Resilient Business Networks Webinar
2025-05-20 10:30 - 11:30 (Europe/London) | Online
Join our launch to hear about the critical role of business networks in strengthening community resilience and the next steps.

This is an online event.
Background
Through our partnership with Greater London Authority’s Resilience Unit, Business in the Community (BITC) is pleased to launch an insightful report into the critical role of business networks in strengthening community resilience and the opportunity for deeper engagement with Local Resilience Forums (LRF’s).
While businesses are essential in emergency preparedness and response, their involvement has been hindered by low awareness, resource limitations and competing priorities. This study identifies key opportunities to integrate businesses into resilience planning and equip them with the tools needed to be proactive contributors to the ‘whole of society’ approach to resilience set out in the UK Government resilience framework.

About the event
BITC, alongside Greater London Authority’s Resilience Unit, will be presenting the findings and recmomendations from the report. The five focus areas will be sharing their next steps for their localities.
Event 10:30-11:30am
There will be also be a Q&A at the end

Contact details

Contact programmes@bitc.org.uk for further information and questions.
Full joining instructions will be sent before the event.

Let's Care Together - Programme Introduction (for Employers)
2025-05-20 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-06-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-06-27 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Online event
This webinar is for employers and wellbeing leads to introduce our new virtual befriending initiative to support carer’s wellbeing.

Audience
This virtual event is open to employers, wellbeing leads and employee carer networks.
Background
Business in the Community (BITC) and leading healthcare provider Simplyhealth, have come together to co-create the Let’s Care Together programme.
Research shows that unpaid carers have worse wellbeing outcomes than non-carers, and are likely to be time-poor due to their caring responsibilities*. The programme aims to support carers by streamlining access to resources and providing practical support across the four pillars of wellbeing: Physical, Mental, Social and Financial. This support will include helping people with caring responsibilities to connect with friends and family, community groups and wider support, find wellbeing information and gain financial confidence.
Our volunteer befrienders will work on a one-to-one basis with each carer on one or all of the following, depending on their preference: ​

Increasing connection to their local community, improving overall social wellbeing and reducing any feelings of isolation. ​
Supporting financial independence and knowledge of financial tools/support available.​
Access to practical support and tools for their physical wellbeing. ​
Being a regular listening ear and friendly face to offer support and guidance.​

About this event
In this webinar you will learn how our Let’s Care Together programme can support unpaid carers (over 18) with their wellbeing, through pairing them with an online befriender.
Join this session to learn more about how your beneficiaries, or colleagues with caring responsibilities could benefit from the programme.
Speakers
Usha Manojkanth – BITC Programme Manager
Simon Walters – BITC Programme Manager
Michelle Brannen – BITC Programme Manager

Booking, contact details and further information

Email care@bitc.org.uk, for any further questions
Please hold the date in your diary
The session will take place on Teams
Joining instructions will be sent before the event

About Business in the Community
Business in the Community is the largest and longest-established movement dedicated to responsible business in the UK, formed in 1982 and with HM The King as our Royal Founding Patron. Together with our network of businesses we are leading the UK to create a fair and sustainable world in which to live and work.

*Carers UK 2022 – Unpaid carers continue to suffer poorer health- with some groups adversely affected.

Pride of Place Summit
2025-05-22 10:00 - 16:30 | Manchester
Join our inaugural Pride of Place Summit to explore the potential of place-based regeneration in transforming and revitalising communities.

This is an in person event.
Audience
This event is open to members and non-members of Business in the Community (BITC). Suitable for both senior leaders and practitioners from across sectors and those involved in place-based regeneration.

Event details
Business and the Community and Aviva are delighted to invite you to our inaugural Pride of Place Summit. The Pride of Place Summit brings together leaders to tackle the issues of inequalities in places that matter across the UK. Through convening leaders in this space from across sectors to share knowledge and experience, we can build our understanding of what the most challenging issues that our communities are facing and discuss how we can work together to overcome these challenges and drive action as a collective.
This interactive day including powerful key note speakers, panels and a variety of different breakout sessions will provide you with an opportunity to network, share your knowledge and experience and drive action towards transforming place-based regeneration across the UK.
Confirmed Speakers Include:

Mayor Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

BITC Place Board Chairs, from Blackpool, Newport, Bradford and Norwich

Kevin Hollinrake MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Dame Julia Cleverdon, DCVO CBE, Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund

Sarah Owen MP, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee

Background
BITC are currently on a mission to help places across the UK take ownership of their futures and tackle their most pressing challenges. Working across sectors and in partnership with other organisations, we want to achieve an ambition of transformative and sustainable change in 50 places across the UK by 2032.
We can’t do this alone, which is why we are convening leaders in this space from across sectors to share their knowledge and experience and drive action as a collective

Refreshments
Tea, coffee and a light lunch will be served.

Booking, contact details and further information

Contact Events@BITC.org.uk for 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

Nature and Resilience Insight Series
2025-06-03 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
This series will help businesses act on nature stewardship, connecting the dots with carbon, biodiversity, and resilience.

This is an online event.
Audience
This series is open to Business in the Community (BITC) members and non-members.

About the event
Session Two- Links to social value and activities
In this session participants will explore the connections between ecosystems and social value obligations, gaining an understanding of the benefits they bring to businesses, communities, and customers.They will also begin evaluating current activities and researching new interventions with a range of stakeholders.

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Annette.Ettarh@bitc.org.uk , Event Manager, BITC for 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

Peer Learning Forum: Mastering Stakeholder Engagement
2025-06-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Online event
Join us to explore how to actively engage stakeholders to ensure lasting, sustainable impact.

This is an online event.
Audience
Business in the Community (BITC) members who have advisory in their membership package. Our Peer Learning Forums (PLF) are now open to all members who have advisory in their membership package – hosted by our issue experts, there are 20 forums a year, covering a range of responsible business areas and enabling our members to discuss challenges, solutions and ideas.
This event is especially suited to managers and practitioners working in Responsible Business/ ESG.

