses to work for it. In this hot topic, we will examine the evidence for how CR&S strategy influences organisational reputation, branding and talent management, and what this means for CR&S practitioners making the case for responsible practice in their own organisations.

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KnowledgeBrief

CR&S, Reputation, Branding and Talent

Responsible Corporate Approaches and Mutual Benefit
Research

Responsible Corporate Approaches and Mutual Benefit

Responsible corporate approaches are not simply the right thing to do; they create genuine, mutually compatible benefits for organisations and the societies they operate within. This Hot Topic explores how responsible practices generate organisational value and societal benefit simultaneously and help CR&S practitioners evaluate the range of approaches available to their own organisations.

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KnowledgeBrief

Responsible Corporate Approaches and Mutual Benefit

How we can help

Become a Leader Your Employees Want To Follow

Become a Leader Your Employees Want To Follow

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Creating a Happier and Healthier Workforce

Creating a Happier and Healthier Workforce

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Better Management Training, Better Results

Better Management Training, Better Results

Our professional development courses are available to individuals or teams. Funded via the apprenticeship levy, the UK’s government apprenticeship scheme.

Essential Training to Grow Your Small Business

Essential Training to Grow Your Small Business

You can now get the same leadership, management and customer service training as the world’s most successful companies – funded via the government apprenticeship levy.

Maximise your Apprenticeship Levy

Maximise your Apprenticeship Levy

The Apprenticeship Levy, now in its third year, can on the face of it appear complex and inflexible and is often overlooked as a solution to recurring HR and L&D challenges. The good news is, the Levy doesn’t have to be disruptive at all.

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“The quality of support I have received from my coach has been extremely high. His coaching is considered, tailored and aligned to my personal experience, career stage as well as my day-to-day balancing of responsibilities. My apprenticeship has helped to bolster my confidence that I am taking a reasonable approach with some challenging clients.”

Liane Langdon

Director

Clarity Consulting Associates

“The apprenticeship with KnowledgeBrief was transformative, improving my leadership, strategic decisions, and confidence. I gained skills in planning, change management, financial acumen, and stakeholder engagement. Completing with distinction, I secured a new contract and expanded my consultancy.”

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Programme graduate

Grosvenor Health and Social Care

“The coaching course through KnowledgeBrief was well-structured, balancing theoretical and practical knowledge. The platform is easy to navigate, providing access to support and promoting a solid understanding of coaching fundamentals. The resources provided have been comprehensive.”

Sandra Ajidahun

Senior Talent Partner

Publicis Groupe

“KnowledgeBrief has great content and is detailed in the area I am developing in. The system is very clear and easy to use and navigate. Thanks to my Skills Coach for his support and guidance. I apply my course knowledge and experience, such as team performance, leadership styles, and the Eisenhower Matrix, to manage tasks effectively.”

Jonny Burrows

Assistant Manager

Cheltenham College

“The apprenticeship has greatly enhanced my understanding of strategic work and how different areas of the organisation operate. It has boosted my confidence to ask questions and take on senior-level tasks. Studying has pushed me out of my comfort zone, showing me my capabilities and improving my overall performance.”

Lauren Mitchell

HR Manager

Canterbury Oast Trust

“The support has been timely and professional and, since starting, I have increased my knowledge through the online platform and workshops. I'm covering subjects like business understanding, communication, and operational plans - which has boosted my confidence. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it.”

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Operations Manager HVAC

DENSO Manufacturing UK Ltd

“As a result of this apprenticeship, I have gained confidence at work. I've developed key skills in project management, communication, and technical processes, and have improved my performance through focused feedback. I am now better prepared to contribute to the team's goals and tackle future challenges.”

Cristian Condurache

Software Engineering Team Lead

Reach

“I have seen positive work improvements using what I’ve learnt about leadership, communication, and decision-making. I highly recommend the easy-to-use KnowledgeBrief platform with visual progress tracking, extra resources, and valuable information.”

Sharon Boia

EHS Manager

Abcam

“This journey has strengthened my strategic vision, stakeholder management, team and organisational influencing skills, and, most importantly, my confidence in communication. The structured learning and the tailored guidance has proven invaluable in giving me direction and purpose as a senior leader.”

Sam Dykes

Accounts Manager

Milling International Marketing Ltd

“This course improved my performance by helping me create strategies, demonstrate values, develop my team, identify growth areas, and gain leadership principles like communication, conflict resolution, and strategic thinking. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to strengthen their leadership abilities and make an impact.”

Linda Evans

UK Head of Product, Pricing & Marketing

Ferdinand Bilstein UK

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