Leeds Business Anchors
Businesses can play an important role in contributing to inclusive economic growth in their local area. They can do this by providing quality jobs, recruiting locally, developing skills, supporting communities, spending locally, and having a positive environmental contribution.
By taking an ‘Anchor’ perspective on their relationship to the place they operate, businesses can positively contribute to the local economy and the health and wellbeing of communities.
About Leeds Business Anchors
Businesses in Leeds are contributing to the city's inclusive economic growth, with many excellent initiatives and business practices underway that are making a difference to people and places.
Many businesses want to get involved and do more, but tell us that it can be difficult to know what inclusive growth means in practice and how best to direct their efforts to have the biggest impact.
Through the Leeds Business Anchors Network, we invite businesses to work together, and with other partners in the city, to understand and unlock their potential to maximise their positive contribution to Leeds.
Making practical progress
The Business Anchors Progression Framework is a tool to help businesses understand what inclusive growth means in practice and to self-assess how they are contributing and where they can go further. Businesses can use the tool to guide internal reflection on their current and potential future impact in four areas: Employment, Procurement, Environment and Assets, and Corporate and Community.
Using the tool helps businesses identify where to focus efforts and prioritise practical action to create the biggest impact in keeping with business objectives. It also helps like-minded businesses to spot opportunities for collaboration to back the city's inclusive growth goals. Reviewing the progression framework annually helps track progress, celebrate success and plan future action.
Case Study: Leeds Building Society
Nearly 150 years since founding as a mutual Society, Leeds Building Society are delivering towards their purpose of "putting home ownership within reach of more people, generation after generation".
Leeds Building Society used the Business Anchors Progression Framework to sense check their Responsible Business strategy.
Case Study: Arup Leeds
Founded in 1946 to "do socially useful work", shaping a better world is at the heart of Arup's values. The sustainable development firm has built an engaged presence in Leeds over more than 30 years, and the Leeds office was the first in the UK to develop a Know Your City plan.
Arup Leeds used the Business Anchors Progression Framework to engage its office team around action they could take to positively impact the city and local communities, and used this to develop an action plan.
Case Study: Mott MacDonald Leeds
"Being part of the Leeds Business Anchors Framework has inspired our staff to drive environmental and social positive change within the communities they live and work in, encouraging creativity and innovation, leading to greater staff motivation and retention".
Get involved
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