Attracting and Retaining Talent

Communication about corporate social investment (CSI) can help to attract and retain top talent. It can be an important differentiator between employers, and it can be used to ensure that employees find additional meaning and pride in their work. Effectively engaging in this space can help to equip employees to speak more knowledgeably about the company’s social investment work, both internally and externally. This creates positive brand equity, pride, and belonging amongst the staff, and ultimately impact in local communities.

Increasingly, potential employees are showing an interest in what employers are doing in terms of social investment. “There is no doubt in my mind that for some people, CSI is a consideration when deciding whether to join a firm, stay within, or leave a firm,” says Investec’s Setlogane Manchidi. “I have met many Investec employees who have indicated that our CSI efforts mean a lot to them. They have a sense of pride from working at a company that contributes to society in the way we do.”

Beth van Heerden at FirstRand is asked to make presentations about the activities of the foundation at each induction session for new employees. She says that making sure all new staff members understand the importance of social investment activities shows that the company takes it seriously. It also gives employees an opportunity to engage with FirstRand’s social investment work from day one.