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EnterPrize: Generali promotes responsible European SMEs

2022-10-03T12:55:29.575Z


In a context where sustainability is a powerful factor of economic and social performance, Generali wants to support the most efficient and inspiring models.


The prizes for the second edition of EnterPrize, introduced in 2021 by Generali to reward SMEs with an impact in terms of sustainable development, have just been awarded to the French winners.

Cycle Terre, SCOP Citel (BTP) and Myfood were rewarded respectively in the “

environment

”, “

well-being

” and “

community ” categories.

".

Three favorites were awarded to Laine & Compagnie, the Mirazur restaurant and the Bocal local integration workshop.

Each year, the ESG (environment, social and governance) impact of companies is taken into account.

The award ceremony at European level will take place in Brussels on 26 October.

On this occasion, Generali will unveil the full conclusions of a white paper on sustainability, SMEs and positive effects in Europe, written by the Bocconi University of Economics and Political Science in Milan.

An ESG strategy beneficial for SMEs

As early as 2005, the Generali insurance group embarked on the path of sustainability with the implementation of actions with SMEs.

If Generali is interested in VSEs/SMEs, it is because they constitute 98% of the European economy and 2/3 of private jobs.

"

They constitute de facto a powerful lever for economic transformation via their communities of employees, suppliers, customers as well as within their territory

", comments Régis Lemarchand, member of the Executive Committee of Generali France in charge of the market for professionals and companies.

The Bocconi University survey underlines that the implementation of a CSR strategy has positive effects for SMEs: greater customer satisfaction, better image of the

business and increased market share.

"

Today, sustainability must be an integral component of VSE/SME policy because it is a factor of economic and social performance,

” argues Régis Lemarchand.

In addition to a carbon-neutral portfolio objective by 2050, Generali is developing insurance offers and services that integrate sustainability issues.

In addition to a service for the climatological prevention of natural disasters, Generali is very invested in the social field, through its foundation The Human Safety Net which supports vulnerable populations.

We have an ambitious social policy internally and we encourage diversity and inclusion

,” underlines Régis Lemarchand.

The need to help SMEs develop sustainably

According to the Bocconi University white paper, 25% of SME managers say they have implemented a plan to be more economically and socially responsible in their activities (compared to 14% two years ago).

General agents, Generali advisors and brokers are available to managers to help them improve their overall performance.

"

Through devices like EnterPrize, we promote the most efficient and inspiring models and promote the sharing of best practices.

“says Régis Lemarchand.

However, the document reveals that more than 40% of SMEs surveyed say they have no sustainable development plan to put in place, compared to 20% two years ago.

In particular, these SMEs have difficulty accessing sustainable financing and public subsidies and are also faced with weak demand for responsible products and services.

The economic and health crises we are going through have weakened the economic models of companies, in particular VSEs/SMEs.

Some of them may want to postpone sustainability policies, believing that they have other economic emergencies to deal with

,” regrets Régis Lemarchand, for whom this is a “

short-term calculation.

An observation shared by the 2022 winners of the EnterPrize prize for whom the essential implementation of a sustainability policy is only a matter of time.


Source: lefigaro

All business articles on 2022-10-03

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