Society survey finds cancer charities enjoy the most corporate sponsorship

After 18 months of news stories about City fat cats and corporate recklessness, it might come as a pleasant surprise to hear that there are still businesses who care about their impact on the wider world. Society has conducted a survey of leading UK companies ranging from Tesco to Thames Water, and found 136 who have close links with a  specifc charity.

Just over 20% of these responsible businesses have chosen to partner with a charity focused on cancer care/research. The second most popular issue area is child welfare, with charities such as Barnardo's, Variety Club and Kidscape accounting for nearly 17% of company partners. Surprisingly, given recent public attention on climate change and related issues, only six companies have chosen a charity partner focused on the environment.

The NSPCC and Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital were the two most widely cited charities - each having five corporate partners a piece. Cancer Research UK and the cancer charity CLIC Sargent were close behind them though, having attracted four charities each.

Whatever the area though, it's refreshing to see so many leading brands embracing the responsible business agenda and trying to find a new way of giving something back.