Glenn Barber’s Post

🤔 What is the difference between advocacy and corporate lobbying? Sorry, there isn't a punchline. This was just one of the very thought provoking questions put to the panel I had the pleasure of speaking on this week at the UN Global Compact Network UK Annual Summit in London. (Read to the end for my attempt at an answer...) It was a pleasure to join Fiona Duggan, Professor Miranda B. and Faye Holder for a discussion on 'The Case for Corporate Policy Advocacy', in which we sought to encourage other organisations to get more involved in engaging constructively with policymakers. I was asked if I had any tangible examples of the benefits of doing so. It's a bit extreme, but I pointed to the world's largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, which we are constructing right now in the North Sea as physical evidence of what positive advocacy can achieve The scale of it is enormous - just one of its blades is over 100m long and it's being installed by a boat that's taller than the Eiffel Tower. But in the early 2010s we didn't think offshore wind would get off the ground - so much so that SSE plc publicly announced our exit from the market. But we didn't give up on policy engagement and then came Electricity Market Reform, and with it 'contracts for difference' - the derisking mechanism that has enabled the UK to lead the world on offshore wind. The panel was asked for any tips on how best to engage on policy. We don't have all the answers but a few key takeaways: 💞 Have empathy. Ultimately it's about people - consider the objectives and pressures that policymakers - and ultimately voters - are facing, and identify how you can help. Nobody wants to hear your list of demands. 🏹 Be specific, and make it easy. You're one of a million people with ideas on how to evolve policy. So present solutions not challenges. Be clear about what needs to change and why the outcomes are beneficial for society. 🤝 Don't go it alone. Policy debates can be polarising. It's often difficult for policymakers to navigate a path through and identify the optimal outcome. Building coalitions and finding consensus is therefore hugely important. Trade associations, chambers of commerce and other groups can all be hugely helpful in this. It's not always easy but focus on finding common ground. You don't often get opportunities to talk about the case for corporate advocacy and how best to approach it, so it was a real privilege to be a part of the discussion and hopefully encourage more progressively minded organisations to engage in public policy. Oh, and my answer to that first question? It's in the eye of the beholder... if you happen to agree with the viewpoint it's advocacy; if you don't, it's corporate lobbying. I've been accused of both! If anyone has a better answer, keen to hear it 😄 Thanks Alexandra R. for the kind invitation.