Ready for the future: Alex Hughes on the importance of CSR for modern businesses
Merton Chamber of Commerce spoke with Alex Hughes, founder of Auxilium Business Consulting, about how creating sustainable and purposeful strategies can give businesses of all sizes a competitive advantage and create meaningful impact.
Alex offers practical advice for getting started and discusses why you might already be further along your CSR journey than you first thought.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your business?
I’m Alex Hughes, founder of Auxilium Business Consulting. With over 40 years of experience in finance, operations, sales, and business development, I now focus on helping small and medium-sized enterprises improve their efficiency, embed sustainability, and help them build purpose-driven strategies. Auxilium Business Consulting specialises in practical, tailored support whether that’s through operational audits, CSR integration, or mentoring women in business. My aim is always to help businesses become more resilient, responsible, and ready for the future.
What do you enjoy most about running your business?
I enjoy the autonomy of shaping a business around my values; I enjoy meeting other business owners and collaborating with them. It’s incredibly rewarding to see my clients gain clarity, confidence, and measurable results from the guidance I provide. I also thrive on the variety my business brings where every project is different, and I love the opportunity to bring practical, forward-thinking solutions to the table.
What challenges have you faced since starting the business?
Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve had to navigate the shifting demands of running a business as the landscape has changed post-pandemic and amidst increasing economic pressures, as well as regulatory and environmental expectations. The biggest challenge is often helping clients shift from a short-term reactive mindset to a longer term proactive and strategic mindset, however I find that with the right guidance from my services and outlook, this shift becomes not only possible but empowering for my clients.
Why do you think it’s important for businesses to include CSR in their business procedures and policies?
CSR is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ – it’s imperative. Integrating CSR into your business operations drives trust, supports recruitment and retention, enhances reputation, and improves resilience and so much more. It’s not about box-ticking it’s about embedding purpose and accountability into the fabric of how a business operates.
For SMEs in particular, a strong CSR approach helps a business to stand out from their competitors by creating meaningful impacts in their communities.
The good thing is that when SMEs start delving into this subject, they uncover so many impacts that they are already making but have not joined the dots on. That is where I come in: to bring clarity and give them the confidence to share all their amazing impacts with the world.
What is your advice to other SMEs?
Start your CSR journey NOW before you get left behind. Operational efficiency and responsible business practices don’t need to be complicated or expensive. Start with the quick wins like improving internal processes or making supply chains more transparent as these can deliver real value. Don’t wait for perfection; seek progress, stay curious, and bring in expert support when needed. Most importantly, know your “why” and build from there.
What do you like about being a member of the Chamber?
The Chamber offers a supportive and proactive community where businesses can connect, learn, and grow. I value the opportunities for collaboration, the access to knowledge, and the shared commitment to business excellence. It’s a space where I can both contribute and continue to develop my own business by learning and collaborating with other members whilst also making lifelong friends in a trusted business community.
Alex has kindly shared a CSR-A self-assessment that shows where you stand across the Four Pillars, and she can help interpret your results and advise on next steps.