The Business Advantage in Driving Place Transformation

Audience

Open to both members and non-members of Business in the Community (BITC).

About the event

Business In the Community (BITC) is delighted to present a joint virtual discussion with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on the strategic benefits for business to engage in and accelerate place transformation across the UK.

BITC’s Pride of Place summits in 2025 and 2026 sparked a UK-wide movement for place-based regeneration, bringing together influential business leaders with government and civil society to build truly thriving places – defined not only by economic success, but by wellbeing, belonging, environmental quality, opportunity, and resilience. BITC’s strategy starts from a simple idea: Business is the most underutilised force for solving social challenges in the UK.

MHCLG’s Pride in Place Programme (PIPP), is a UK-wide scheme providing £20 million over a 10-year investment to disadvantaged neighbourhoods. PIPP is now in its phase 2 of delivery with funding for an additional 169 neighbourhoods across Great Britain to build strong, resilient and integrated communities.

A senior representative from MHCLG will deliver a keynote address to set the context for the panel discussion which will be chaired by Lord Steve Bassam, Place Director, BITC and will feature:

• Rashid Bayat, CEO, Positive Youth Foundation and Chair, Hillfields Pride in Place Board

• Anna Cuskin, Senior Manager – Corporate Responsibility, Coventry Building Society

• Andrew Dernie, Senior Manager, Sustainability & Social Impact, Aviva and Chair of the Norwich Town Deal Board

• Nigel Patrick, Head of PIP Delivery Unit, MHCLG

• Small business representative

Our panellists will talk about the business competitive advantage of participating in place transformation, as well as explore how, in practice, local businesses could/should interact with the PIPP’s Neighbourhood Boards.

Background

BITC’s Pride of Place programme helps places across the UK by providing sustained resource, advice, and support to motivate and empower local stakeholders to take ownership of the future of their place, tackle the most pressing challenges, and innovate their own solutions. We bring businesses, voluntary sector organisations, and local councils together in locations across the UK and work with them to build and deliver a shared vision for the future that serves everyone, with input from everyone.

Booking and contact details and further information

• Contact events@bitc.org.uk with any further questions.
• Full joining instructions will be sent before the event.

Find out how your organisation can become a member of Business in the Community