Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are being advised to become more involved in their surrounding communities.

Terry Currie, director of small business services at Scottish Enterprise, the main economic development agency in Scotland, has highlighted the new CommunityMark scheme and how it can benefit businesses involved in it, reports the Herald.

CommunityMark, which is run by Scotish Business in the Community (SBC), recognises firms that actively participate in their local area.

Mr Currie said: "Three quarters of small firms do all of their business within seven miles of their base so working towards CommunityMark standards makes perfect business sense."

His comments follow the first award of CommunityMark to the Kingdom shopping centre in Fife.

The centre has been actively involved in its local community, pursuing initiatives such as sponsoring a local policeman, providing support for customers with learning difficulties and hosting a weekly NHS monitoring service.

SBC comments: "Businesses enrolled in CommunityMark benefit commercially from their community involvement and report increased staff retention rates, productivity and sales."

SBC is a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status. It is committed to the promotion of responsible business practices in Scotland.


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