Business in the Community

Let's Care Together - Programme Introduction (for Employers)
2025-06-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-06-27 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-08 12:00 - 13:00 (Europe/London) | 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.

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, 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
