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- No
1. Summary of the impact
Research led by Edinburgh Napier University into the ethics of tobacco marketing in Indonesia resulted in new policies and monitoring procedures for No Smoking Area (Kawasan Tanpa Rokok – KTR) in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Tobacco sponsorship is now banned in schools, and advertising is prohibited within a 500m radius. Over 300 schools now report biannually on implementation of their KTR. KTRs using the guidance are now being implemented in 1,941 public spaces in Sleman. The beneficiaries of the research are Sleman Public Health Office, school children and users of public places.
2. Underpinning research
In 2013, Dr Nathalia C Tjandra – at the time Lecturer and Early Career Researcher, Associate Professor in Marketing since June 2018 – undertook secondary research to evaluate the ethics of tobacco marketing in Indonesia [O1], followed by primary qualitative research into public perceptions in 2014 [P1][P2]. There has been little previous research into tobacco marketing practices and ethics in countries with lenient tobacco control, such as Indonesia.
Indonesia is one of the biggest producers of tobacco worldwide, the largest market for cigarettes in Southeast Asia and the world’s second largest market after China, selling more than 316 billion cigarettes in 2016. The industry is a significant part of Indonesia’s economy, contributing approximately 10% of Indonesian tax revenue and employing 2.5million manufacturing workers and farmers. Indonesia has the highest number of male smoking prevalence in Southeast Asia. Sixty-five percent of male adults aged 15 and above and 20% of children aged 13-15 currently smoke. 20% of children smoked cigarettes before the age of 10 and 89% before the age of 13. The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (2016) estimate that smoking kills 240,618 Indonesians every year. Despite this, tobacco control policy in Indonesia remains lenient. Indonesia is the only country in Asia that has not signed and ratified the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC).
In 2014, Tjandra was awarded funding by the Carnegie Trust [P1] and Edinburgh Napier University [P2] to investigate public perceptions of the ethics of tobacco marketing in Indonesia. The research was conducted in collaboration with Dr Lukman Araoen (University of East Anglia) and Professor Yayi Suryo Prabandari (University of Gadjah Mada, Indonesia), with Tjandra as Principal Investigator. It took place during 2014-15 in Indonesia’s Yogyakarta region, an autonomous province with 3.5 million inhabitants. Drawing on a mixed-method research design, data collection included 30 interviews, 6 focus groups with 41 participants and 491 questionnaires.
Results from the qualitative parts of the research [O1][O2][O3][O4][O5] found that the majority of participants perceived tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship as unethical in adopting attractive themes such as enthusiasm, persistence, bravery, enjoyment, masculinity, success, humour, youth, adventure and family [O4] which hides the real danger of smoking. They felt this could negatively impact young people who are on the journey of finding their identity [O3][O5], particularly the tobacco companies’ primary target market, young male consumers. Most participants acknowledged that tobacco companies were significant sources of employment and support for communities through sponsorship and corporate social responsibility activities [O2]. Nevertheless, most participants considered these activities to be unethical, recognising that the tobacco industry’s intention in conducting these activities is primarily to increase their brand awareness and favourability amongst their target market and community [O2][O5].
The first publication from the research was awarded Best Paper in Ethics and Marketing by the Academy of Marketing [O2] in 2015. A journal article on was published in 2020 [O5] and a second article is under review by the European Journal of Marketing (CABS 3).
3. References to the research
[O1] Tjandra, N. C., Ensor, J., & Thomson, E. (2014). Tobacco children: Ethical evaluation of tobacco marketing in Indonesia
[O2] Tjandra, N.C., Aroean, L., and Prabandari, Y.S. (2015). To revel in someone else’s misfortune? An exploration of the perception of Indonesian smokers towards tobacco marketing - A virtue ethics perspective. In L. O’Malley (Ed.), The Academy of Marketing Conference 2015 – The Magic of Marketing. Limerick: University of Limerick. Awarded as the Best Paper in Marketing Ethics track.