About the event
In this engaging peer-learning forum, we’ll dive into stakeholder mapping and engagement, exploring why it’s essential and how to actively involve stakeholders for lasting, sustainable impact. Through real-world examples, success stories, and interactive breakout sessions, you’ll connect with like-minded professionals and gain practical tools to transform responsibility into a powerful driver of growth, impact, and resilience.
Event speaker: Sophia Goring, Head of ESG, Business Stream
Background
In today’s business landscape, ongoing stakeholder engagement is crucial for building a resilient strategy. With 40% of Gen Z and Millennial consumers switching brands because their usual brand wasn’t as environmentally and socially responsible, 1 the question is: Are we doing enough to engage our stakeholders?
The CSRD now mandates that businesses in all industries engage stakeholders continuously on material issues, from setting targets to shaping policies. Are you ready to meet these growing expectations and stay ahead of the curve?

About Business in the Community’s Peer Learning Forums
BITC’s Peer Learning Forums provide a confidential environment to discuss common issues, solutions, and good practice. There will be an emphasis on discussion and sharing experiences. All contributions from businesses will be confidential within the group and won’t be shared externally by BITC.
Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Jessica.hart@bitc.org.uk , Event Coordinator, BITC for 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

Aberdeen Responsible Business Network - Cost of Living, Financial Wellbeing
2025-06-10 12:30 - 14:00 | Aberdeen AB10
Addressing the cost of living, improving financial wellbeing

This is an in person event.
Audience
The Aberdeen Responsible Business Network is open to both BITC members and non-members and is free to join. It is open to all job levels too, if you are passionate about Responsible Business in Aberdeen you are welcome to join us.

Background
BITC set up the Aberdeen Responsible Business Network in 2019, it was born out of a need for professionals who were tasked with driving Responsible Business activity across their businesses, often off the side of their desks, to have a better connection to individuals who were trying to achieve the same impact.

About the Event:
Learn what is available to enable employers, people in the community, entrepreneurs and young people to address today’s economic environment.
The event topic:

Recognises the challenges faced by the most vulnerable in our communities, those in work, responsible for their own business and those yet to enter the workforce and,
Offers practical insights and examples for you and your business to consider, support, implement and/or highlight to others for their benefit
Putting resources in place, sign posting related help and supporting programmes all help mitigate the negative consequences associated with the cost of living crisis and strengthen employee and community wellbeing

Refreshments
Tea/coffee and a light lunch will be served

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Evelyn.Rorie@bitc.org.uk at BITC for 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

Agenda:
1230 Networking – light lunch provided
1300 Welcome

Business in the Community, Scotland Director, Louisa Macdonell

1305 Resources for Entrepreneurs

Barclays, Ecosystem Manager, Nick Bansal

1312 Financial wellbeing for community groups and young people

Speaker to be announced, Barclays

1320 Support for those moving on from homelessness to make sure it is rare, brief and non-recurring

Royal Foundation, Homewards Local Delivery Lead, Anu Kasim
Seonaidh Baker, Development & Public Relations Manager, Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen

1340 Community funding for Anti-poverty and Inequality measures to mitigate the cost of living crisis –

Community Planning Aberdeen, Strategic Lead, Prevention and Community Empowerment, Michelle Crombie

1350 An update on BITC’s programme to reducing poverty for those in work

BITC Scotland Director, Louisa Macdonell

1400 Close

Volunteer Befrienders - Lunch & Learn
2025-06-10 13:00 - 13:30 | Online event
Let’s Care Together- Supporting those who look after others
A Lunch and Learn session about the volunteer Befriender role in the Let’s Care Together programme.
Business in the Community (BITC) and leading healthcare provider Simplyhealth, have come together to co-create the Let’s Care Together programme to support the wellbeing of carers through a series of virtual befriending sessions.
1 in 7 people in the workplace are juggling a caring responsibility and over 5 million people in England and Wales have a caring responsibility. Caring can impact on someone’s mental, physical and financial health as they deal with a lot emotionally and have multiple responsibilities to juggle.

How does the programme support?
Employees volunteers are trained to become befrienders.

Businesses support the programme by offering employee volunteers the opportunity to become befrienders.
Employee volunteers receive comprehensive training on being a befriender and are provided with all the required tools and resources*.
Befrienders and carers join the programme and create a profile.
The carer then chooses a befriender and sends a match request.
Befrienders and their partnered carer meet virtually for six sessions of 60 minutes over two to four months.

*Guidance and support will be provided throughout the programme.

This Lunch and Learn session will tell you about the role of a Befriender and how to get involved.

Booking, contact details and further information

Contact john.riddell@bitc.org.uk if you have any questions about this session.

Full joining instructions will be sent before the event.

Find out more about BITC’s Let’s Care Together programme.

Westminster Roundtable: Creating a Just Transition in the UK
2025-06-11 08:30 - 10:30 | London
Join Business in the Community and Royal London for an exclusive roundtable on achieving lasting prosperity through a just transition.

This is an-in person event
Audience
This event is by invitation only and is for senior policymakers, business leaders, and influential stakeholders committed to driving meaningful action towards a just transition.

About the event
This invitation-only event will convene senior leaders from government, business, and civil society to discuss the imperative, opportunities and challenges of integrating economic growth strategies with efforts to deliver a just transition to a net zero and resilient UK. Participants will hear initial insights from our academic partners at the University of Exeter and discuss how to maximse the opportunities of a just transition to promote lasting prosperity in the UK.
During this roundtable we will:

– Explore the benefits and risks of a just transition focussed economic policy.
– Identify the barriers that need to be unlocked to mobilise widespread private investment.
– Shape recommendations for business and government, in order to find innovative ways to invest in collaborations that accelerate the UK’s journey to a net zero, resilient prosperity that works for all.

