b'Business Leadership, Governance and Prac\x00ceRedeningThe Covid-19 crisis has put companies approaches to responsible business prac\x00ce to the test. Businesses have been forced company purposeto ques\x00on their purpose and contribu\x00on to societyand how their ac\x00vi\x00es can deliver for people and the planet, in a and values protable way, when it counts. They have had to re-evaluate their resilience to future threats and disrup\x00on, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Sustainability First recommends that businesses adopt a sustainable licence to operate approach4integra\x00ng and embedding a focus on purpose and the long-term public interest in all their work. This approach can par\x00cularly help companies that use private capital to deliver public value (such as public u\x00li\x00es) to be more proac\x00ve in how they deal with social and environmental issuesand give them the legi\x00macy to develop new opportuni\x00es (such as in the growing green economy). Environmental,Investors need to re-evaluate the core business models in which they invest and consider the genuine environmental, social social andand governance impacts of their investments. By engaging with businesses, regulators, policymakers and civil society on these governance (ESG)issues, investors can maximise benecial outcomes for customers, employees, the communi\x00es they put their money into and the natural environment. Before the crisis, there was an increased focus among investors on environmental, social and factors and impactgovernance (ESG) factors in decision-making. This needs to be mainstreamed, with more thought given to the social inves\x00ng outcomes of investments, how these meet local needsand the culture necessary to deliver these. Post-Covid-19 and in a deep recession, the focus needs to shi\x00 to impact inves\x00ng and how investors can use their money to more consciously drive posi\x00ve benets for society and the environment. DiversityIt is cri\x00cal that all companies and government ins\x00tu\x00ons consider diversity throughout their organisa\x00onal structures. throughoutDiversity can build resilience to future shocks (diversity in thought and backgrounds helps overcome groupthink) and, organisa\x00ons par\x00cularly for organisa\x00ons delivering public value, it can also improve public trust and condence. Companies need to enact a range of measures, including diversity in recruitment; proac\x00vely training sta members, business leaders and board members to promote equity and combat discrimina\x00on; a fair pay structure; equal access to opportuni\x00es; internal and external communica\x00ons about equality; addressing biased language; and to reect the lived experience of their customers and communi\x00es.Flexible andThe crisis has accelerated a shi\x00 to homeworking, which has brought benets, including to the environment; reducing homeworkingstressful commu\x00ng \x00mes, travel costs and pollu\x00on. Some sta will welcome this greater exibility; others may struggle to prac\x00ces put this into prac\x00ce (e.g. those in overcrowded accommoda\x00on) or to maintain worklife balance when the boundaries are blurred. Businesses can support their sta by understanding and addressing the inequali\x00es and other impacts and costs of homeworking. Taking responsibility for ensuring sta members have access to broadband and cyber security is cri\x00cal, given our almost complete digital dependency through the pandemic and as business/service models evolve.Jobs, skills andThe pandemic has impacted jobs and risks damaging whole sectors of the economy. The governments support package has innova\x00on been helpful, including the furlough of sta, grants for self-employed people and small businesses. However, as we open up, unemployment is likely to escalate. And some people have not been able to access the benets, including those on short-term contracts. A number of essayists, including Patrick Hinton and Alicja Boryn, called for the retraining of people to work in green sectorssuch as retro\x00ng homes and businesses to tackle and adapt to climate change; laying bre op\x00c broadband cables and ensuring cyber secure communica\x00ons. Appren\x00ceships can help bridge the gap for young people and those changing careers and can help exis\x00ng local businesses to innovate and train people in the skills of tomorrow. Essay prize nalist Manjot Heer advocated the establishment of sustainable innova\x00on hubs led by universi\x00es and facilitated by government.12 13'