[O3] Tjandra, N. C., Aroean, L., & Prabandari, Y. S. (2018, May). The future of Indonesian tobacco children: Implications for tobacco control policy. Paper presented at 5th World Social Marketing Conference.
[O4] Tjandra, N., Aroean, L., and Prabandari, Y.S. (2019). An exploration of the Indonesian public perceptions of the ethics of tobacco advertising. Edinburgh: 6th World Social Marketing Conference. Edinburgh.
[O5] Tjandra, N. C., Aroean, L., & Prabandari, Y. S. (2020). Public evaluation of the ethics of tobacco marketing in Indonesia: Symbiotic ethical approach. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, https://doi.org/10.1108/QMR-01-2020-0011
[CABS 2]
[O6] Tjandra, N. (2018). ‘Disneyland for Big Tobacco’: how Indonesia’s lax smoking laws are helping next generation to get hooked. Retrieved August 17, 2019, from The Conversation website: http://theconversation.com/disneyland-for-big-tobacco-how-indonesias-lax-smoking-laws-are-helping-next-generation-to-get-hooked-97489
[P1] Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland: An Investigation of consumers' perceptions of the ethics of tobacco marketing in Indonesia (8 Jan 2013 - 28 Feb 2015). Funder Award Reference: 31671 (£2,270)
[P2] Edinburgh Napier University Research Translation Innovation Fund – Early Career Researchers Competition (2014/2015): “An investigation of consumers’ perceptions of the ethics of tobacco marketing in Indonesia” (£6,000)
[P3] Edinburgh Napier University Public Engagement and Innovation Funding (2017): “The ethics of Indonesian tobacco marketing: Implications for tobacco control policy” (£2000)
4. Details of the impact
Edinburgh Napier research into the ethics of tobacco marketing in Indonesia has been used in Sleman Regency, an administrative area within the Yogyakarta region, to develop new policies and monitoring procedures for Sleman’s No Smoking Area (Kawasan Tanpa Rokok – KTR).
Routes to impact
The research findings [O1][O2][O3][O4][O5] were disseminated through a stakeholder engagement event entitled " The Ethics of Tobacco Marketing: Implications on Tobacco Control Policy", in July 2017 in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia [C1]. Funded by Edinburgh Napier’s public engagement funds [P3], the event was organised in collaboration with the University of Gadjah Mada and Tulodo, a Jakarta-based consultancy specialising in social and behaviour change. The seminar was attended by 48 key stakeholders including: government health and education officials, anti-tobacco activists, public order enforcers, medical doctors, academics and media. Positive testimonials were received from the attendees [C2].
The research findings and event were featured in [C3]: the national weekly news magazine Tempo (circulation 100,000); local/national daily newspaper Suara Merdeka (170,000); nine local newspapers and online news sites. An opinion article by Tjandra published on The Conversation [O6] was republished in the national daily newspaper Jakarta Post (40,000) and the online platforms such as Yahoo News and Asian Correspondent. The media exposure resulted in an invitation by the Alliance of Independent Journalists Jakarta to present a reflection on tobacco marketing control in Indonesia [C3].
No Smoking Area – policy and monitoring
Attendees at the public engagement event included staff from the Sleman Public Health Office (SPHO). Sleman Regency is a sub-division of Yogyakarta Region, with a population of 850,176. SPHO develops and implements the government’s health initiatives in Sleman Regency, including the implementation of No Smoking Areas (KTRs). KTRs are rooms or areas where smoking and the production, sale, advertising and/or promotion of tobacco products is prohibited. These were introduced by the national government in 2011 to be implemented by the local government.
