As Parliament breaks for its 82 days vacation, the rest of us, at least those not held in quarantine somewhere, are cutting back on summer holidays due to the financial squeeze, writes Paul Picknett, corporate services director at Groupama Insurances. So for many, as the late, great Ian Dury said, it's a case of "A bit of grin and bear it, a bit of come and share it..."

However, my week at Groupama has illustrated that it should not be all doom and gloom and there are some reasons to be cheerful. There might still be a little 'grin and bear it' here, but many of the green shoots I see are all about our growing corporate social responsibility credentials rather than the UK's economic recovery.

Here are my three (green) reasons for being cheerful this week:

Reason 1 - We see corporate responsibility as a fantastic opportunity to enhance the trust of brokers, policyholders and our employees.

For Groupama it is not about opportunistic marketing. Indeed, those very businesses that damaged both their reputations and their profits, who clamoured to broadcast that they were greener than the Jolly Green Giant or a Times 100 Employer, have suffered major reductions in CSR activities and training budgets. For us CSR is not a fad or fashion and when consumers are wondering who they can trust we signpost our Gold status in Investors in People that we have just attained. Only 41 of the 28,000 accredited businesses have gone Gold.

Reason 2 - There has never been a better time to convince decision makers that our CSR programmes are worth the investment - and this is something that has been engaging my own attention recently. We have been working hard with Business in the Community and after some gentle persuasion, our own chief executive signed up for their 'Seeing is Believing' initiative. From my meeting with him this week it clearly created quite an impression and he was especially interested to discover that being green doesn't always mean more expense and 'jam tomorrow'.

For example, we make a difference using technology to reduce business travel, improving energy efficiency and cutting costs. These are compelling arguments when expenses are tight. If you can't persuade cynical finance directors with the heart - let's convince them with the wallet.

Reason 3 - I'm always moved by the efforts of our people to help those less fortunate than themselves. There is always plenty of evidence of this in all Groupama offices with employees engaging regularly in local initiatives. This week, staff based in Portsmouth have been redecorating and soft furnishing a chapel of rest in a local hospice.

So whilst we witness global chaos in the financial system, corporate irresponsibility bringing companies to the brink of collapse, scandals around MPs' expenses and even a swine flu epidemic, at Groupama we remain resolutely cheerful.

We regard sound ethics and behaviours as the real drivers for success and so our own CSR credentials are deeply embedded in our corporate DNA.

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QBE's summer party was almost a washout following a downpour as we huddled together under their golf umbrellas on St. Katharine Docks writes Andrew Tjaardstra, editor, PB.

Atlantic race

On Wednesday we were invited to the official re-naming of the Atlantic Quest to QBE Insurance Challenge, I preferred the first name, but never mind. QBE's Colin O'Farrell, head of marine and energy, did the honours by smashing a bottle of champagne over the boat. Two intrepid rowers are going to compete in the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race this December. Considered one of the toughest tests of endurance, James Croome and Oliver Back will row the Atlantic in 55 days and help raise money for the East Anglia's Children's Hospices and the Multiple Sclerosis Society - good luck chaps! As for the party, we moved inside to Zizzi where plenty of Pimm's and pizza was on hand.

Talking of charity, Martin Holden, commercial director at Wigan-based broker Allied Insurancehas annother hard and tough test: it involves swimming in the Rivington Reservoir for 2.4 miles, cycling for 112 miles and a marathon length run of 26.2 miles. Martin is raising money for the Pelican Cancer Foundation www.justgiving.com/ironmanuk2009

Judging and cricket

Meanwhile, on Monday, I joined some esteemed and experienced insurance broking experts to help judge the UK Broker Awards. Find the shortlist here: www.ukbrokerawards.com/shortlist.html It is a great event happening on 11 September in London, (tables are still available).

I managed to spend a day at the cricket and it seemed a lot of businesses were without their senior staff as no less than Sir Stuart Rose, executive chairman and chief executive of Marks and Spence and John O'Roarke, managing director of LV's general insurance business were enjoying the sunshine. After a remarkable partnership between Cook and Strauss, England resumed business as usual with a characteristic middle order slump, the cheer we gave Freddie Flintoff on entrance, deserved more than the four runs he managed. Clearly inspired his bowling though as a five wicket haul in the second innings has just left England 1-0 up in the series.  

