Business in the Community

Peer Learning Forum: Wellbeing champions & mental health first aiders
2025-06-26 10:00 - 11:30 (Europe/London) | 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

Let's Care Together - Programme Introduction (for Employers)
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.

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, 2025-09-24 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

Peer Learning Forum: Climate Related Transition Planning
2025-09-16 10:00 - 11:30 | Online event
Join us to explore the implications of climate‑related transition planning.

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
Companies have been publishing their TCFD reports for a few years which presents a transparent narrative to stakeholders about how comfortable (or not!) a company is with considering and reporting against the risk and strategy required for remaining sustainable as they progress to Net Zero. The government is now thinking further about how to ensure companies understand the depth and scale of the transition required to a Net Zero economy. Not all businesses will continue to exist. The government consultation on the Climate Related Transition Planning is now open and BITC will be responding.
Join this peer learning forum with BITC’s Head of Just Transition and Environment Adviser to discuss with members questions including the following:

If we’re doing TCFD isn’t that enough?
How does the proposed Climate Related Transition Planning align with other frameworks that members already align to?
What does increased regulation mean for being a leading responsible business?
Where has the ‘Just’ bit of the transition gone?

This peer learning forum is the second in a two-part series on regulation, alongside the Strategy & Purpose Peer Learning Forum on the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards, taking place on the September 11th.

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: Achieving Community Regeneration
2025-09-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Aberdeen
For members and non-members of Business in the Community (BITC) who are involved in or interested in regeneration, and are located in or have a presence in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Join us in Aberdeen on September 16, 2025 from 9.30am for a 10:00 start.
Connect with like-minded individuals, share your experiences, and discover new opportunities to make a positive impact in the community.
Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of a growing network of responsible businesses in Aberdeen. Look forward to seeing you there!

Background
Business in the Community 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 – Achieving Community Regeneration
Together we’ll explore how businesses of all sizes can meaningfully contribute to community regeneration.
Responsible business strategies which consider a community’s needs alongside those of their business have a greater opportunity to empower that community to regenerate and ultimately thrive in parallel to achieving their business outcomes.
Join us to:

Connect with your Aberdeen business peers, to share practices and explore ways to progress your organisations approach to community regeneration.
Gain insights from Shell UK on the regeneration of Tullos, and the Energy Transition Skills Hub.
Appreciate Aberdeen City priorities based on Community Planning Aberdeen’s public engagement, with a focus on employability.
Share your experience, on the challenges and opportunities discussed, highlighting small and practical ways you could collaborate and contribute to community regeneration.

Agenda
0930 – Arrival and registrations
1000 – Welcome
1010 – Jennifer MacDonald, Social Investment Advisor- Skills Lead, Shell UK – Insights on the regeneration of Tullos and the Energy Transition Skills Hub
1030 – Allison Swanson, Community Planning and Improvement Manager, Aberdeen City Council – Aberdeen City priorities based on Community Planning Aberdeen’s public engagement, focus employability
1050 – Related Business in the Community initiatives
1100 – Facilitated breakout session to network with peers and learn from each other
1145 – Next steps and Meeting
1200 – Meeting closes

Refreshments

Tea/coffee will be provided

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Evelyn.Rorie@bitc.org.uk, Senior Support Officer at BITC for any futher questions.
Full attendance instructions will be sent before the event.
All attendees will be required to bring photographic ID with you on the day.
Please note that for registration at the event venue, our host Shell UK requires all guests’ email addresses. These will only be used for registration purposes and will not be shared or used for any other reason.

Find out more about Business in the Community Scotland

Inclusive Recruitment Event
2025-09-17 08:30 - 10:30 | Swansea
Join us to learn more about Business in the Community’s (BITC) flagship inclusive recruitment campaign Opening Doors.

Audience
This event is available to members and non-members of BITC.
About the event

Join us to hear from BITC’s Employment and Skills Director, Ola Kolade, around the business benefits of inclusive recruitment, including-

• Attract talent: nearly three-quarters of jobseekers report that a diverse workforce is an important factor when evaluating companies and job offers
• Fill vacancies: 51% of private sector employers report having hard-to-fill vacancies
• Improve business performance: diverse companies earn 2.5 time higher cash flow per employee, and inclusive teams are more productive by over 35%.