SPHO reported that the insights provided by the research was instrumental in the inclusion of a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship in the policy and guidance for implementing KTRs in schools. As stated by Cahya Prihantama (Promoter of Young People Health Sleman Health Office) [C2],
“The information that I received from the seminar, I used to discuss and develop the implementation guidance of No Smoking Area in School initiative on 22 and 23 March 2018. The result is tobacco advertising and sponsorship are agreed as the activities that are banned in the school area. As from the normative ethic perspective, tobacco advertising must not target groups under the age of 17 years old”
The research also influenced a new mandatory monitoring reporting process for schools, which commenced in March 2018 [C2][C4]. This includes the ban of tobacco advertising and sponsorship in three of the primary indicators (indicators 3, 4 and 9) for monitoring KTRs in education institutions [C4]. Indicator 4, the ban of tobacco sponsorship, was originally not specified in the national and local regulations on KTRs.
Based on the ‘Activities Related to No Smoking Area 2018 report’ [C5], 300 primary schools in eight districts of Sleman Regency implemented KTRs and reported back on progress using the criteria in the monitoring instrument [C4].
The same instrument has been expanded to cover KTRs in public transport, healthcare services, playgrounds, houses of worship, workplace and public places [C6]. In 2019 1,941 out of 2,383 (81.5%) teaching and learning, workplace, healthcare and public area institutions in Sleman Regency had set up KTRs and gradually adopted the monitoring instruments [C9]. In 2020 2,457 out of 2,939 (83.5%) institutions have been declared as KTRs [C10].
Further impact
The research also helped the SPHO [C2] to input to the publication of Regent's Circular Letter on Tobacco Advertising Regulations in April 2019 [C7]. This was part of an initiative by the Regent (equivalent to area governor) of Sleman to make Sleman Regency ‘Child Friendly’. The instruction was addressed to all local government leaders, village heads and school headmasters in Sleman Regency to make KTRs free from tobacco advertisements within a 500m radius [C7] which goes beyond the national regulations on KTRs.
SPHO reported [C2] that, as a result of the insights gained from the Edinburgh Napier research, they now include awareness around tobacco marketing in their smoking intervention activities and training around KTRs. These are delivered at education institutions, local government offices, training events, community health centres and other institutions in Sleman Regency in order to raise awareness about the danger of smoking and the impact of tobacco marketing [C8].
5. Sources to corroborate the impact
Translations are provided in the documents.
[C1] Public engagement event entitled "The Ethics of Tobacco Marketing: Implications on Tobacco Control Policy" on 19 July 2017
[C2] Testimonials from public engagement attendees (incl. Sleman Public Health Office)
[C3] Media exposure on the research findings
[C4] Monitoring instrument of No Smoking Area - Educational Institutions
[C5] Activities Related to No Smoking Area 2018 Report
[C6] Monitoring instrument of No Smoking Area public transport, health care facilities, children playground, houses of worship, workplace, public places
[C7] Regent of Sleman's Instruction Number 440/001 on Free from Tobacco Advertisement in No Smoking Area
[C8] SPHO Presentation - Socialisation and Advocacy of No Smoking Area
[C9] The number of institutions in Sleman Regency implementing No Smoking Area in 2019
[C10] The number of institutions in Sleman Regency being declared as No Smoking Area in 2020
- Submitting institution
- Edinburgh Napier University
- Unit of assessment
- 17 - Business and Management Studies
- Summary impact type
- Societal
- Is this case study continued from a case study submitted in 2014?
- No
1. Summary of the impact
Weaver, Crossan and Tan’s research into private and third sector collaboration to support responsible business led to changes in strategy at three Scottish organisations: a fund manager; the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce; and Scotland CAN B, leading to new business partnerships and employment. It led to Edinburgh becoming the first UK city to be awarded a global sustainability status, providing the city with enhanced reputation, visibility and credibility and a competitive edge over other European cities. It also led to a Weaver and Brodie scheme with cross-sector partners to support young professionals to join charity boards, which has benefitted over 35 charities.
2. Underpinning research
Using an operational research approach, Weaver, Crossan and Tan developed a model for strengthening the relationships between businesses, communities and the third sector, to support more responsible business practice, particularly to release more resources from ‘for-profits’ into communities.
