LNJ is a new Channel Islands-based business offering a social value service to companies that don’t have the time or resources to manage it themselves. LNJ helps organisations integrate the S of ESG by connecting them with charities and creating and managing social value initiatives that have a measurable impact.

How did the idea come about?

With a rising consensus that the social role for organisations goes beyond CSR, we saw a gap in the market to provide a service for organisations that were struggling to get effective ESG programs in place. We thought we could work with businesses and individuals to deliver this service, taking them from inception to completion and reporting all the way through.

How does it work in practice?

We have partnered with local charities and created well researched initiative programmes that organisation and individuals can invest in, providing periodic updates to demonstrate the wider added value of what they’re doing. Through our Social Return on Investment (SROI) model we use a principle-based approach to show the wider definition of value.

For example – If someone donates money to a luncheon club scheme, we can measure the SROI to demonstrate that this donation is making a real difference to the community. This measurement is made up of several factors, but one example could be offering mild therapeutic exercise at the luncheon club to the elderly can stop them having accidents at home, which means fewer hospital admissions and alleviates the cost of staying overnight in a hospital. Another example might be that the regular meals improve the persons health and result in less visits to the doctor.

What’s your advice for start-ups looking to integrate ESG?

Start-ups should seek to demonstrate commitments to ESG from a very early stage. First, consider your products and services and if they will have a negative environmental or social impact. Then identify how you will offset the impact. A key component of ESG is being able to evidence and measure the impact. Start-ups should have the appropriate reporting in place so impact can be easily referenced.