Be inspired by our speakers and gain unique insight into the employer actions that are making the most impact to improve social mobility through an intersectional lens. These include POBL Group, Gower College Swansea.
Find out how our network can help you tackle current challenges and provide the toolkits and factsheets to equip you to prioritise equality in your workplace.
Also, you will have the opportunity to network with other businesses and the opportunity to speak to those facing challenges in recruitment and hear the barriers they face.
Booking, contact details and further information

Contact events@bitc.org.uk for further information.

Full joining instructions will be sent before the event.

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

Race Champions Charter Forum
2025-09-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Online event
Join us for an exclusive Race Champions session offering an early preview of insights from the Race at Work 2025 Survey with YouGov.

This is an online event that will be held on Microsoft Teams.
Audience
This event is invite-only and is open to Business in the Community Race Champions.

About this event
Join us for an exclusive Race Champions session offering an early preview of insights from the Race at Work 2025 Survey with YouGov, ahead of their public release in the Then, Now, Next 30th Anniversary Flagship Report in October.
We’ll also be sharing advance details of the Race at Work Charter Reset, developed in response to these insights and aligned with the 30th anniversary of BITC’s Race Equality Campaign.
This session is a chance to:

– Preview key trends and patterns emerging from the 2025 survey
– Understand the proposed direction of the Charter
– Share your reflections to help shape the next phase of the campaign

We encourage all Race Champions to attend and have an opportunity in shaping what comes next.

Booking, contact details and further information

Contact Annette.ettarh@bitc.org.uk, Business in the Community.
Joining instructions will be sent before the event.

Yorkshire Employee Networks Summit
2025-09-17 14:00 - 17:30 | Leeds
This event is run in partnership with Leeds Building Society.

This is an in-person event
Audience
This event is open to members and non-members of Business in the Community (BITC). It is open to Employee Network Chairs/Co-Chairs, DEI and HR Practitioners, Leaders, and Executive Network Sponsors. It is designed for everyone leading, involved in, working with, and/or supporting the work of Employee Networks.

Background
Employee networks play a crucial role in fostering inclusive workplace cultures and have become vital to organisation’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ambitions. They provide a platform for diverse voices and drive organisational change.
The Yorkshire Employee Networks Summit 2025 aims to empower those involved in these networks, offering insights, strategies, and connections to enhance their effectiveness.
Through conversations within BITC’s Yorkshire & Humber Regional Board, and Yorkshire & Humber ED&I network, there was an apparent need to bring together network leads from across the region, creating a space for exchange, collaboration, peer support, and best practice insights.

About the event
From fostering inclusivity, advancing diversity to driving innovation, advocacy and action, many organisations in the UK would not be where they are today if it wasn’t for the relentless and passionate work of employee networks.
The Yorkshire Employee Networks Summit 2025 is the premier gathering for professionals leading and supporting employee networks. It’s a celebration of the impact employee networks have had on workplaces from across the region.
Through tailored workshops and speaker panels, attendees will gain actionable insights from industry leaders, access the latest best practice, and network with peers. This forum will provide the space, tools and guidance to harness the full potential of employee networks.
We are offering two types of ticket for this event. We have limited capacity for the workshops however additional tickets are available for a 3:30pm arrival for the networking and panel session.
Panel Speakers include:

Chair: Ainslie Wilson-Shearer, Head of Diversity Inclusion & Wellbeing, Mills & Reeve LLP and Member of Business in the Community’s Yorkshire & Humber Regional Board
Tina Hughes, Director of Digital Channels, Yorkshire Building Society, Ethnicity Network Senior Leadership Team Sponsor, and Chair of Yorkshire Building Society’s DE&I Forum
Craig McNally, Colleague Experience Partner (DE&I Lead), Newcastle Building Society
Emily Bentley, Resident Wellbeing Officer, Anchor, and enABLE Network Member
Victoria Kenny, People Advisor, Leeds Building Society, Chair of LGBTQ+ Forum

Agenda
2pm: Arrival and networking
2.30pm: Welcome and move into workshops
2.45pm: Workshops
3.45: Break and networking
4pm: Panel and Q&A
4.45pm: Networking
5.30pm: Close