Weaver’s research background is in supply chain modelling, using an operational research (OR) approach, and after joining Edinburgh Napier he began to look at how OR could address the ‘grand challenge’ of sustainability within business and in collaboration with stakeholders. In 2013, he presented an assessment of the contribution, concepts and research issues relating to OR for sustainability to the 26th European Conference on Operational Research in Rome (with colleagues from the University of Manchester, Edinburgh Napier and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland) [R1]. In 2015, Weaver, Crossan and Tan showed how the ‘systems thinking’ approach used in OR could be used to connect and align Corporate Social Responsibility responses to social need in Scotland (Presentation at the 27th European Conference on Operational Research, Glasgow) [R2].
In 2015, Weaver, Crossan and Tan were also commissioned by the Scottish Government [P1] to report on the landscape for cultivating responsible business practice in Scotland, share good practice (5 cases) in the context of the Scottish Business Pledge [R3]. The pledge aims to encourage and support businesses to adopt best practice and progressive policies, on areas such as the living wage, gender pay gap and environmental standards.
Between 2015-2017, Weaver, Crossan and Tan conducted a Community Operational Research study using Soft System Methodology to investigate how third sector fund managers can better engage with the private sector to address existing and emerging community challenges [R3]. The study found a perceived lack of connectivity and alignment of objectives between and within public, for-profit, and the third sectors in Scotland and proposed a new ‘Connect model’ to help bring more resources into communities, particularly from the private sector. This research was developed through an Innovate UK funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Impact Fund Partners , a Scottish fund-manager (at the time called Voluntary Action Fund) **[P2] . The study involved over 240 participants from Scottish businesses, the third sector, fund managers and umbrella bodies, local and national government and their agencies and public sector bodies.
The Connect model asserts that there is both a need to invest in building social capital between stakeholders and to establish a ‘shared space’ where businesses, communities and citizens can come together to collaborate on initiatives and actions [R4]. The shared space concept recognises that, as the for-profit sector controls most resources, they need to be part of any solutions. Yet, it also incorporates the view that, for businesses to fulfil their role as responsible actors in society, they need to empower communities to identify issues and be part of co-creating the solutions.
This work was recognised at the forefront of using systems-based approaches to building a meaningful engagement between business and communities [R5] and to attain the Sustainable Development Goals across partnerships [R6] with directions to build knowledge and practical application in these areas.
3. References to the research
[R4] submitted to REF2; [R6] downloaded 109 times.
[R1] Weaver, M., Quariguasi Frota Neto, J. & Bonfiglioli, A. (2013). OR for Sustainability: Assessing Contribution, Concepts and Research Issues. Paper presented at Euro/Informs 26th European Conference on Operational Research, Rome, University of Sapienza.
Paper can be supplied by HEI on request.
[R2] Weaver, M., Wimbles, K., Paxton, S., & Parkin, J. (2015). A Call to Address Grand Challenges: A Conversation between the OR Community and the Voluntary Action Fund (Scotland). Presented at 27th European Conference on Operational Research, Glasgow, Scotland. Paper can be supplied by HEI on request
[R3] Weaver, M., Tan, H., Crossan, K., & Paxton, S. (2016). Cultivating Responsible Business in Scotland through the lens of the Scottish Business Pledge. Edinburgh: Voluntary Action Fund as part of the Responsible Business Forum.
[R4] Weaver, M. W., Crossan, K., Tan, H., & Paxton, S. (2018). A systems approach to understanding the perspectives in the changing landscape of responsible business in Scotland. European Journal of Operational Research.
[R5] Weaver, M. (2017, March). Keynote: Applications of “Systems Thinking” to co-create business-community value. Presented at Applications of Systems Thinking, CAN-Mezzanine, London, Operational Research Society.
[R6] Weaver, M., Tan, H., & Crossan, K. (2020). Systems and Systemic Approaches for Attaining the SDGs Across Partnerships. In W. Leal Filho, A. M. Azul, L. Brandli, A. Lange Salvia, & T. Wall (Eds.), Partnerships for the Goals: Encyclopaedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Cham: Springer.
