Advisors to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) concerned with the issue of corporate social responsibility often do not have a typical background in the consultancy sector, but work for intermediary organisations such as regional development agencies or trade associations. The guidebook "Tips and Tricks for Advisors – Corporate Social Responsibility in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises" is aimed at such readers, and provides information and practical tips on three key areas in the work of SME advisors in dealing with CSR: It describes the necessary skills as well as the individual stages of the advisory process, and addresses current and future focuses. In each of these three stages, it provides extensive further information on relevant projects, helpful literature and good examples from CSR advice in practice. The guidebook builds on the outcomes of a participatory network meeting in the form of a BarCamp in June 2012, and thereby supports the exchange of experiences on a European level.
The guidebook is available in six languages (with versions in German as well as English, French, Italian, Polish and Spanish) and can be downloaded free of charge from the website of the European Commission's Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry.
