A speedy interview with the ICRS Scotland Hub

The Scotland Hub is one of the most recent additions to the Hubs network. First convened in June, the Hub has successfully appointed a Steering Committee and is in the process of planning its first event, due to take place in September. 

One of the founding members, Gemma Branney, Global Head of Corporate Responsbility and Sustainability at Organisational Member SThree, took a moment to reflect on why Scotland needed its own Hub.

What makes your Hub unique?

Our Hub is for the whole of Scotland so we are more of a national Hub than regional. The Scotland Hub is also very new and we are working with members to create a framework and forum that provides peer support as well as learning and networking opportunities.

What do you see as the role of your Hub?

Scotland is quite a unique region, in the sense that the CRS professional network is relatively small but what we do have is a large business community with an ethos anchored on business for good. We also have a strong community of social enterprises and a large academic offering. Our Hub provides a space for CRS professionals, individuals who incorporate CRS into a wider role, social enterprise leaders, academics and students to share, collaborate and learn. It very much is about bringing people together to help build a sustainable future for Scotland.

How are you hoping your Hub will evolve?

We are very early in our Hub journey. Our aim is for our Hub to organically evolve with the support and steer of our members. The Hub is a peer led group and the input, thoughts and ideas of our members will shape how we operate. We have launched the Hub during a global pandemic so having an in-person event is definitely a future aspiration for when it is safe to do so.

Keep an eye out on our Events page for upcoming Scotland Hub events, and join the LinkedIn group here.