Funded Projects
[P1] Weaver, M., (PI), Tan, H., Crossan, K., Responsible Business Forum, Scottish Government, December 2015 – February 2016, £3,500.
[P2] Weaver, M., (PI), Tan, H., Crossan, K., Innovate UK (50% Scottish Funding Council and 50% Technology Strategy Board) [Partnership Number: 9740], Grant Amount: £83,333.00.
A further 1/3 of the costs were supported by the Voluntary Action Fund, Fife, Grant Amount: £40,833.17, February 2015 – February 2017, Total Funding: £124,166.17.
4. Details of the impact
Responsible Business Forum: Weaver, Crossan and Tan were commissioned by the Scottish Government to help promote the Scottish Business Pledge through a Responsible Business Forum, which was hosted at Edinburgh Napier University Business School in 2016, supported by the Voluntary Action Fund, Scottish Enterprise and Business in the Community (Scotland). Weaver, Crossan and Tan presented their report on responsible business in Scotland at the event, which was attended by more than 100 businesses. At the time of the forum there were just over 200 signatories, but by 2019, this had risen to over 500 businesses making the Pledge [IM1]. While we cannot make a direct link between the event and report and subsequent signatories, the event had a clear purpose to reinvigorate the Pledge and encourage more businesses to sign up.
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce: In 2018, Weaver and Tan presented their research to the Inspiring Communities Group at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, which brings together private sector and charity members of the Chamber to form meaningful partnerships for mutual benefit. Weaver was subsequently invited to become a member of the group. Weaver’s research helped the group develop a new methodology for their work [IM2]. Weaver connected the Chamber with Scotland CAN B, and the Chamber subsequently led a successful bid to have Edinburgh designated as the UK’s first CAN B city and only the second in Europe [IM3]. Cities CAN B is a global movement of cities looking to be more prosperous, sustainable, inclusive and resilient, by bringing together all sectors with a focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Winning CAN B status led to the Chamber receiving a year-long programme of mentoring and support from the Co-founders of the Cities CAN B movement (Rio and Santiago CAN-B, Latin America). Chamber Director of Policy, Joanne Davidson says that, while this cannot be valued in monetary terms, the Chamber believes the designation provides Edinburgh with “ an advantage in terms of reputation, visibility and credibility and also believe that it will be a draw for businesses, giving the city a competitive edge over other parts of Scotland. This designation would not have happened without the chain of events put in motion through Dr Weaver and his research.” The Chamber has adapted its strategy and structure as a result and has employed a new member of staff to oversee this aspect of their work [IM4].
Scotland CAN B is a nationwide programme combining the Scottish Government’s vision, for the country to become a leader in innovation & entrepreneurship, with B Lab, a global movement to drive business as a force for good. It was launched with the support of the Scottish Government in 2018. Weaver and Tan became involved in the development of the programme from its conception, taking part in activities and incorporating the programme’s ideas into their teaching. Edinburgh Napier University is a knowledge partner in the programme and hosted the launch of their B-Leaders event in June 2018 and a Next Generation Business conference for students in March 2019 and 2020. Scotland CAN B credit the support from Edinburgh Napier University as important in developing their organisation. Weaver took part in a weekend event for those involved in sustainable business and contributed research insights to the group. Scotland CAN B cite these insights as directly leading to a change in their strategy, moving from a purely training focused approach to one which now includes initiatives aimed at changing the business culture in Scotland [IM5]. As a result of the link with the Chamber of Commerce, facilitated by Weaver, Scotland CAN B was invited as a partner in the global Cities CAN B bid.
