IoD launches a Commission to examine the role of business as a force for good
At a time of heightened public scrutiny of corporate behaviour, the Institute of Directors has launched a new Commission to examine the role of business across the regions of the UK and assess the extent to which business is acting as a force for good in today’s world.
Northern Ireland has a vibrant small business sector and a growing social enterprise sector, and Down News spoke to Community Transport Association NI Chief Executive Frances Campbell, who said: “
The Commission will undertake a rigorous, evidence‑based assessment of how businesses create economic, social and environmental value, as well as the factors, behaviours and incentives that have limited or undermined positive impacts.
Its work will also explore where business is falling short, and the conditions under which it can best contribute to long‑term prosperity and wellbeing.
Chaired by The Lord Rees of Easton OBE, the Commission brings together senior representatives from across business, professional bodies, trade unions and civil society to provide a well-rounded, credible assessment of how business contributes to society today.
The Commission will run from Spring to Autumn 2026 and conclude with practical recommendations for directors, boards and policymakers on how businesses can support long‑term economic success, social progress and sustainable development.
Commenting on the new Commission, Jonathan Geldart, Director General of the IoD, said: “At a time of economic, social and environmental pressure, it is right to ask a serious question: is business truly a force for good?
“This IoD Commission will move this debate beyond slogans and binaries, undertaking a rigorous, evidence‑based assessment of how businesses create economic, social and environmental value, and where outcomes have fallen short.
“It will examine the incentives, behaviours and governance structures that shape real‑world decisions, recognising that enterprise is complex, trade‑offs are real and leadership is often exercised under significant constraint.
“We are deeply grateful to Lord Rees for agreeing to Chair this Commission, alongside a distinguished group drawn from business, policy, the trade union movement and wider civil society.
“Their collective insight will be essential in grounding the Commission’s work in lived experience and hard evidence, helping to define what responsible enterprise should look like in practice – protecting the honest majority, strengthening trust, and ensuring business plays its full role as a stable, productive force in a resilient society.”
Commenting on his appointment as Chair of the Commission, Lord Rees said: “I am pleased to be chairing this Commission at such an important moment. Society is a collective act, shaped by the choices we make across politics, economics, civic life and personal responsibility.
“Business is central to that story. It creates jobs, wealth, innovation and opportunity, and it shapes communities, life chances and public trust.
“But building a good society is not simply an act of altruism. It is enlightened self-interest. Healthy populations make for resilient workforces. Stable societies are good for investment.
“Business leaders and workforces live in, and are shaped by, the world business helps create. And these are determinants of business success.
“This work is timely. Many people are losing faith in the institutions that have held our society and economy together. Too many feel left behind by an economy that no longer offers the security, dignity and opportunity it once promised.
“This Commission will examine honestly where business has been, and can be, a force for good; where it has fallen short; and what conditions are needed for business to contribute to long-term prosperity, wellbeing and inclusive, sustainable development.”
Further details on the Commission are available here.
In previous years, the IoD has convened Commissions to examine the role and contribution of non-executive directors, develop a Code of Conduct for Directors and harness diverse talent.
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