Workshops
If you book a ticket for the whole event, you will be able to pick one of the below workshops to attend:
Colleague Network Wellbeing: Embracing resilience in times of challenge
“Anyone who is interested in making change in the world also has to learn how to take care of himself, herself, themselves… it means that we’re able to bring our entire selves into the movement” – Angela Davis
Resilience in the face of challenge can be the make or break of an effective colleague network. Having the tools and resources to look after your wellbeing is as important as a clear plan for activity. Join colleagues from Leeds Building Society for an insightful and collaborative session which will pose the question of “How can I adapt in challenging situations to manage stress and prevent burnout?”.
Senior Sponsor Workshop: Championing Network Success
A thriving employee network needs more than passion—it needs powerful, visible support from the top. A committed Executive Sponsor is key to turning vision and purpose into impact.
Join BITC for an engaging, practical workshop designed specifically for Executive Sponsors. Gain clarity on your role, explore what effective sponsorship looks like, and understand how to align network goals with wider business strategy. Discover how your leadership can amplify employee voice and drive real change.
What we’ll cover:

Understanding the Executive Sponsor role and responsibilities

Strategic alignment and accountability

The power and purpose of executive sponsorship

Advocacy in action: what it means to truly champion a network

Scenario-based activity on active sponsorship

Turning insight into impact: Commit to Action

This session is designed to increase confidence—and unlock the full potential of employee networks

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

Solutions for the Future - Hiring, Reskilling and Upskilling the Region
2025-09-18 13:30 - 16:00 | George Street Walsall WS1
Are you a business leader, HR professional, educator, or policymaker passionate about building a stronger, more inclusive workforce? Join us for Hiring, Skilling and Upskilling the Region.

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.

Join us for a dynamic morning of insight, collaboration, and action. This event brings together employers, educators, and community leaders to tackle the region’s most pressing employment and skills challenges—head-on.

🔍 Why Attend?
Creating meaningful employment is one of the most significant ways that businesses can support individuals to break out of poverty. A good job offers security, rights, a fair income and opportunities for personal development and progression. Yet, people from lower socio-economic backgrounds are far less likely to progress at work than their wealthier peers. For many low-income individuals, securing a job does not mean upward social mobility; but instead, remaining in a low-skill, low-pay cycle.

Discover how to hire inclusively, reskill effectively, and upskill strategically.
Learn from Business in the Community (BITC) and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) about regional strategies and national frameworks.
Explore local social mobility challenges and how your organisation can be part of the solution.
Connect with peers, training providers, and policymakers to spark new partnerships.

🎤 What to Expect:

Keynotes from national and regional leaders in employment and skills
Panel discussions on what’s working in the West Midlands
Interactive workshop on inclusive hiring and reskilling
Roundtable networking to share ideas and build collaborations

Whether you’re a small business or a large employer, this event will equip you with the tools, insights, and connections to make a real impact.
Download the full event agenda.

👥 Who Should Attend?

Employers and HR professionals
Local authorities and policymakers
Colleges, training providers, and educators
Community organisations and employment support services

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

Peer Learning Forum: Does positive impact outweigh the negative?
2025-09-24 14:00 - 15:30 | Online event
Join us to discuss how companies can strengthen their social impact to maintain trust and resilience as challenges arise.

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
After over 40 years of helping businesses understand the positive impact they can create in communities, BITC is starting to see a change in tide. Businesses are beginning to recognise that in these times of 2 x existential crises of the climate emergency and the AI industrial revolution, that it’s time to understand if the positive impact of the business for society and the environment outweighs the negative impact.
Whilst some business models are inherently designed to benefit wider stakeholder groups (social enterprises, co-ops and mutuals, employee-owned businesses), for others, ‘purpose’ has long been the measure of whether a business exists for reasons beyond making a few people rich. But ‘measure’ is a strong word. BITC has long believed that a purpose needs to be measurable against KPIs and metrics, yet few businesses have stepped up to this challenge [Anglian Water Services – Purpose Impact Assessment]. And yes, it is a big challenge, so in the shorter term, we’ve asked companies to understand the long-term, sustainable social impact of their activities instead of just measuring short-term inputs and outputs only. Yes, that’s also hard, but charities and governments have been doing it for over 30 years.
We’ve asked businesses to create a long-term, evidence-based social impact framework to complement their Net Zero framework. BITC members are rising to the challenge(Crown Workspace social impact strategy).
Join us at this Peer Learning Forum to discuss with BITC experts and colleagues from BITC member companies how we can understand the long-term social impact that companies are creating, providing a continued license to operate across a future that is only going to get tougher for employees and consumers.