Football competition

Our football competition with Allianz is still open; so if your son or daughter is aged between 14 and 16, and into their football, they could be going to Munich on 26-30 August and watching Bayern Munich play in addition to training with their coaches. They can enter here:  http://www.footballcamp.allianz.com/ and tell us why they should win.

STOP PRESS

The Conservatives have outlined plans to scrap the Financial Services Authority if they gain power Read here for the full story: www.broking.co.uk/insurance-age/news/1468952/tories-set-scrap-fsa   

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It has been a whirlwind tour around the UK this week, with trips to Glasgow, Somerset and Cardiff writes Andrew Tjaardstra, editor, PB.

On Thursday (2 July) it was a strange but welcome sight seeing so many PRs outside Incisive's local to bid a hearty goodbye to Insurance Age's editor Michelle Worvell. She will be missed both in the market and at Incisive. Good luck Michelle with your next job, creating a financial consumer website at Defaqto.

On Friday, I rose at the crack of dawn to fly up to Glasgow to host a roundtable with some lively Scottish brokers and LV= as part of our build-up for the PB Management Event.  Read all about the impact of the recession, insurers' service and whether the market is hardening in August's edition of the magazine, and also an interview with Hamilton-based broker Moreland's director Alan Johnston in Broking Success.

On Monday, once again rising early I ventured far south to Wells in Somerset to catch up with Higos's managing director Ian Gosden. Again read all about it August, in particular his strong views on insurance marketing and aggregators; let's just say, he is not impressed.

On Wednesday, it was an early start to get the train for Cardiff fo the first day of the Ashes. Great venue; atmosphere; weather - I think it could be a regular fixture in the test calendar. The Barmy Army were on great form, let's hope the England team can raise their game to make it a great series. Sadly, I missed the British Insurance Awards at the Royal Albert Hall, but everybody has said it was a fantastic occassion hosted by comedian Dara O'Briain and insurance editor-in-chief Anthony Gould. Look out for the awards' supplement in next week's Post magazine, congratulations to MCE for winning the Personal Lines Broker of the Year and to Lockton International for winning Commercial Lines Brokers of the Year.

Competition

This week PB has launched a fantastic competition with Allianz, where two 14-16 year olds will win a trip to Munich, including training with Bayern Munich's coaches, a trip to a Bayern Munich game and a chance to meet some of Munich's players. The trip is over the week-end of the 28 August when Bayern Munich is playing last year's German champions Wolfsburg. To enter your children, they need to write why they should be at the Allianz Junior Football Camp and to upload their favourite picture of them playing football.

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So it's Sunday afternoon, the sun is shining, I'm in Hyde Park supping a beer with PB's compliance expert Ian Ritchie, his wife Linda and Ian Mantel of Hastings-based Manor Insurance, and Bruce Springsteen is about to come on stage; life can be kind and Mr Bruce Springsteen rocked writes Andrew Tjaardstra, editor of PB.

Summer time

The weather at the moment is spectacular meaning working is that much harder, alcohol is slipping down that little bit more easily and the invitations to summer parties are coming in a flood. The common perception of summer is of things slowing down as everybody goes off on holiday sunning themselves, whilst summer party invitations arrive in their bucket loads. In addition, in my opinion, the best spectator sporting events also happen at this time of year: think Wimbledon and the Ashes, and you need at least a day off work to enjoy them: (for the record I'm going to three Ashes tests). However, we still have the day job to complete and this won't go away despite how much sun and alcohol we attempt to enjoy. What is the solution? Work hard and play hard, when indoors: crank the air conditioning up, keep a large glass of cold water at hand and pull down the blinds; when out to play: put the shades on, soak up the sun and keep your glass topped up. Is there any other way to get through summer?

Calling all runners

A PR has asked me to give some publicity to the Standard Chartered Great City Race on 16 July. Teams are made up of colleagues from five sectors of business: insurance, accountancy, banking, legal and media. In the insurance sector Legal and General were winners last year with Marsh runners up. I would participate myself, but wouldn't be on the best of form following a day at the Ashes at Lord's Good luck to everyone and you will be joined by record numbers.

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