Cleone Foods' Wade Lyn will be speaking at the event
Black Country companies looking to boost their sales by doing business responsibly are being urged to attend a free of charge breakfast event being held next week (Nov 9th).
The ‘Profits v Responsible Business – does there have to be a choice’ conference, which is being backed by Business in the Community (BITC) and University of Wolverhampton, will aim to show companies how they can be more profitable by committing to a sustainable agenda that focuses on respecting people, communities and the natural environment.
Held at Wolverhampton Science Park, delegates will hear from Aaron Reid (Responsible Procurement Consultant at Carillion), Dr Silke Machold (Reader in Governance and Ethics at the University of Wolverhampton) and Mark Clemson, Managing Director of New World Solar on what it takes to strengthen supplier partnerships, enhance brand reputation and to secure and retain important contracts.
There will also be the chance to listen to Cleone Foods’ Wade Lyn on his company’s commitment to this approach and how it has led to him being named the Prince’s Ambassador for Responsible Business in the West Midlands.
“Being a responsible company is not just for the big corporates; small and medium enterprises have their role to play and also deserve to enjoy the bottom line benefits that come with it,” explained David Darlaston, Regional Director at BITC.
“From talking to firms all over the West Midlands it was evident that there was a huge demand for us to hold events that can engage with smaller companies that want to know more about what it takes to be sustainable.”
He continued: “Wolverhampton is one of the first events to be held and we believe the high profile speakers will add a lot of benefit to local companies. There will also be all the latest information on the support you can access to do business responsibly.”
Business in the Community, which is the UK’s largest and best-known knowledge network for those involved in responsible business, has recently launched its first-ever SME membership package.
This covers three main areas:
- Advice and support (annual strategy meeting, tailored action plan, guided access to website, media round up)
- Employee Development and Community Impact (participation in Give and Gain Day, access to quarterly team meetings, support and added value for community work)
- Profile and Network (access to a 850 company strong BITC Network, free attendance to member’s forums, reduced rate on high profile events, use of BITC logo communication and regular updates)
David concluded: “We would urge any companies interested in corporate social responsibility to join the debate. No matter what part of the journey you’re on, the SME membership offer could add real value to the way you do business and your bottom line performance.”
Places are limited, so early booking is advisable by contacting Samerina Sahota on 01902 717491 or samerina.sahota@bitc.org.uk.