Impact Funding Partners (IFP): The research involving the Scottish fund manager led the organisation to rebrand from Voluntary Action Fund to become Impact Funding Partners and refocus their work to increase partnerships with business and diversify their income. IFP credits the research with helping them change their culture to work more like a business while retaining a focus on societal impacts. It helped them see how to, says Chief Executive of IFP, Keith Wimbles, “ position [themselves] more strongly to compete and tender for different contracts” [IM6]. Wimbles says that, following the research project: “ I felt more confident going out and speaking to businesses and I’ve continued to do that with new contacts. We have built about 15 strong relationships with businesses.” [IM6]
Charity Board Initiative: Since 2013, Weaver and Brodie have run ‘Get on Board’, a scheme which supports students to become board members for Scottish charities [IM7]. Following his research on the Connect model, Weaver decided to incorporate private sector businesses, to support further links between the for-profit and third sectors. Launched in 2017, the Charity Board Initiative now involves six universities in Scotland, with corporate partners, Anderson Strathern, Santander, and RSM and charity partner, Inspiring Scotland. 218 students have completed this programme (as of 31/05/19) and there are over 35 charity partners [IM8]. This example of cross-sector collaboration was awarded a HEA Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) in 2020 [IM9].
5. Sources to corroborate the impact
[IM1] Scotland CAN B – Year 1 Impact Summary May 2019, p18.
[IM2] Minutes of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Inspiring Communities Group meetings held on 5 December 2018 and 16 April 2019.
[IM3] Article in Business Insider ‘Edinburgh first UK city to be chosen for select sustainability network’ 26 September 2019.
Article in Business Comment, Special Report: Innovation & Sustainability, ‘The Best City we CAN B’ Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, December/January 2020, p22.
[IM4] Testimonial from Joanne Davidson, Director of Policy at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.
[IM5] Testimonial from Elle Adams and Kali Gibson from Scotland CAN B.
[IM6] Testimonial from Keith Wimbles, Chief Executive of Voluntary Action Fund, now Impact Funding Partners.
[IM7] Article in Third Force News ‘Guide offers support and guidance for new trustees’ November 2020
https://tfn.scot/news/guide-offers-support-and-guidance-for-new-trusteesArticle in Holyrood Magazine ‘ Charity boards need an injection of youth’
[IM8] Article in Third Force News ‘All Aboard’ February 2021 p.26
[IM9] The ‘Get on Board Competency Pathway’ and ‘Charity Board Initiative’, Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE), Awarded by the Higher Education Academy, 2020.
- Submitting institution
- Edinburgh Napier University
- Unit of assessment
- 17 - Business and Management Studies
- Summary impact type
- Societal
- Is this case study continued from a case study submitted in 2014?
- No
1. Summary of the impact
Research led by Edinburgh Napier into different structures for renumeration and governance, in both private enterprise and public bodies, has influenced policy and legislation in Scotland. It helped a campaign group further their work towards a Scottish real living wage, resulting in an accreditation scheme that has led to an estimated GBP180million in additional wages for workers in Scotland. The research influenced the Scottish Government to introduce targets and quotas for gender representation on boards for public bodies and to make a public commitment, backed by financial support, to increase employee-owned businesses in Scotland.
2. Underpinning research
Research by Dutton, Raeside, Egdell, McQuaid, and Canduela has looked at the impacts on organisations and employees of different structures for renumeration and governance – covering welfare to work schemes, in-work poverty, the living wage, employee-ownership and the constitution of boards. Their expertise in this field led to commissioned research from national and local government in Scotland and from business organisations and campaign groups.
Living Wage
In 2008, Dutton, McQuaid, Raeside and Canduela carried out research on behalf of the Poverty Alliance, a Scottish anti-poverty campaign group, on a Living Wage for Scotland. The research [R1] developed a methodology to calculate a living wage based on three approaches: estimated basic living costs, income distribution, and actual expenditure by an average household.