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

The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2025: Insights
2025-09-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Join us to learn insights from The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2025.

This is an online event.
Audience
This event is open to members and non-members of Business in the Community (BITC). It will be of interest to applicants of The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality, and diversity and inclusion practitioners/managers, HR/People/Talent management practitioners/managers, Heads of Diversity and inclusion and Heads of HR/People/Talent management.

Background
The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality is the UK’s most highly profiled and well-established listing of employers taking action to create more gender-equal workplaces.
Since 2011, the flagship award has aimed to recognise and celebrate the organisations who are embedding gender equality at all levels of their organisation and are proactively committed to dismantling barriers to progression to ensure all genders can thrive.
Despite the challenging external landscape, findings from The Times Top 50 insights report and this event illuminates best practice from applicants that are continuing to drive positive change. Areas for improvement will also be uncovered, inspiring and informing further actions.
BITC’s Gender Equality Campaign exists to maintain momentum and accelerate progress towards gender equity, future-proofing workplaces where inclusion and truly equal opportunity is no longer the exception but the rule.

About the event
This event will:
• Reveal the areas in which organisations are meeting their gender equality ambitions.
• Uncover areas where progress has stalled, and the further action that needs to be taken to overcome this.
• Provide best practice approaches and case studies from The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality.

Speakers
• Phillippa O’Connor, Chief People Officer, PwC UK
• Sal Kaabipour, DEI Project Lead- Global, Internal, National Grid
• Anna Sirmoglou, EUNA EDI Manager, Mott MacDonald

Booking, contact details and further information
• Contact events@bitc.org.uk 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 data and insights
2025-09-30 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Join us to discuss how a data-driven approach to wellbeing is vital in effecting positive change.

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. Wellbeing and inclusion practitioners, HR professionals and ERG leads will find this session particularly useful.

About the event
“What’s measured is treasured” and “what’s measured gets managed” are commonly used phrases in the world of responsible business. Why is it that so many organisations report difficulty in determining the right measurements to demonstrate the bottom-line benefits of a healthier and happier workforce? This session will present an ideal opportunity for BITC members to learn and share what data and insights are really shifting the dial.
BITC’s Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) takes a measurement lens and applies it to the whole of the Workwell Model, confirming its fundamental importance in today’s lean operating environment.

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

Cross Organisational Mentoring Circles 14th Cohort launch
2025-10-01 10:00 - 12:30 | Online event
An opportunity for participants of the Cross Organisational Circles 14th Cohort to meet their circles and learn more about the programme.

This is an online event taking place on MS Teams.

Audience
Only for participants in the 14th Cohort of Business in the Community (BITC)’s Cross-Organisational Mentoring Circles, including organisation D&I contacts, mentors and mentees.

Background
BITC’s Race at Work Cross Organisational Mentoring Circle (COMC) is a six-month mentoring programme that matches ethnically diverse mentees from a range of organisations, public, private, non-profit, into a circle. The circle is led by a mentor from another organisation, who is responsible for convening the meeting, agenda setting and imparting their experience.
The six-month programme includes monthly meetings and access to BITC’s network of guest mentors. These guest mentors deliver masterclasses on topics such as networking, relationship management, public speaking, and personal branding.

About the event
This webinar will introduce the programme to participants, who will hear from some of our alumni, and have the opportunity to connect to their mentoring circle for the first session.

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Jessica Hart, Event Coordinator, BITC 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

New Member Induction - October 2025
2025-10-02 14:00 - 15:30 | Online event
Join us to learn how to maximise the value of your membership with Business in the Community (BITC).

This is a virtual event.
Audience
This event is open to new members of Business in the Community (BITC) or new contacts from existing BITC members in larger companies.

About the event
The New Member Induction is an opportunity for new members and contacts to better understand BITC’s purpose, values and missions. It highlights the key elements and opportunities of BITC Membership. This webinar also provides a chance for attendees to share expected ambitions and challenges, as well as ask any questions to existing members about their personal experiences and how BITC has added value to their organisation.

