Bigger Growth = Greater Responsibility

Bigger Growth = Greater Responsibility

Doing good shouldn’t just be something you stick on your website to tick a CSR box. If your community engagement strategy begins and ends with a run-of-the-mill press release and a giant cheque, then I’m afraid you’re completely missing the point.

Since founding Reech back in 2009, one thing has always been clear to me: business doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We’re not just a bunch of marketers in a Shropshire office, plugging away at campaigns with our heads down. We are part of something much bigger: a living, breathing, thriving community made up of people, places, charities, and causes that matter.

And the bigger we’ve grown as a business, the clearer it’s become – we have a responsibility. Not just to our clients and our team, but to the very streets we drive to work on, the people we pass in the supermarket, and the grassroots sports teams muddying their boots on local pitches.

Why Community Work Isn’t Just ‘Nice to Have’

Some might ask: ‘why bother?’ Well – quite simply - because we can and we should.

If you’re in a position of influence, whether you’re running a five-person start-up or a fifty-person agency, then it’s time to think about what you’re giving back, not just what you’re taking.

For over 15 years, we’ve been committed to getting involved with the Shropshire community in every way we can. It’s included:

• Gifting charities marketing assistance – such as Severn Hospice, Lingen Davies, and King’s Award for Enterprise

• Donating 1% of our annual revenue to Shropshire-based projects

• Participating in regional events, such as the inaugural Titty Trail

• Sponsoring football teams in the area

• And, most recently, even supporting with a rebrand of my local pub.

And in 2022, I also launched our Charity of the Year initiative, Reech and Reward. Born from the desire to accumulate the time, resources, and expertise we’ve been offering in isolation, we channel our support into one worthy cause to give them the tools and tactics needed to achieve greater things. Each year, one chosen organisation receives £10k of marketing consultancy, which can be used across all or any of our services and solutions.

Importantly though, this should never be about virtue signalling or stroking egos. It’s about impact. And using what we’re good at – strategy, branding, creative, web development, media production, content creation, digital marketing – to help organisations that wouldn’t otherwise have access to those services.

It’s a privilege, actually. And if you’re in a service-led business, with specialist skills, influence, and knowledge, it’s your privilege too.

The Commercial Benefits

Let’s talk brass tacks. Because while giving back feels good, it’s also a smart business move too.

• Sharpens Skills

Working with charity and community projects often means tight budgets, fast turnarounds, and big heart. You must be creative, resourceful, and bold – perfect conditions for pushing your team’s capabilities.

• Attracts Top Talent

Purpose-driven businesses are magnets for brilliant people. Because being a business that does good makes you stand out in a crowded market. Forget ping pong tables and beanbags, values matter – now and always.

And when your team knows their work has real-world impact, it nurtures loyalty, pride, and culture, helping you to retain the kind of people who really give a damn.

• Builds Trust with Clients

Increasingly, clients want to align with agencies that reflect their own values and ethos. If you care about more than just profit, it shows. And trust is a major currency in long-term relationships.

• Creates Meaningful Connections

Community work puts you in rooms you wouldn’t normally be in – with local leaders, charity founders, and passionate people. These conversations often extend into unexpected collaborations, referrals, and even new business.

• Generates Positive PR

Genuinely doing the right thing gets noticed. Charitable projects and community work are authentic and organic stories for local media, case studies, industry press, and award entries.

• Differentiates Your Brand

It’s no secret – many businesses talk the same talk. But showing real results in your own town is a brand story that people remember. It proves you’re not just talented, but wholly tuned in.

• Strengthens Reputation

Being known as a business that gives back earns serious respect. It shows leadership, integrity, and long-term thinking, all qualities that people want from their partners.

Responsibility Isn’t Optional

Look, I get it… when you’re growing a business, your eyes are on revenue, margins, team growth, delivery, and profits. But at some point, you have to lift your head and look around.

You’re not just building a business. You’re building a legacy. And if that legacy doesn’t include building others up as you go, then frankly, what’s the point?

As a business proudly based in Shropshire, rooted in its communities and fiercely loyal to its people, we don’t see our size or rural origins as an excuse to sit back. We see it as a reason to stand up.

So, here’s my challenge to you: get involved. Do something real. Whether that’s sponsoring a team, offering pro-bono services, or gifting your time and expertise. Not because you feel you have to, but because you really want to.

Let’s build businesses that leave more than just a profit margin behind. Let’s leave a mark that truly matters.