Employee ownership
In 2012, the Employee Ownership Association [R2], sponsored by the John Lewis Partnership, commissioned research by McQuaid, Hollywood, Canduela, to examine the health and wellbeing among employees of employee-owned businesses (EOBs). The researchers carried out interviews with 1000 staff in EOBs and compared the findings to the latest publicly available national Workplace Employee Relations Survey (WERS). They found that staff in EOBs reported higher levels of job satisfaction, more control over their work, more involvement in decision-making and a more positive view of communications from management than their counterparts in non-EOBs. Levels of health were higher among staff at EOBs than in the general population.
This work was followed by a report in 2013 for Scottish Enterprise looking at employee-owned businesses in Scotland, in particular the main bottlenecks restricting growth of EOBs. This research [R3/ R4] by Dutton, Raeside, Canduela, Egdell and McQuaid compared the growth performance and growth dynamics of a selection of Scottish EOBs to a peer group of companies who have conventional ownership structures. They found that EOBs had significantly higher turnover, number of employees and return on capital and were equivalent in terms of profit margin and value to the Scottish economy to their non-EOB peers. Most of the growth bottlenecks for EOBs were similar to those experienced by other businesses: e.g. difficulties recruiting skilled staff; skills gaps in the existing workforce; workforce capacity. However, the study also found that low levels of understanding of employee ownership among financial institutions acts as a barrier to economic growth and recommended steps to improve access to finance for EOBs. The two reports led to a 2019 paper in the British Journal of Industrial Relations [R6].
Gender equality on boards
In 2014, the Scottish government commissioned Dutton and Raeside to look at equality and diversity representation on public, private and third sector boards in Scotland [R5] to identify how barriers to equality can be overcome, particularly in relation to gender. The measures identified in the research included: increasing awareness through wider advertising, mentoring, improving professional networking and the option of quotas or targets.
3. References to the research
[R4] cited 5 times; [R6] peer reviewed and submitted to REF2.
[R1] Dutton, M, McQuaid, R., Raeside, R., Canduela, J. (2008). A Scottish Living Wage. Glasgow: Poverty Alliance. Report can be supplied by HEI on request.
[R2] McQuaid, R., Hollywood, E., Bond, S., Canduela, J., Richard, A., & Blackledge, G. (2012). Health and Wellbeing of Employees in Employee Owned Businesses. Scotland: Employee Ownership Association Fit-for-Work.pdf (employeeownership.co.uk)
[R3] Dutton, M., Raeside, R., Canduela, J., Egdell, V. & McQuaid, R. W. (2013). The growth of employee owned businesses in Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Enterprise.
Report can be supplied by HEI on request
[R4] Brown, R., McQuaid, R. W., Raeside, R., & Canduela, J. (2014). The performance of employee-owned businesses in Scotland: some preliminary empirical evidence. Fraser of Allander Institute Economic Commentary, 37(3), 108-123.
[R5] Dutton, M., Raeside, R. (2014). Overcoming barriers to equality and diversity representation on public, private and third sector boards in Scotland. The Scottish Government. 23rd December 2014.
[R6] Brown, Ross; McQuaid, Ronald; Raeside, Robert; Dutton, Matthew; Egdell, Valerie; Canduela, Jesus; (2019) Buying into capitalism? Employee ownership in a disconnected era British Journal of Industrial Relations, 57(1), 62-85.
4. Details of the impact
Living wage
Dutton, McQuaid, Raeside and Canduela’s research for the Poverty Alliance in 2008 contributed towards the organisation’s “ thinking with respect to setting the level of the living wage in Scotland” [IM1]. The organisation continued to develop their campaign for a living wage, and this led to the launch of Living Wage Scotland in 2014, which is funded by the Scottish Government and accredits employers who pay the real Living Wage. To date more than 1,800 employers in Scotland have been accredited and an estimated GBP180m in additional wages has been won for workers in these organisations [IM1].
Gender equality on boards
This research, carried out on behalf of the Scottish Government and further promoted through the media, influenced the development of a new law on gender equality, with key recommendations from the report reflected in the legislation.