Background
This roundtable is part of BITC’s research exploring how positioning a just transition to a net zero, resilient future, at the heart of UK economic policy could promote lasting social, economic, and environmental prosperity. The research findings will be launched at a parliamentary reception in Autumn 2025 and we would value your insights as part of this Chatham House style event.
Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Annette.Ettarh@bitc.org.uk, Events Manager at BITC for 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

Norwich Vision Dinner - Shaping the Future Together
2025-06-11 18:30 - 21:30 | Norwich, NR4 7TJ
Join business, public and voluntary sector leaders in painting a picture of Norwich today and your hopes for its future.

This is an in-person event.

Audience
Attendance is by invitation only. Number of places is limited.

About the event
This dinner will bring together Norwich’s key stakeholders and community leaders for an opportunity to hear about and share their views on the vision and the future of the city.
Our work in Norwich harnesses the power of the Business in the Community (BITC) network, combining our expertise in creating opportunities and driving place-based regeneration with the skills and resources of our members to make a meaningful impact on local communities.
Attendees will be joined by a group of senior business leaders participating in The King’s Seeing is Believing Visit, led by Jason Storah, Chief Executive Officer, UK&I, General Insurance, Aviva.
The visit will explore the interconnected challenges faced by Norwich’s communities and examine how businesses can play a pivotal role in fostering inclusive growth and opportunity for all.

Refreshments
Light refreshments followed by dinner

About The King’s Seeing is Believing Programme
The King’s Seeing is Believing programme, established in 1990 with His Majesty King Charles III as our Royal Founding Patron, was born from a simple but powerful belief that the best way to close the gap between the boardroom and the community was to take business leaders out into the communities themselves. He understood that the power of the visits was not just in seeing and believing but also in how to turn that experience into ‘doing’.
Over 25,000 business leaders have taken part in visits, each designed to show the unique contribution business can make when working in partnership with others on an issue or in a community. By thinking strategically about the implications for their business, the visit gives a different understanding of the long-term impact and benefit that can be delivered for both business and communities.
L earn more about The King’s Seeing in Believing Programme

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Diana Abad, Engagement Manger, for 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

Roundtable: Creating a Just Transition Scotland
2025-06-17 08:30 - 10:30 | Edinburgh, EH8 8AE
Join Business in the Community (BITC) and Royal London for an exclusive roundtable on achieving lasting prosperity through a just transition

This is an-in person event

Audience
Attendance is by invitation only and will be senior policymakers, business leaders, and key stakeholders in Scotland who are actively engaged in shaping a fairer, greener future for Scotland and the wider UK.

About the event
This invitation-only event will convene senior leaders from government, business, and civil society to discuss the imperative, opportunities and challenges of integrating economic growth strategies with efforts to deliver a just transition to a net zero and resilient Scotland.
Participants will hear initial insights from our academic partners at the University of Exeter and discuss how to maximse the opportunities of a just transition to promote lasting prosperity in Scotland.
During this roundtable we will:

Explore the benefits and risks of a just transition focussed economic policy.
Identify the barriers that need to be unlocked to mobilise widespread private investment.
Shape recommendations for business and government, in order to find innovative ways to invest in collaborations that accelerate Scotland’s journey to a net zero, resilient prosperity that works for all.

Background
This roundtable is part of BITC’s research exploring how positioning a just transition to a net zero, resilient future, at the heart of UK economic policy could promote lasting social, economic, and environmental prosperity. The research findings will be launched at a parliamentary reception in Autumn 2025 and we would value your insights as part of this Chatham House style event.

Refreshments
Tea, coffee and a light breakfast selection will be available.

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Evelyn.Rorie@bitc.org.uk
Full joining instructions will be sent before the event.

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

BITC Race Campaign 30th Anniversary Employee Progression
2025-06-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Join us to learn the key actions for UK employers to promote fairness and equality to create truly inclusive workplaces ready for the future.

This is an online event.
Audience
This is event is open to both members and non-members of Business in the Community (BITC). It would be of interest to anyone who has signed the Race at Work Charter. Particularly leaders and Executive Sponsors for Race and those who want to hear first hand from senior leaders about the actions they are taking within their organisations.

Background
2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the BITC Race Equality campaign. We will be sharing some fresh insights and updated evidence on trends linked to the Race at Work Charter captured within our most recent Leadership, Employees, and Procurement survey, with YouGov in June 2024. This new data fed into our Diverse and Inclusive Supply Chains Insights report and builds on the evidence gathered in our Race at Work Survey series (2015–2021), providing a deeper understanding of racial disparities, fairness and access to opportunities in UK workplaces.

About the event
This is the second of three insight events in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the BITC Race Equality campaign.
We will explore what the data has shown us since we first began capturing evidence in our Race to the Top report in 2009, Aspiration and Frustration in 2010, Race to Progress 2011, Race at the Top 2014 and since the Race at Work series in 2015. The evidence that we have gathered has fed into our Race at Work Charter founded in 2018 with 85 employers. Charter commitments four and five which are directly related to managers and employee fair access to opportunities and progression in the workplace.
We will be sharing trends on race at work from most recent YouGov 2024 findings and include fresh insights from employees. For example, what is the experience of microaggressions in the workplace? What about bias and AI?
What actions must employers take collectively now and, in the future, to ensure:

Fair access to opportunities to progress in the workplace, good work allocation, stretch assignments and projects where there is an identified linked to ethnicity and socio-economic background
Data linked to recruitment, retention, and performance appraisal linked to employee progression is free from bias
Restructuring does not have a disproportionate impact on gender or ethnicity in the organisation

Are there simple things linked to accessing work, networks and opportunities when looking at the intersection of ethnicity and social background? These will be explored at this session.
We will also be releasing a new Progression 10-Year trend paper, looking at the future and share updated tools and materials to help employers to make the case for action in their organisations.

