Why Social Purpose?

Social Purpose is how the most successful brands give meaningful focus to their marketing activities. It’s more than the occasional volunteering day for employees or a bolt-on charity initiative. It’s about building partnerships with your community – whether that’s charities, NGOs or industry organisations. It takes a creative and meaningful approach to your brand’s well-being.

Social Purpose is one way brands can contribute to the well-being of the environment and society. Staff volunteer days, pro-bono work and donations have their role and can make a huge difference to people’s lives.  Rarely, however, do brands insist that CSR and charity initiatives deliver business results. That’s where Social Purpose plays a vital role. Social Purpose guides a brand to make a positive impact in society in a way that generates long-term business growth. 

If a brand wants to create meaningful social impact, its priority has to be about doing things, not just saying things. People and actions can add power to your organisation and brands in a way no other activity can. It allows you to stretch the range of your activities while positively engaging your stakeholders in a way no other activity can. That’s why we explore ideas and initiatives with action and participation at their heart to drive genuine social change. 

Social Purpose must also be measurable, making its ideas and innovations accountable. That’s how ideas improve and scale, making a brand’s social purpose credible and effective.  We help you explore your brand purpose and identify how it might drive social impact. 

Mary Longhurst, Founder and Managing Director of Epoch Strategic Communications, has helped organisations such as MSD Animal Health, Mars Confectionery, the European Commission, Pedigree Petfoods, Spectrum Brands and Nutreco manage their reputations and relationships through proactive and creative communications.  She has over 25 years of business experience and a PhD in CSR communications. She works with commercial and charitable organisations and specialises in the area of human and animal nutrition and healthcare and has worked across a range of charities such as Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hounslow Action for Youth, Educate Girls, Cats Protection, and Afya Rabies Elimination Programme.

These skills mean you get a range of expertise and perspectives that draw out the full potential of your organisation and its brands, delivering results for your internal and external stakeholders.