In September 2014, Dutton and Rae presented their report to the Scottish Government Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board, set up by the Scottish Government to investigate ways in which diversity on public boards could be improved. The research is cited in the minutes of the meeting [IM2] as providing an “ evidence base for the programme”.
The report’s findings were covered in the media in December 2014, including the Scottish Daily Mail and the Glasgow Herald [IM3], in the context of voluntary gender equality targets for businesses set to be introduced by the Scottish Government. In July 2015, Dutton wrote an opinion article published in the Scotsman [IM4], using evidence from the 2014 research to argue that the gender targets set by the Scottish Government were unlikely to be met by voluntary measures alone.
In 2017, the Scottish Government introduced the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill (SP Bill 16) and the research was cited in written evidence on the Bill presented to the Scottish Parliaments Equalities and Human Rights Committee [IM5]. The Scottish Parliamentary briefing on the Bill (September 2017) repeatedly cites the 2014 Dutton and Raeside report, particularly in relation to measures to overcome barriers to equality and the setting of quotas and targets [IM6]. The Bill sets out a voluntary target of 50% female representation on public boards and a mandatory quota – both recommendations made in the research. It also places an expectation on public bodies to encourage more female applicants for board vacancies, using measures highlighted in the 2014 report, such as increasing awareness of vacancies through wider advertising, and more mentoring and social networking opportunities. The Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament and became law in 2018.
Employee ownership
The Napier research, which provided evidence on the value and benefits of employee-owned businesses, has underpinned the development of Scottish Government policy on employee ownership, leading to the establishment of a body, with substantial funding, to increase the numbers of EOBs.
The research, carried out for a non-department public body of the Scottish Government, was further highlighted in two ways:
through the media in 2014 and 2015 (see articles on the research by the BBC and the Guardian) [IM7]
in evidence given by Dutton to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee of the Scottish Parliament [IM8], as part of their inquiry into work, wages and wellbeing in the Scottish labour market.
During his evidence in October 2015, Dutton mentioned in particular the low levels of job turnover, sickness and absenteeism in EOBs, due to employees feeling they have a stake in the business [IM8 pp3-5].
The benefits highlighted in the Napier research are also cited by Co-operative Development Scotland (the arm of Scottish Enterprise that supports employee ownership and co-operative business models) in a video released in 2017 [IM9].
The Government’s 2017-18 programme for Scotland, which was informed by the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee inquiry, made a commitment to “ investigate the scope to expand our support to employee ownership” [IM10]. In August 2018, the Scottish Government made good on this commitment, launching ‘Scotland for EO’ and providing GBP75,000 to increase EOBs from 100 to 500 by 2030 [IM11].
5. Sources to corroborate the impact
[IM1] Email from the Poverty Alliance
[IM2] Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board: Minutes of third meeting held at 12 noon on Tuesday 9 September 2014 in Conference Room 2, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh. Agenda item 5: Programme evidence base.
[IM3] Articles from the Scottish Daily Mail and Glasgow Herald on gender equality report
[IM4] ‘Act now or miss your gender targets’ by Dr Matthew Dutton, published in the Scotsman on 02 July 2015
[IM5] Equalities and Human Rights Committee Agenda. 21st Meeting, 2017 (Session 5) Thursday 21 September 2017 Appendix D EHRiC/S5/17/21/A (parliament.scot)
[IM6] The Scottish Parliamentary Information Centre (SPICe) Briefing (Pàipear-ullachaidh SPICe) Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill, pages11-14.
[IM7] Articles in BBC online and Guardian
[IM8] Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee of the Scottish Parliament, 24th meeting, Session 4, Wednesday 7 October 2015, official report
[IM9] Employee Ownership: Video Guide - Scottish Enterprise (scottish-enterprise.com)
[IM10] A Nation with Ambition: the Government’s programme for Scotland 2017-18 (see page 109) https://www.gov.scot/news/new-leadership-group-for-employee-ownership/
[IM11] https://www.gov.scot/news/new-leadership-group-for-employee-ownership/