John Cridland, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) says businesses can do more to contribute to Big Society.

Speaking to delegates at Acevo’s annual CEO summit last week, he said that the private sector, “can and should do more”. But, he added, “Business needs to be seen as a full partner, not just a piggy bank.”

Cridland argued that businesses should also communicate better the good that they do, “as long as we own up when we don’t get it right,” he said.

In a no-holds-barred speech, he criticised the Acevo Commission on Big Society for having an “old-fashioned view” of the role of business.

“My vision is different,” he said, “Business responsibility today is more central to what we do, and we’re embracing the idea that we can improve society through our day-to-day work, not just through special projects.

“Social corporate responsibility is a part of what business does at its core not an add-on," he added.

Also speaking at the summit, Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan, agreed that charities should be looking to form a range of strategic partnerships.

“The challenge to us as a sector is how to add real value to the corporate partnership," Devane added, giving the example of Macmillan’s recent work with the Monitor Group which helped the charity conduct research, as the company was looking to break into the UK market.