As of this month, we've stopped using the name "Ethical Corporation Institute" to describe our research arm. If you'd like to know more, then read on...

In around 2006/7 at Ethical Corporation we wanted to begin producing independent credible research on corporate responsibility.

We felt there was a lack of independent credible research around. Much of what we could find was either driven by corporate PR or by NGO ideology.

So we created the brand name "Ethical Corporation Institute" under which we began publishing reports, such as these.

We published some free papers, such as our suggestions to the UK Conservative Party on CSR policy. This page shows you the papers published.

However, after a couple of years of using the word "Institute" next to our name, we've decided to drop it, and just use our main brand name "Ethical Corporation" for everything.

Firstly, and most importantly, the word "Institute" is largely reserved for non-profit organisations. Under a recent Act of Parliament, in 2008 (as far as we know), anyone wanting to use the word must seek permission from the Secretary of State for Business.

This gave us pause for thought. We could seek such permission, but some of our customers felt that using the word "Institute" gave the impression part, or all of, our business was non-profit. We did not want to be, or appear to be disingenuous.

After a review, we want to have one brand name only, to avoid confusing our customers, legal registration issues aside.

That means we are sticking with "Ethical Corporation" as our one and only name.

As soon as we can, all mentions of the word "Institute" will disappear from our marketing and from our website.

If any readers have questions about this, please call Ethical Corporation's managing director, Toby Webb, on +44 (0) 207 375 7561.