Energy companies have a presence in communities across the UK, ranging from offices, power stations and substations, to overhead lines and the metering equipment in several million homes and businesses.

Although we provide an essential service, we rely to a great extent on the goodwill of local communities to operate effectively – and to plan new developments. Building the trust of communities and being a good corporate neighbour is therefore very important to ScottishPower.

We have a strong employee presence in the community too. Meter readers, sales people and community liaison officers visit homes across the country nearly every day of the year, while energy networks staff carry out repairs and maintenance of cables, lines and substations to keep the power flowing.

For any company with a significant and visible presence, being a good corporate citizen means being considerate to the needs of local communities – and minimising any negative impacts of business activities, such as traffic, parking congestion or occasional noise disturbance. It also involves building and maintaining a relationship of trust with community stakeholders, based on open dialogue.

Most companies today also choose to support their local communities through investment in sponsorships and charitable giving that benefits society or the environment.

This can be achieved through direct financial support for specific causes, or support in kind from the donation of goods and services, or employee volunteering.

Companies can also leverage resources by match funding money raised for good causes by employees and by encouraging and facilitating payroll giving, which enables employees to donate to charities in a tax-efficient way.

With Britain in recession, many companies are cutting back on their community investment programmes. This is happening at a time when people are more vulnerable and charitable organisations need funding to help. A survey by the Charities Aid Foundation, for example, showed that charities whose services help people deal with the effects of recession have seen a marked increase in demand for their services.

It will therefore be important in the months ahead for companies and their beneficiaries to work in partnership and maximise the benefits of corporate giving for companies, charities and those members of society they represent.

Nick Horler, Impact Leader