Author Archives: Mike Tuffrey

The power of purpose

Posted on 8th April 2016 by Mike Tuffrey

Controversial taxi company, Uber, has just launched a new statement of mission to reposition the business.  They follow in the footsteps of others, but beware of the dangers. Technology is disrupting many businesses.  Enabled by smartphone apps, radical change is … Continue reading →

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Sugar tax: the cost of failing to listen

Posted on 14th March 2016 by Mike Tuffrey

The Financial Times reports that shares in AG Barr, maker of Irn Bru, closed down 2.4% following the UK government’s announcement of a tax on sugar in soft drinks, while Britvic, producer of Robinsons squash, fell 1.3%.  Loss of shareholder … Continue reading →

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Managers get it. Do investors?

Posted on 2nd March 2016 by Mike Tuffrey

When owners speak, company bosses tend to listen. So why hasn’t the ethical investment movement had more impact? And now that professional investment managers increasingly understand the issues, will more investors follow? Back in January the UK-based Investment Association published … Continue reading →

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Invest or give – what’s the difference?

Posted on 5th February 2016 by Mike Tuffrey

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and ask whether loans or grants are the right approach to getting results for the community.  Last week, the UK social investment bank Big Society Capital published its lending numbers for 2015. The amount going … Continue reading →

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Corporate titans and the fourth industrial revolution

Posted on 4th February 2016 by Mike Tuffrey

The fourth industrial revolution will see good jobs shredded like never before. Business needs to rethink the economic environment if it is to be sustainable. Corporate titans from around the world gathered last week for their annual love-in at Davos. Joining … Continue reading →

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COP 21: The road to hell?

Posted on 15th December 2015 by Mike Tuffrey

The climate agreement in Paris is being hailed as a triumph. But is it really, and what does it mean for business? Getting the governments of nearly 200 countries to agree to any one thing is no mean feat. And … Continue reading →

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Dieselgate: what governments did, didn’t and should now do

Posted on 6th November 2015 by Mike Tuffrey

Even the most cynical of corporate critics are being surprised at the revelations from Volkswagen. What does it also tell us about the role of governments? The Volkswagen crisis has been escalating since September, when the company admitted that it … Continue reading →

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Double-whammy: young women and the potential for progress

Posted on 7th October 2015 by Mike Tuffrey

With attention focused on the launch of the Global Goals in New York, let’s put the spotlight on gender inequality and how companies can profit from parity. Among the 17 new sustainable development goals, it’s no coincidence that women are … Continue reading →

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From my world to our world

Posted on 4th September 2015 by Mike Tuffrey

The forthcoming SDGs offer opportunities for companies to reframe the debate about the role of business in development. Itinerant diplomats have long had the last weekend in September pencilled into their diaries for New York, before moving on to Paris … Continue reading →

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Human rights: help or hinderance?

Posted on 5th August 2015 by Mike Tuffrey

Many people misunderstand what human rights really mean in the modern economy, and the language we use doesn’t help. Mention abuse of human rights and most ordinary people will think of Amnesty International, dictatorial governments and appalling torture. So they … Continue reading →

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