Speakers
Sandra Kerr CBE, Race Equality Director, Business in the Community will be chairing the event, and we are delighted to have some speakers already secured:
Professor Nelarine Cornelius BSc, PhD, MBA, Professor of Organisation Studies; Associate Dean, People, Culture and Inclusion School of Business and Management, Queen Mary University
Martin Barnett, Global Head Technical Product Experts, Search Ads 360
Khalia Ismain, Black Entrepreneurs Programme Manager, Lloyds Banking Group
Dr Chidozie Umeh ACIPD, FHEA), Assistant Professor in Human Resource Management, Programme Leader MSc Human Resource Management, School for Business and Society University of York
Loraine Martins OBE FRSA, Global EDI Director, Arup

Booking, contact details and further information

Contact the Events Team 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

Peer Learning Forum: What’s Changing in the SBTi Net-Zero Standard?
2025-06-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
Join us at this forum to learn about the latest updates to the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard – and what they mean for your organisation.

This is an online event.
Audience
Business in the Community (BITC) members who have advisory in their membership package. Our Peer Learning Forums (PLF) are now open to all members who have advisory in their membership package – hosted by our issue experts, there are 20 forums a year, covering a range of responsible business areas and enabling our members to discuss challenges, solutions and ideas.

About the event
Join us for our latest Peer Learning Forum where we will be hearing directly from SBTi on the latest updates to the Corporate Net-Zero Standard – and what they mean for your organisation’s climate strategy. We are delighted to be joined by SBTi’s European Lead who will talk us through their evolving position on Scope 3 targets, carbon removals, and offsetting claims, break down key changes and provide practical insights for sustainability leads, ESG managers, and strategy teams.
Whether your company already has approved science-based targets, is planning to submit in 2025, or simply wishes to align their net zero approach to the SBTi methodology, this is your chance to stay ahead of the curve and ask questions directly to SBTi.
This event is part of a two-part series, with the preceding Peer Learning Forum taking place on 8 May, ‘Carbon Reduction or a Just Transition’.
Guest speakers

Kim Schoppink, European Lead, Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTI)

About Business in the Community’s Peer Learning Forums
BITC’s Peer Learning Forums provide a confidential environment to discuss common issues, solutions, and good practice. There will be an emphasis on discussion and sharing experiences. All contributions from businesses will be confidential within the group and won’t be shared externally by BITC.
Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Jessica Hart, Event Coordinator, BITC for 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

Advancing Social Mobility in Scotland
2025-06-20 11:00 - 14:00 | Glasgow
Practical steps for businesses to take and make a difference to Social Mobility in Scotland.

This is an in-person event
Audience
This event is open to businesses in Scotland who have started or are considering their social mobility actions and its integration into their broader responsible business strategy for growth.

Background
BITC Scotland Leadership Board set up a Social Mobility Working Group to define the most effective way our business members can support and accelerate on Social Mobility work already existing in Scotland.
Aegon UK, City Facilities Management, CBRE, Enterprise Mobility, Equans, FWB Park Brown, HSBC, Purpose Coalition, PwC, Shoosmiths, Sodexo (Chair) and SQA collaborated to provide the guidance we are sharing in the report.

About the event
The BITC Scotland Social Mobility Working Group welcomes the opportunity to bring businesses together to create a fairer Scotland.

To enhance the way in which businesses understand, engage and elevate their social mobility activities
To highlight actions which move the dial on social mobility, helping to reduce inequality and create opportunities for those within our communities

We invite you to feel as inspired and engaged as the BITC member businesses are from reviewing the current social mobility landscape in Scotland and crystalising this into practical guidance to support a prosperous nation.
Why attend?

Explore how social mobility can strengthen your workforce by broadening access to talent.
Understand the link between inclusion and long-term business success.
Take away practical ideas and next steps to enhance your responsible business strategy.
Network with likeminded businesses.

Agenda
Join us from 11:00 to 14:00 on Friday 20 June in Glasgow for:
11:00 – Arrival and networking
11:30 – Welcome – Louisa Macdonell, Director, BITC Scotland
11:40 – Importance to Glasgow – Councillor Richard Bell, Deputy Leader, Glasgow City Council
11:50 – Keynote: Why Social Mobility is important – Roisin Currie, CEO, Greggs
12:05 – Advancing Social Mobility Report Launch – Angela Halliday, Chair of BITC Working Group and Social Impact Director, Sodexo UK&I
12:15 – Lived Experience
12:25 – Lunch
13:00 – Reflections and actions for Scotland from Social Mobility Working Group:

Mairi McInnes, Director Global Industries, PwC
Sheelagh Cooley, Partner & Head of Edinburgh Office, Shoosmiths
Steven Jolly, Deputy Head of Corporate Banking, Scotland & Northern Ireland, HSBC UK Bank plc

13:30 – Next steps – Angela Halliday, Chair of BITC working group and Social Impact Director, Sodexo UK&I
13:50 – Closing remarks and thanks – Louisa Macdonell, Director, BITC Scotland

Refreshments
Refreshments will be provided.

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Jenny.McLaren@bitc.org.uk, Event Manager, with any questions.
Full joining instructions will be sent before the event.

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

The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality: Celebration Event
2025-06-24 13:00 - 16:30 | London
This session will bring together the top 50 listed organisations for The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2025.

Audience
This event is for those organisations who were successful in making the The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2025 listing.

