The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

History suggests that the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been practiced in the UK for well over two hundred years. Albeit, those actions that are tantamount to the activities now referred to as social responsibility were not previously so described. CSR is a relatively modern term used for all those corporate actions that now fall under its ambit. The UK — a widely acknowledged world leader in the field — has played a pivotal role in recent corporate activities/actions in the field. This chapter explores how UK corporate entities (both profit-seeking and not-for-profit) have been practicing CSR over the last few decades. The paper also discusses the roles that the UK governments have assumed at different times in the field of CSR in the past few centuries. The literature provides a wealth of good-quality studies covering different aspects of CSR by researchers both in the UK and across the world, and this chapter refers to some of these excellent studies. The following questions need to be answered in order to fully understand how the field has developed over its history: What has brought about the recent revival or resurgence of interests in CSR since the 1980s? Why have corporate entities across the globe suddenly realized that CSR is a concept that must be warmly embraced if they wished to compete successfully and survive in modern markets? Why are all these entities ensuring that their stakeholders are aware of all their activities in the field? Answers to these and similar questions can be found not just in the UK chapter but throughout the book. To put it simply, doing ‘good’ is now perceived by all as being trendy and rewarding: if not immediately, then certainly in the longer term. Adam Smith (1776) in his book ‘The Wealth of Nations’ said that “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our necessities but of their advantage.” Some large UK firms have argued that ‘doing good is good for business’, which perhaps sums it all up. However, the actions of ‘The Abolitionists’ from the 1780s up until 1833 show that altruistic CSR in the UK has a very long history.