In this month’s CSR profile, we speak to Francesca Campbell, Corporate Responsibility Manager (UK&I) for RSA Group. Francesca tells us why she enjoys working in CSR and what it means to RSA Group.

Please provide a short outline of your current role and a brief description of any other relevant career experience?
I’ve been a Corporate Responsibility (CR) Manager for RSA Group for the last eighteen months, but my career in CR-based roles goes back a bit further. The great thing about working in the CR field is that you have really transferable skills between industries, so the business I work in now is very different from experience in the construction industry! I didn’t realise when I started my career that roles in CR existed, and in the time that I’ve been working in the industry it’s really grown and understanding of the value that CR adds has become much more widely accepted and understood.

My job at RSA is really varied, and I get to interact with people from different parts of the business as well as a range of partners. I’m a social person so getting the opportunity to talk to people on a regular basis is brilliant.

The best thing though has to be that I feel like I’m making a positive difference when I come to work. Sometimes projects can take a long time to come to fruition, but it’s such a great feeling when you see a positive outcome achieved.

Why is community investment important to your organisation?
As an insurance company we’re really connected with the communities we’re a part of, and if our customers are in the unfortunate position of having to make a claim we have to be there for them in times of real need.

Our work in local communities goes beyond that though, and we encourage our colleagues to support the local projects and charities that matter to them wherever possible. RSA people can get involved through practical volunteering in the community, skills based volunteering through mentoring or coaching, and we encourage fundraising activities through our match funding scheme.

In our London office we really see engagement through our partnership with ELBA, and teams get back in touch again to support the same projects annually. It’s great to see them build relationships with causes they might not otherwise have come into contact with. As a CR team we can see a real difference being driven in local communities as we work with them on a longer term basis.

What is the best part of your job?
That I feel like I’m making a positive impact! My job can vary on a day-to-day basis, but most things I get involved with feel like they have purpose, and that’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.