About the event
Join us to celebrate the release of The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2025, managed and assessed by Business in the Community (BITC).
The UK’s most established and in-depth assessment of employer efforts to create workplaces where everyone regardless of gender can thrive, this event brings together successful list-makers to share best practice, network and of course – celebrate!
The afternoon will start with a panel session where delegates will hear from industry leaders on areas of best practice and innovation, and how this thinking is shaping a future focus on gender equity in the UK.
After a quick toast to celebrate, there is ample time to network with other list makers as well as members of the BITC Assessment Team who will be able to share further insight into best practice seen in this year’s submissions.

Booking, contact details and further information

Contact Jenny.McLaren@bitc.org.uk, Events Manager at BITC, for 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

Employee Health and Wellbeing
2025-06-25 08:30 - 11:30 | Cardiff
Join us at this event where we will explore how to improve employee wellbeing and discuss our FREE Self Assessment Tool.

This is an in person event.
Unsure how your organisation measures up on its wellbeing initiatives? Come along to this event where we will discuss how to use our free Workwell Self-Assessment Tool to evaluate your organisation’s wellbeing journey and see where it could make progress.
Overview
The Workwell Self-Assessment Tool is a free online survey created by Business in the Community (BITC) that has already reached almost 1.4 million employees through participating organisations . This intuitive platform enables teams to establish a clear baseline of their workforce wellbeing strategies, to benchmark performance against other businesses, and to identify the most impactful areas for improvement without the need for lengthy audits or costly external consultants.
By engaging with the tool you will be part of a growing community of organisations that have progressed into the embedding phase of the Workwell Model . Users consistently report strong outcomes from their specialist support services and have also highlighted inclusive culture as a key area for development . Whether you lead a small or medium sized enterprise beginning a wellbeing journey or manage a large organisation seeking to refine existing practices, the Workwell Self-Assessment Tool will equip you with the data and insights needed to make workforce wellbeing a strategic driver of organisational success.
Wherever you are on your journey, now is the time to be focussing on employee wellbeing because long-term sick costs the economy £1.5billion a year and Wales has the highest level of sickness across the UK.
Over the next 20 years, over 65s will grow 7x faster than under 65s and an ageing workforce could increase sick-related absences by an extra 27.5%.
About the event
Join us and speakers from organisations including Mott Macdonald, SLR Consulting and Thales who will be sharing their own experiences of the tool and how wellbeing initiatives in their organisations has helped improve employee wellbeing.
This event forms part of a series of events focused on employee wellbeing and is a partnership with BITC, the Bevan Commission, CBI Wales, Healthy Working Wales and Industry Wales.
Booking, contact details and further information

Contact Sarah.Hunter@bitc.org.uk, Senior Support Assistant, BITC for 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

Opening Doors to Diverse Talent in Sheffield
2025-06-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Sheffield
This is an in-person event.
Audience
This event is invite only. If you would like to attend, please contact charlotte.hedges@scci.org.uk.

About the Event
The Sheffield Pride of Place board invites you to join us on 26th June 2025 to bring the successful Business in the Community (BITC) Opening Doors campaign to Sheffield – helping employers to create inclusive and diverse workplaces.
Our simple framework of evidence-based actions enables every employer, regardless of size or sector, to take part in the campaign and foster a culture of inclusive recruitment across the city. This initiative directly supports the Pathways to Work programme, helping economically inactive people into employment.
What to expect at the event
You will hear from:

The Pride of Place Board about our vision and why we are launching this campaign.
Kate Josephs, CEO of Sheffield City Council will share her ambition for an inclusive and diverse Sheffield.
Ola Kolade, Employment and Skills Director at BITC, about the opening doors framework and the moral, economic, and business case for workplace inclusion.
Our Sheffield employer panel including, HLM Architects, Amey, Irwin Mitchell, and Aviva about their actions in support of the 5 keys to inclusive recruitment.
Beneficiaries, sharing their stories about the life changing impact securing work has had on them.

Networking & Learning Opportunities
At the start of the event you will have the opportunity to connect with likeminded businesses and meet 23 organisations supporting underrepresented groups, to understand the barriers to employment these groups face and how employers can attract, welcome, and nurture this talent.
Ongoing Support & Resources
Post-event, you’ll gain access to:

expert guidance on implementing inclusive hiring practices
online forums for Opening Doors signatories
peer learning opportunities throughout the year.

Please join us on this journey. By unlocking inclusive recruitment, we will boost Sheffield’s productivity and economic growth, kick-starting long-term positive change.

Background
What is the Sheffield Pride of Place
The Sheffield Pride of Place board is a business-led coalition, established by BITC, that brings together the private, public, and voluntary sectors to help Sheffield to:

seize economic opportunities
address societal issues
deliver long-term transformative change in our communities.

Our mission is to drive a fairer and greener Sheffield, driven by fairer and greener businesses.

Booking, contact details and further information

Contact Charlotte.Hedges@scci.org.uk for 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

Peer Learning Forum: Wellbeing champions & mental health first aiders
2025-06-26 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Join us to discuss how wellbeing champions and mental health first aiders can support your workforce wellbeing strategy

This is an online event.
Audience
Business in the Community (BITC) members who have advisory in their membership package. Our Peer Learning Forums (PLF) are now open to all members who have advisory in their membership package – hosted by our issue experts, there are 20 forums a year, covering a range of responsible business areas and enabling our members to discuss challenges, solutions and ideas. Wellbeing and inclusion practitioners, HR professionals and ERG leads will find this session particularly useful.

About the event
While many organisations now employ wellbeing practitioners, it is a tall order to effect positive change on wellbeing in your business as an “army of one”. We will explore the invaluable role that a vibrant community of wellbeing champions and well supported mental health first aiders can bring your strategic approach to life across the most complex and widespread of organisations.
BITC’s Workwell Model and Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) place importance on “better health and wellbeing” in responsible businesses – considering wellbeing holistically as something that we all deserve.

About Business in the Community’s Peer Learning Forums
BITC’s Peer Learning Forums provide a confidential environment to discuss common issues, solutions, and good practice. There will be an emphasis on discussion and sharing experiences. All contributions from businesses will be confidential within the group and won’t be shared externally by BITC.

