Member Story: Sarah Taylor, Development Manager, Chapter One UK

1. How did you get into CR&S, and why did you choose this profession?

I had been working in business-to-business marketing and professional membership organisations but wanted to transfer my skills into the charity sector and do something more meaningful. Corporate partnerships seemed the best match for my experience, and I moved to Christian Aid, where I was part of a much bigger philanthropy team, learnt a lot about all aspects of fundraising and honed my partnership skills. I then worked for a couple of smaller charities before joining Chapter One in 2020.

2. What makes your sector unique from a CRS perspective?

Working in the VCSE sector on corporate partnerships means you have to learn to make a strong business case for a company to support your charity. To do this you have to understand the role of a CSR or social value manager, their goals and the challenges that they face every day. I have many conversations with amazing CSR professionals who love what Chapter One does, but they then have to persuade their senior management to support us with both volunteers and funding. The key is to align their CSR goals with the impact of your charity.

3. What do you need to do your job brilliantly?

Patience and persistence! There’s lots of competition for corporate partnerships and it’s not always easy to connect with the right people. I used to spend a lot of time approaching people on LinkedIn, but these days I do more networking and profile-building for myself and Chapter One. I’ve also had to learn about CSR and social value and keep up to date with the latest trends in procurement and impact measurement. My ICRS membership helps with all of that. I also keep an eye on different sectors and companies to see what they are doing and where in the UK.

4. What are the most essential skills for working in CRS?

You need a passion for making a difference and a belief that companies can be both profitable and purposeful. Good communication skills are essential if you are going to persuade more commercially minded people that addressing social challenges is not only the right thing to do but makes good business sense. It’s a fast-evolving profession and you need to keep up to date with changing legislation and impact measurement techniques. And in my role networking skills are essential!