Purpose into Practice: Building Inclusive Workplaces Through CSR
Many businesses want their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity to make a genuine difference, but turning good intentions into meaningful action in the workplace isn’t always easy.
This event will explore how employers can move beyond donations and awareness campaigns to create lasting social impact through meaningful paid employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Meaningful CSR doesn’t only benefit the people and communities it supports. It can also have a powerful impact on your existing workforce, creating a shared sense of purpose, strengthening workplace culture and helping employees feel part of something bigger than just a job.
Attendees will hear real-life examples from Stand Out Socks and Altrincham FC Foundation, alongside practical guidance from Altum HR on:
• Accessing a wider and often overlooked talent pool
• Creating meaningful roles around people’s strengths
• Making reasonable workplace adjustments
• Supporting managers to lead inclusive teams confidently
• Engaging your existing workforce in your CSR activity
• Improving employee engagement, retention and workplace culture
• Building inclusion into everyday HR practices
• Meeting your responsibilities as an employer
Altum HR’s senior CIPD-qualified HR consultants help employers do HR right.
From inclusive recruitment and workplace policies to reasonable adjustments, manager training and ongoing employee support, we provide practical, commercially focused guidance that helps businesses create fairer, stronger and more inclusive workplaces.
Whether you’re starting your inclusion journey or looking to strengthen your existing CSR activity, you’ll leave with practical ideas and clear next steps to help turn purpose into practice while creating a positive impact across your whole organisation
Please note that this event is reserved for members only.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact [email protected] for more information
About the Speakers:
Josie Broadstock is the Founder of Altum HR, a UK HR consultancy known for making HR simple, practical and commercially focused. With a legal background and extensive experience in HR, employment law and people management, Josie helps organisations navigate complex workplace challenges, strengthen their people practices and create the foundations for sustainable growth. She is passionate about delivering advice with expertise and care, empowering business owners and managers to make confident, fair and informed decisions. Under Josie’s leadership, Altum HR has grown its presence across Greater Manchester and has been nationally recognised for its commitment to responsible business, social value and people-focused practice.
Christian Laing is Co-Founder and Director of Stand Out Socks, alongside his brother Ross Laing and Natalie Dickson. Together, they have built an award-winning British business with a clear belief that inclusion should create opportunity, not dependency.
Stand Out Socks is a commercially driven, self-sustaining business — not a charity or CIC. It takes no handouts, donations or free labour. Christian believes social impact should be built into the business model and funded through the success of the business itself.
The company has created over 2,000 hours of paid work for people with Down syndrome, driven by a simple principle: not one hour of work should be free.
Christian’s approach is to build roles around people, not put people into roles — recognising individual strengths and abilities and creating meaningful paid employment where people can contribute, develop and thrive.
Stand Out Socks has grown into a recognised British brand, working with major organisations including Manchester United, Vodafone Business, HSBC and Brentford FC, while also becoming a retail stockist with Tesco and supplying brands and organisations across the UK.
For Christian, inclusion isn’t about tokenism, free placements or lowering expectations. It’s about real jobs, real wages and real opportunity.
Simon is passionate about using the power of football and sport to make a genuine difference to people’s lives. His role involves leading the Foundation’s community programmes, developing partnerships, securing funding and working with the team to create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities across Altrincham and Trafford.
A particular focus of Simon’s work is making sport more accessible and inclusive, supporting children and adults with disabilities, young people, older adults and those facing disadvantage. He is proud of the growth of programmes such as Alty Ability, alongside the Foundation’s work in schools, health and wellbeing, employability and youth engagement.
Simon believes that the impact of a football club should extend far beyond what happens on the pitch. For him, the most rewarding part of the role is seeing people gain confidence, build friendships, improve their wellbeing and feel a stronger connection to their community.
As Alty FC Foundation continues to grow, Simon is committed to building strong partnerships and creating sustainable opportunities that make a lasting difference across the communities the Foundation serves.
Interested In The Event?
If you’re interested in attending, you can book online here.
For any further enquires about this event, contact [email protected]