Guest speaker

Sanchia Brown, Associate CIPD, Culture, Values & Wellbeing Specialist, Greater London Authority (GLA)

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Jessica.hart@bitc.org.uk , Event Coordinator, BITC for 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

Solutions for the Future (West Midlands) - A Place-Based Discussion
2025-06-26 10:00 - 13:00 | Ryton Campus, Coventry, CV8 3LG, United Kingdom
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on Place making and the role of businesses in growing the local economy (buy, live, hire).

This is an in person event.

Audience
This event is open to both members and non-members of Business in the Community (BITC). We are keen to have social enterprises and SMEs at the event.

This event is open to both members and non-members of Business in the Community (BITC). We are keen to welcome social enterprises and SMEs at the event.
Join us for a cross-sector, thought-provoking networking event focused on the power of local: living local, working local, hiring local and – most importantly – buying local.
This is a unique opportunity to discuss what a Place-based approach means for the West Midlands. We are inviting businesses of all sizes to join the debate on what a truly local economy requires to enable smaller enterprises, social enterprises and large businesses to collaborate more effectively and enable better community cohesion.
With insights from industry experts and policymakers, the event aspires to create future business connections, explore sustainable approaches, and find practical solutions to enable better collaboration across all business sectors.
The event will finish with a talking tour of the Ryton Campus, where Coventry University is conducting research into sustainable food systems through public food procurement.

Refreshments
Light refreshments will be served.

Booking, contact details and further information

Contact Andreea.Tudor@bitc.org.uk, Regional Lead at BITC for 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

Race at Work Charter Surgery July 2025
2025-07-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Join this event to learn more about insights from the Race at Work Charter survey, as well as the Diverse and Inclusive Supply Chain.

Audience
This event is open to members and non-members of Business in the Community (BITC). We also encourage those who are attending the ‘Executive Sponsors and Network Chairs’ Event on 21 March to attend this surgery.

Background
The Race at Work Charter surgeries are an opportunity for attendees to speak directly with Sandra Kerr CBE, Race Equality Director, BITC and ask any questions about the Charter, the survey, or race advisory support at BITC.
These surgeries benefit anyone wishing to sign or build on their organisation’s commitment to the Race at Work Charter.
This year our surgeries will touch on how to effectively integrate the Diverse and Inclusive Supply Chain Insights and calls to action into your existing frameworks to enhance your commitment to fairness and equality.

About the webinar
This surgery will offer attendees a chance for discussion around the Race at Work Charter including leadership and executive sponsorship and engaging employees within organisations. Additionally, we will touch upon the importance of a Diverse and Inclusive Supply Chain (DISC) and how it can enhance your organisation’s commitment to race equality.
This webinar will provide employers with a space to ask questions about the feedback available from the Race at Work Charter 2023 survey and the commitment to action that we ask of employers who have signed the Charter. We will also highlight the exciting opportunities with phase two of the Diverse and Inclusive Supply Chains project to advance the impact of inclusivity across your supply chain and organisational culture.

About the Race at Work Charter
The Race at Work Charter is seven calls to action to ensure fairness and equality so that ethnically diverse employees are represented at all levels in an organisation. The actions include:

• Appoint an Executive Sponsor for race. Capture ethnicity data and publicise progress.
• Commit at board level to zero tolerance of harassment and bullying.
• Make clear that supporting equality in the workplace is the responsibility of all leaders and managers.
• Take action that supports Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse people’s career progression.
• Support race inclusion allies in the workplace.
• Include Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse-led enterprise owners in supply chains.

Learn more about BITC’s Race at Work Charter.

Business in the Community’s work on race equality
BITC is working to ensure all employees feel they belong, have a voice, are valued and can be their true selves.
For 30 years, BITC has been campaigning and helping organisations to ensure Black, Asian, Mixed Race and ethnically diverse employees are represented at all levels.
All organisations want to recruit from the widest talent pool and help successful applicants progress. It is key to future productivity and performance. Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse staff still encounter significant disparities in employment and progression*. The government-sponsored Race in the workplace: The McGregor-Smith Review found that greater progress and positive outcomes are needed to ensure all organisations benefit from the wealth of diverse talent and tap into the potential economic boost to the UK economy of £24bn annually by tackling racial disparities in the workplace and labour market . These findings and the insights from our Race at Work surveys led BITC to create the Race at Work Charter, with 85 founding signatory organisations committed to improving equality of opportunity in the workplace. This charter now has more than 1100 signatories.
Find out more about BITC’s work on race equality.

Booking, contact details and further information

• Contact Jessica.Hart@bitc.org.uk, Events Coordinator at BITC for more information.
• Full joining instructions will be sent before the event.

References
*Business in the Community (2021) Race at Work 2021 Scorecard Report

What does health equity mean to business?
2025-07-02 10:00 - 11:15 | Online
This event will bring together business leaders taking action to foster health equity.

This is an online event.
Audience
This event is for Business in the Community (BITC) members by invite only. If you would like to attend, please contact Jenny.McLaren@bitc.org.uk.

Background
Health inequalities are differences in health outcomes between different groups that are avoidable and often systematic. These disparities are influenced by factors like socio-economic status, geography, ethnicity, and social exclusion.

People in the poorest parts of the UK live up to 10 years less than those in the richest areas. (Statistics on Health Inequalities in the United Kingdom)
Key determinants of health include income, education, housing, environment, and access to healthcare.

Existing health inequalities have been exacerbated since the pandemic, especially for those already disadvantaged. (What are health inequalities?)

Businesses have direct and far-reaching influence on health in many ways; through their employees, their supply chains, in the way that they use and manage their offices, the way they financially invest, of course through their community engagement and investment.
Businesses have a significant role to play in reducing health inequalities.