Event details
This event will induct new members, and new contacts from current member companies, to BITC. Specific objectives for the event are for new BITC contacts to:

Inspiration: Be inspired to take more action on responsible business with BITC.
Orientation: Have a clear understanding of what BITC does and how to make the most of that – aligned to the Responsible Business Map.

Networking: To meet other contacts within the community who you can work alongside in your responsible business journey.

Action: Identify the greatest opportunities for greater engagement.

Booking, contact details and further information

Contact Annette Ettarh, Events Manager at BITC for further information.

Full joining instructions will be sent before the event.

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

Race Equality Campaign 30th Anniversary: Report Launch
2025-10-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
This webinar will profile the launch of the Then, Now Next Report.

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 or who participated in the ‘Leadership, employees and procurement’ YouGov survey, particularly leaders and Executive Sponsors for Race.

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
BITC launched Race for Opportunity in 1995. The race campaign was supported by HM King Charles III and some of the most senior business leaders in the UK at that time. The BITC race equality campaign will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary milestone at this event. This webinar will profile the launch of the Then, Now Next Report telling the story of the race campaign founding, achievements over the last 30 years and the challenges ahead and vision of the key areas that are needed for the future.
This event will enable us to hear from senior business leaders, celebrate progress already made and include clear calls to action for the future underpinned with the 30 years of evidence gathered. You will hear directly from leaders about the issues will be grappling with to create a future that ensures that everyone’s talent is unleashed in the UK to contribute to the much-needed economic boost to the economy.

Speakers
Sandra Kerr CBE, Race Equality Director, BITC will be presenting and facilitating the conversation with:
Richard Iferenta, Partner and Vice Chair, KPMG, and BITC Race Leadership Team Chair
Parminder Kohli, Chair UK and EVP Sustainability & Carbon, Shell
Professor Ian Thomson, Professor (Teaching and Research) Accounting and Finance, School of Business, Chair in Accounting and Sustainability School of Business, Associate Dean Research, Dundee University
Nishi Mayor, Director of Employer Engagement & Partnerships, Youth Futures Foundation

Booking, contact details and further information

Contact events@bitc.org.uk 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 Surgery: Sheffield Employers
2025-10-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Online event
This surgery offers Sheffield-based employers who have signed up to the Opening Doors campaign to gain insights and best-practice guidance.

This is an online event.
Audience
By invitation only for Sheffield-based Opening Doors Employers.

Background
Business in the Community’s (BITC) Opening Doors 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.
Following the Opening Doors launch in Sheffield in June, several organisations have signed up to the campaign from across the city. By unlocking inclusive recruitment, signatories are part of the journey to boost Sheffield’s productivity and economic growth, kick-starting long-term positive change. This initiative also directly supports the Pathways to Work programme, run by Sheffield City Council, helping economically inactive people into employment.

About the event
This surgery offers Sheffield-based employers who have signed up to the Opening Doors campaign to gain insights on actions under the Five Keys for Inclusive Recruitment framework and best-practice guidance. Employers will also learn about benefits, support and resources available as an Opening Doors signatory.
During this session, attendees will have the space to ask BITC questions about the campaign and its commitments. There will also be an opportunity to interact, share learnings and exchange ideas with fellow Opening Doors employers from Sheffield.
Guest speakers

Ola Kolade, Employment & Skills Campaign Director, Business in the Community
Peter Slack, Strategic Support Coordinator, Sheffield City Council
Becky Hopewell, Development Manager, Sheffield City Council

Agenda

10am – Welcome and driving action with Opening Doors
10:10am – Building on local opportunities – Sheffield Council
10:20am – Group discussion
10:55am – Closing remarks

About Opening Doors
Opening Doors is Business in the Community’s (BITC) flagship inclusive recruitment campaign. Open to all employers, and free to join, we have an ambition to make 2 million jobs more accessible to diverse talent by supporting employers to make changes to the way they recruit.
Business in the Community has created a simple framework to guide businesses through their inclusive recruitment journey. It identifies 25 actions grouped into the 5 keys to inclusive recruitment. Businesses are asked to identify at least three actions that they will implement during the campaign.

