Working for GAC Community Relations’ team
Community relations refers to the various methods GAC uses to establish and maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with the communities in which we operate. Building local community relationships can be the most important communication activity undertaken by an organisation, yet it is often overlooked.
In today’s environment of public suspicion, gaining and maintaining public consent to operate has become a major concern for most businesses. Managers are advised to initiate community outreach programmes in areas consistent with their DNA.
For example, a mining company such as GAC operating in a Third World country must think about being the best corporate citizen it can be by implementing stringent local procurement and hiring practices, but also by supporting health, education and socio-economic development initiatives.
The underlying principle of community relations is that when a company accepts its civic responsibility and takes an active interest in the well-being of its community, it gains a number of long-term benefits in terms of community support, loyalty and the fostering of good will. This, in turn, will help to raise awareness of the company’s profile.