About the event
This event will bring together business leaders taking action to foster health equity. It will provide a platform to share insights, exchange experiences, and explore the actions businesses are taking to tackle health disparities. Attendees will have the opportunity to reflect on what health inequalities mean for business and how the private sector can be a force for positive change.

Guest speaker
TBC

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Jenny.McLaren@bitc.org.uk for 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

Business in the Community’s Leadership Assembly 2025
2025-07-09 17:00 - 20:30 | Central London
You are warmly invited to the BITC Leadership Assembly and Lifting up the UK: State of the Nation Report on Responsible Business 2025 launch.

This is an in-person event.
Audience
The 2025 Responsible Business Leadership Assembly is for Senior Leaders and is by invitation only. Please do feel free to bring a senior colleague from your business to attend with you.
Background
As a valued leader we invite you to join this pivotal gathering to reflect on the impact of The King’s Seeing is Believing Programme, discuss key insights from the State of the Nation 2025 Report (please find the 2024 report here for reference State of the Nation report) and shape priorities for business-led action.
Join us to hear:

The immediate priorities are for business leaders across the UK
What actions have been taken by business and the collective support needed to do more
What government action other CEOs are calling for to unlock UK economic growth

At the Assembly, we will:

Launch of the State of the Nation 2025 Report – Gain exclusive insights from the UK’s top CEOs on the urgent priorities for business leaders and the government actions needed to unlock economic growth.
Business Action Forums – Explore real-world solutions developed through The King’s Seeing is Believing visits and identify the next steps for scaling up business-led impact. Learn about the action’s businesses have taken and the collective support needed to drive further change.
Announcing the 2026 King’s Seeing is Believing Programme – Be the first to hear about next year’s visits and leadership opportunities.

** The King’s Seeing is Believing programme is an immersive experience that transforms lives. This unique flagship programme of visits brings together CEOs and senior business leaders in small groups to reconnect with communities across the UK. The event will feature a comprehensive report on the programme, highlighting the transformative experiences of leaders who have engaged directly with communities to understand pressing societal issues and drive impactful change. You will discover how the programme will move at a faster pace and greater scale in 2025/’26 and how you can get involved.
The programme
17:00 Arrival and refreshments
17:30-19:00 Speeches
19:00 Networking and drinks Reception
We hope you can join us to celebrate at this event.
Refreshments
There will be a drinks reception. Please let us know any dietary requirements when you register.
Booking, contact details and further information

Please contact Events@bitc.org.uk for 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

RCT Business Breakfast - Cyber Security
2025-07-10 08:30 - 10:30 | Pontypridd
Business in the Community and Capgemini are inviting you to join us for a morning of Cyber Security awareness building, where we’ll share our insights into the why, the what and the how. Hear about the key principles of cyber security, the risks and considerations involved, AI use, both the risks and the potential opportunity. We’ll also signpost a little ‘what do to if’ and share a few curated sources of best practice. Throughout we’ll encourage discussion and give you a great opportunity to network and ask questions.

Audience

This event is open to Business in the Community (BITC) members and non-members.

A collaborative approach to supporting business in RCT

Following the RCT Business Conversation listening event in 2024, Coleg y Cymoedd, Business in the Community Cymru and the University of South Wales are excited to launch a series of collaborative business support & networking events across the RCT region in 2025.

Designed in response to feedback from the local business community, these sessions will provide valuable opportunities to connect, collaborate, and explore support for key challenges facing businesses in RCT.

These breakfast networking events will bring together business leaders, industry experts, and key stakeholders to share insights, discuss opportunities for meaningful collaboration and support business growth & innovation.

We hope you can join us.

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Sarah.Hunter@bitc.org.uk, Senior Support Assistant , BITC for 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

Opening Doors Forum: Making Apprenticeships More Inclusive
2025-07-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Online event
Join other Opening Doors signatories to share challenges, learnings, experience and best practice on opening doors to diverse talent.

This is an online event.
Audience
Open to both members and non-members of Business in the Community (BITC). This event would be of interest to employers seeking to understand how their apprenticeships can contribute to their inclusive recruitment strategy.

Background
Businesses in BITC places consistently identify skill shortages as a primary hiring challenge. A 2021 government report showed that nearly half of UK businesses (48%) were recruiting for roles requiring hard data skills with a similar number (46%) struggling to recruit for these roles over the 2 previous years.
Apprenticeships play a key role in preparing people for the roles a business needs. In this session, United Utilities and Irwin Mitchell will respectively speak about their impactful initiatives in Blackpool, Sheffield and beyond, highlighting apprenticeships as an essential component of their place work by focusing on recruiting individuals facing employment barriers.

About the event
The session will provide the chance to share challenges, learnings, and best practices on broadening access to apprenticeships, upskilling new employees, and ensuring they are accessible to individuals from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
Why attend?

Gain insights into strategies for making your apprenticeship recruitment more inclusive, while supporting community development.
Learn from other businesses how they navigate constraints and access diverse talent pools to meet their specific needs locally.
Engage in discussions on the challenges and opportunities around apprenticeship processes.

Guest speakersGareth Ellis-Roberts, Talent Attraction & Outreach Advisor, United Utilities
Lorcan Seery, Apprentice Manager, Irwin Mitchell LLP

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact events@bitc.org.uk for 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

Peer Learning Forum: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Benchmarks
2025-09-03 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
Join us to explore how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) benchmarks and indices are being used to drive meaningful change in the workplace.

This is an online event taking place on Microsoft Teams.
Audience
Business in the Community (BITC) members who have advisory in their membership package. Our Peer Learning Forums (PLF) are open to all members who have advisory in their membership package – hosted by our issue experts, there are 20 forums a year, covering a range of responsible business areas and enabling our members to discuss challenges, solutions and ideas.

