Top UK firms commit to a ‘purpose’

Executives from 14 of the UK’s biggest organisations have pledged to ‘do better’ with respect to their staff wellbeing and corporate behaviour by joining the socially focused Purposeful Company scheme. Signatories to the not-for-profit group, which helps firms to meet higher standards of conduct by adopting ‘purpose’ in decision-making, include Capita, Unilever, Barclays, EY and PwC. Capita has been accused of having poor working conditions, Unilever of environmental damage and PwC of facilitating tax avoidance. Purposeful Company claims to have brought together businesses that employ 2 million people and manage £1tn of investment assets.