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

Coventry Community Dinner
2025-10-09 18:00 - 20:30 | Coventry
Join business, public and voluntary sector leaders in painting a picture of Coventry 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
Bringing together leaders from both business and the community, this special event is being kindly hosted by Feeding Coventry, a community focused charity providing food, advocacy and support to local people. Join us for an opportunity to learn from and network with likeminded individuals, committed to a vision for the future of Coventry,
Our Pride of Place work 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 Zahra Bahrololoumi CBE, Chief Executive Officer, UK&I, Salesforce.
The visit will explore the interconnected challenges faced by Coventry’s communities and examine how businesses can play a pivotal role in fostering inclusive growth and opportunity for all.

Refreshments
Networking reception followed by community 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.
This programme is kindly supported by Salesforces and Linklaters LLP.
L earn more about The King’s Seeing in Believing Programme

Booking and contact details and further information

Contact Diana Abad, Engagement Manager at diana.abad@bitc.org.uk for further information.
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: Cross-Cultural Awareness
2025-10-14 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Join us to discuss the power of cross-cultural conversations and how they help shape inclusive, collaborative, and successful workplaces.

This is an online event taking place on Microsoft Teams
Audience
Business in the Community (BITC) members with advisory services included in their membership package can participate in our Peer Learning Forums (PLF). These forums, hosted by our issue experts, are open to all members with advisory services and take place 20 times a year. They cover a variety of responsible business topics and provide opportunities for members to discuss challenges, solutions, and ideas. HR, D&I, and Wellbeing practitioners in particular will find these sessions beneficial.

About the event
This Peer Learning Forum will bring members together to examine the relevance of cross-cultural understanding in today’s world and what workplaces can do to foster cultural inclusion within their workforces.
One year on from anti-immigration riots that tore through more than 20 places across Britain – from Sunderland in northeast England and Manchester in the northwest, to Plymouth in the southwest and Belfast in Northern Ireland, many of the protests have involved a few hundred people targeting migrants or Muslims within communities.
To raise awareness and build understanding of the strategic importance of cross-cultural communication in today’s diverse workplace, this session will demonstrate why it is essential to invest in developing these skills to foster inclusion, improve collaboration, and drive business success.
In a workforce that spans nationalities, ethnicities, generations, and lived experiences, it’s important to prepare employees to navigate these complexities. In a fireside chat, we’ll speak with Marks & Spencer’s BITC Inclusion and Wellbeing Adviser to explore the steps M&S has taken to increase awareness of the value of cultural understanding in everyday communication.
Speaker

Amy Thabethe, Inclusion and Wellbeing Advisor, Business in the Community

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

Workwell Self-Assessment Tool Two-Year Anniversary
2025-10-16 10:30 - 11:30 | Online
Join us to share wellbeing insights and celebrate two years of learning from member organisations using the Workwell Self-Assessment Tool.

This is an online event taking place on Microsoft Teams
Audience
This event is open to members and non-members of Business in the Community (BITC). It will be of interest to HR, people and talent professionals, wellbeing and inclusion practitioners/managers, senior leaders responsible for workplace wellbeing, and any organisation looking to improve the impact of their wellbeing strategy.

About the event
This event will bring together BITC’s latest analysis of SAT data with insight from organisations who have put the tool into practice. By combining trends and evidence with case studies and practical examples, attendees will gain both a high-level understanding of the wellbeing landscape and practical steps to apply in their own organisations. The discussion will highlight both the opportunities and challanges across both larger organisations and SMEs, demonstrate the value of cross-sector learning, and provide inspiration for turning insights into action. This event will:
• Share the latest wellbeing insights from two years of the Workwell SAT.
• Highlight trends and challenges across organisations of different sizes and sectors.
• Hear directly from three organisations (to be announced) on how they have used the SAT to shape their wellbeing strategy and implementation.
• Provide practical tips and actions that attendees can take forward in their own organisations.

Background
Launched in 2023, the Workwell Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) is a free resource helping organisations benchmark and improve their approach to employee wellbeing. In its first two years, over two hundred organisations have completed the SAT, creating unique insights into workplace wellbeing maturity.
This anniversary event will share new findings, highlight progress, and explore where further action is needed. Organisations, from a range of sectors, will share how the SAT has shaped their wellbeing journeys, from cultural shifts to practical actions.
BITC’s Workwell model exists to support businesses in accelerating progress and embedding employee wellbeing within the culture.
Confirmed event speakers include:

Sally Baines, Director of People Experience, OVO
Dr Chris Tomkins, Head of Organisational Health & Wellbeing, Square Health

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
