Stakeholder Needs (AQA A Level Business) : Revision Note

Lisa Eades

Written by: Lisa Eades

Reviewed by: Steve Vorster

Updated on

An introduction to stakeholders

  • Stakeholders are individuals or groups that affect or are affected by the actions of a business

Key business stakeholders

Diagram with "Business Stakeholders" in the centre, linked to owners, employees, customers, government, suppliers, managers, local community, and pressure groups.
Stakeholders are individuals or groups with an interest in the activities of a business
  • A business needs to take into account the needs and interests of its stakeholders in order to operate successfully and ensure long term success

Internal stakeholders

  • Internal stakeholders are individuals or groups inside the business

    • Employees

    • Managers and Directors

    • Business owners

Objectives of internal stakeholders

Stakeholder

Objectives

Example

Owners 

  • Owners may be sole traders or shareholders in a private limited company

  • Owners are likely to work within the business as well as own it and so will be relying on the business to provide an income

  • They will want all, or a share of the profit and will want the business to be succeed

  • A  self‑employed plumber wants the business to bring in steady work each week so it pays his wages

  • He wants the business to be a going concern that can be handed over to his daughter

Employees

  • Employees are individuals who work for a company

  • Their primary objective is to earn a living, have job security, be paid fairly for their work and have a safe working environment 

  • A nurse working for the NHS wants a fair salary, reliable shifts and a safe ward so she can plan her life and stay healthy at work

Management

  • Managers are individuals who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a company

  • Their primary objective is to meet the company's goals and objectives

  • They want to maximise profits and minimise costs while ensuring that the company operates efficiently

  • The store manager of an Aldi branch aims to hit weekly sales targets and keep food waste low

  • These two numbers decide her bonus and show the shop is running efficiently

External stakeholders

  • External stakeholders are individuals or groups outside of a business

    • Customers

    • Shareholders

    • Creditors

    • Suppliers

    • The local community

    • Local and national government

    • Pressure groups

Objectives of external stakeholders

Stakeholder

Objectives

Example

Customers

  • Customers are individuals or businesses who purchase products

  • Their primary objective is to receive high-quality products at a fair price

  • Customers also want good customer service and a positive experience with the company 

  • Greggs shoppers look for tasty, good‑value food

  • The bakery chain keeps prices low while maintaining quality, which drives repeat visits

Shareholders

  • Shareholders are individuals or entities who own a portion of a company

  • They invest in the company with the goal of making a profit

  • Shareholders' main objective is to maximise their return on investment

  • They want the company to be profitable and generate a high return on their investment

  • Tesco investors want reliable returns

  • The retailer raised its dividend by 20 % in 2024 and intends to grow them further as profits rise

Suppliers and creditors

  • Suppliers and creditors are likely to be one and the same

  • Their primary objective is for the business to pay what it owes them promptly

  • Suppliers often want to be able to establish long-term arrangements with customers to improve business stability

  • Dairy co‑op Arla secured a long‑term milk partnership with Aldi UK until 2027

  • This provided stability as it guaranteed a certain volume of sales and a set price even though profit margins are small

The local community

  • The local community includes individuals and organisations that live or operate in the area where a business operates

  • Their primary objective is for the business to have a positive impact on the community

  • This may include  the business being environmentally responsible, providing jobs, and contributing to local causes

  • Rolls‑Royce is planning to double its submarine‑engine site in Derby, creating more than 1,000 jobs

  • This meets local demand for skilled work and promotes economic growth

Local and national government

  • The government is responsible for creating and enforcing laws and regulations that affect businesses

  • Their primary objective is to promote the public good and protect the interests of citizens

  • The government wants companies to operate within the law and contribute to the economy

  • After media criticism, Amazon  UK paid a total of £932 m in UK taxes

  • This met a key government targets of ensuring businesses pay their fair share

Pressure groups

  • Pressure groups are organisations that seek to influence the policies and actions of businesses or governments

  • Their primary objective is to promote a specific cause or agenda

  • Pressure groups want the company to support their cause or take action on an issue

  • Climate activists Extinction Rebellion staged mass protests against Heathrow’s third‑runway plans in 2023, urging the airport to meet net‑zero goals

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Lisa Eades

Author: Lisa Eades

Expertise: Business Content Creator

Lisa has taught A Level, GCSE, BTEC and IBDP Business for over 20 years and is a senior Examiner for Edexcel. Lisa has been a successful Head of Department in Kent and has offered private Business tuition to students across the UK. Lisa loves to create imaginative and accessible resources which engage learners and build their passion for the subject.

Steve Vorster

Reviewer: Steve Vorster

Expertise: Economics & Business Subject Lead

Steve has taught A Level, GCSE, IGCSE Business and Economics - as well as IBDP Economics and Business Management. He is an IBDP Examiner and IGCSE textbook author. His students regularly achieve 90-100% in their final exams. Steve has been the Assistant Head of Sixth Form for a school in Devon, and Head of Economics at the world's largest International school in Singapore. He loves to create resources which speed up student learning and are easily accessible by all.