About the event
Join us for this Peer Learning Forum, where Business in the Community (BITC) members will come together to explore how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) benchmarks and indices are being used to drive meaningful change in the workplace.
We’ll hear directly from members about the frameworks they find most valuable for measuring and enhancing inclusion. The session will also delve into how organisations have approached completing these benchmarks and indices, and how they’ve used the insights and outputs to embed lasting improvements.
Why Attend?

Understand the critical role DEI benchmarks and indices play in evaluating and advancing DEI performance.
Discover the range of benchmarks and indices available, and explore their respective strengths and limitations.
Gain real-world insights into how organisations have leveraged these tools to create long-term value.
Learn how BITC members have engaged colleagues and senior leaders in the process.
Take part in a Q&A with guest speakers, and enjoy opportunities for networking and peer knowledge sharing.

About Business in the Community’s Peer Learning Forums
BITC’s Peer Learning Forums provide a confidential environment to discuss common issues, solutions, and good practice. There will be an emphasis on discussion and sharing experiences. All contributions from businesses will be confidential within the group and won’t be shared externally by BITC.
Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Jessica.Hart@bitc.org.uk , Event Coordinator, BITC for 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

Business in the Community's Job Coaching Training
2025-09-08 09:30 - 13:30 | Online event
Mandatory training session for employees of BITC member organisations, volunteering on the Job Coaching programme.

Business in the Community’s Job Coaching programme
Business in the Community’s (BITC) job coaching programme aims to engage businesses across the UK to support jobseekers through a series of coaching sessions.
Our ambition is to help build an inclusive workforce by supporting people who face barriers to employment across the UK.

How does it work?
BITC comprehensively trains employee volunteers as coaches, providing them with all the necessary tools and resources.

Coaches are then matched with jobseekers to provide one-to-one support.
Coaches and jobseekers meet virtually for up to six, 60 minute sessions, usually 2-3 weeks apart.

Coaches and jobseekers benefit
Coaches help improve the skills, confidence and employment opportunities for the jobseeker while also enhancing their own skills and wellbeing.

Facilitated training workshop
In preparation for your role as coach and before we match you with a jobseeker, you will need to complete our three-hour online facilitated training workshop. Guidance and support are provided throughout the programme.

Outline of the event
Our training virtual sessions are designed to be interactive and engaging and are led by an experienced trainer. Please make sure you can access Teams for this session.
“Great content, good pace, enthusiastic delivery, good mix of content, clear explanations and answered all our questions.”
The training will cover the following;

Structure and content of the job coaching programme.
Understanding jobseeker’s circumstances and the barriers they face.
Safeguarding.
Coaching tools including; active listening, giving feedback, the GROW model and more.

Please note: you need to attend the full three hours. Please don’t book a training if you are not able to attend the whole session.
We look forward to welcoming you to the training and supporting you soon.

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact coaching@bitc.org.uk if you have any questions about the Job Coaching programme or the training session itself.

Full joining instructions will be sent before the event.

Find out more about BITC’s Job Coaching programme.

Nature and Resilience Insight Series
2025-09-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
This series will help businesses act on nature stewardship, connecting the dots with carbon, biodiversity, and resilience.

This is an online event.
Audience
This series is open to Business in the Community (BITC) members and non-members.

About the event
Session Three- Mapping, Monitoring, and Partnerships
In the final session of the series, participants will explore the core themes that create a stronger business case for securing continuous support to preserve nature and improve biodiversity.
We have an exciting line-up for September and encourage you to join the session to hear from the wealth of expertise from our panellists:
• Jack Balsdon, Phoenix.
• Stacey Baggaley, Principal Specialist: Nature & Business at United Nations Environment Programme WCMC.
• Elizabeth Newman-Earl, e50k.
Businesses will learn how to maximise impact through consistent mapping, assessing business impacts and dependencies via digital tools and identifying specific subsequent risks and opportunities.

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Annette.Ettarh@bitc.org.uk , Event Manager, BITC for 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

Peer Learning Forum: Preparing for UK Sustainability Reporting Standards
2025-09-11 10:00 - 11:30 | Online event
Join us to explore what actions can be taken in order to get ready for the UK SRS

This is an online event taking place on Microsoft Teams
Audience
Business in the Community (BITC) members who have advisory in their membership package. Our Peer Learning Forums (PLF) are open to all members who have advisory in their membership package – hosted by our issue experts, there are 20 forums a year, covering a range of responsible business areas and enabling our members to discuss challenges, solutions and ideas.

About the event
‘The question now is how government translates intention into action. We’ve certainly seen the right intention, green papers, and white papers, but how can we get that into regulation and action?’ – Adolfo Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer, Capita
The UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (SRS) are finally out for consultation and although we’ve all been preparing based on our knowledge of the ISSB IFRS, the CSRD and the TCFD (acronym bingo – are you confused yet?) it’s time to share learning and expertise on what companies are doing to get prepared for reporting. BITC will be responding to the consultation and some member companies will likely be doing so directly too. What’s included that we need to prepare for and what doesn’t go far enough? Now that this compliance sets a baseline, what does this mean for the ‘responsible business’ approach? How can we ensure that we pivot resources to meet reporting requirements without dampening our aspirations and taking away from the interventions that create impact? Join us to discuss these questions and more alongside other BITC member companies.
This peer learning forum is part of a series on regulation, alongside the Environment Peer Learning Forum on Climate-Related Transition Planning, taking place on 16th September.

About Business in the Community’s Peer Learning Forums
BITC’s Peer Learning Forums provide a confidential environment to discuss common issues, solutions, and good practice. There will be an emphasis on discussion and sharing experiences. All contributions from businesses will be confidential within the group and won’t be shared externally by BITC.
Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Jessica.hart@bitc.org.uk , Event Coordinator, BITC for 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
