While corporate social responsibility appears to be the latest buzzword among big businesses keen to attract customers and boost their share values, Wiltshire's small firms are apparently less willing to embrace the concept.

At least, that's the verdict of Bibby Factors, a South West-based business services provider.

According to the firm's latest survey, almost a third (30 per cent) of small business owners have no formal policy when it comes to key social issues such as the environment and waste management, equal opportunities, human rights, ethical investment or corporate governance.

This is despite the fact several recent independent studies have emphasised the importance of social responsibility for businesses, both large and small.

Indeed, according to market research firm Mori, three-quarters of consumers now take a company's ethical stance into account when making a purchasing decision.

Bibby's research indicates 87 per cent of small business owners do not have a formalised policy on environmental and social issues because they believe their firm is too small to bother with one.

This suggests that, for the time being at least, bosses of small companies will continue to believe that there is nothing to be gained by taking the moral high ground.

Robin Goddard, Sales Manager of Bibby Factors said: "Corporate social responsibility is another non-core activity for small and medium-sized firms.

"It is therefore hardly surprising that many owners and managers have no formalised or adopted ethical policies.

"However, as the demand for ethical business practices increases and larger organisations are put under more pressure to deal only with ethical suppliers and like-minded businesses the knock-on effect is that smaller firms looking to supply their larger counterparts will also need to work in a manner which is deemed socially and environmentally responsible."