Business in the Community

📺 Has your organisation considered running a mentoring scheme to support diverse talent? In our new testimonial, mentor Piers Strudwick OBE, of The British Army, shares his experience of our Cross-organisational Mentoring Circles (COMC) programme. Now in its 10th year, COMC provides vital personal development opportunities, professional networking, and shared learning for Black, Asian, Mixed Race, and other ethnically diverse employees. 🗣️ Piers relishes seeing mentees grow and focus on new objectives. "I absolutely love it. It’s a cracking experience…. I couldn’t recommend it more," he says. 🤝 Interested? Running a mentoring scheme like COMC can boost employee engagement and foster a more inclusive culture. Learn more about COMC and how you can help ethnically diverse employees unlock their full potential: https://lnkd.in/eFNENMwk

👁️ Recently, senior business leaders joined our #SeeingIsBelieving visit to #Hounslow, immersing themselves in the community's challenges and opportunities. Led by John Bason, Chair of Primark and BITC’s Hounslow Pride of Place Partnership, the visit highlighted the urgent need for collective action to support young people in an area where one in four 19-year-olds lack level 3 qualifications and unemployment exceeds the national average. In Hounslow, where 4.8% of residents are unemployed - far higher than the England average - and 2.9% of young people aged 16-17 are not in education, employment, or training, business leaders engaged with local initiatives like Feltham Community Development Association, where Brentford Football Club coaches support young people, and the Hanworth Centre Hub, featuring Perfectly Imperfect - which aims to reduce violence - and Rise and Thrive which gives young people the tools and opportunities to succeed. They also visited the Skills Centre at West Thames College, which offers training and certification in trades, and heard from Kris Martin FCIOB, Senior Construction Manager of Telford Living and Chair of the The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), London Hub Committee. 🙏 The visit was attended by senior business leaders from a range of companies, including Primark, British Airways, JCDecaux UK, Sky and Phoenix Group. By working together, these businesses are driving meaningful change for Hounslow’s residents. Discover more about the visit, and ongoing efforts to transform lives: https://lnkd.in/ef_bhbKQ #ResponsibleBusiness

What does it take to create a truly human-centred workplace, especially when it comes to issues of women and race? 🎙️Find out in the latest edition of #ResponsibleBusiness #podcast The Lens, where host Sarah Travers is joined by Sue Whalley, Chief People and Performance Officer at Associated British Foods plc, and Renée Davis, Founder of Out The Box UK. Out The Box equips Black creative entrepreneurial and professional talent with opportunities and connections, and Renée is also a One Young World ambassador. Together, Sue, Renée, and Sarah explore how businesses can maximise talent for those who are sometimes marginalised or who haven’t yet amplified their story in a way that is heard. Tune in today to learn more! https://lnkd.in/ef5_2dt7 #TheLensPodcast #VoiceOfLeadership

⚡Don't just start your week – power it up with purpose.⚡ Get inspired by our new #MemberMonday series! We're showcasing how our members are making an impact in #ResponsibleBusiness, starting with Deloitte, EDF (UK), and WJ. Their #ClimateAction initiatives prove that when companies step up, positive change happens. Ready to join the movement and make your mark? Be part of our growing network committed to transforming lives and helping our planet and communities thrive. Join us today. https://lnkd.in/ezK5TmQk

The case is clear: gender inclusive cultures and equal opportunity employment practices are good for business and good for society. Ahead of #InternationalWomensDay, BITC reiterates its commitment to championing the benefits of diversity and equal opportunity, ensuring that everyone can achieve their potential in the workplace. Find out more on our website: https://lnkd.in/eegBhQ6c #AccelerateAction #IWD2025

⚖️ At Tuesday's event ahead of International Women's Day (#IWD2025), we engaged in vital discussions about accelerating gender equality in the workplace. With insights from expert speakers, the stark reality was clear: we must intensify our efforts to drive meaningful change. 💡Key takeaways included promoting the benefits of gender equity for organisations, recognising emerging risks like AI and automation that threaten equality, and exploring strategies to sustain progress through challenging times. These insights are crucial for future-proofing our workplaces and navigating difficult circumstances. Discover how we can help your organisation accelerate its path toward gender equality, starting today. https://lnkd.in/euVTkzan 🙏 Thanks to our speakers: Mary Macleod, Chief Executive, Business in the Community / Chair of the Women’s Business Council; Heejung Chung, Director of the King's Global Institute for Women's Leadership & Professor of Work and Employment, King's Business School; Vicky Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Danske Bank UK & Chair, Business in the Community Northern Ireland; Kirstene Hair, Inclusion and Welling Issue Director, Business in the Community; and Ola Kolade, Education, Employment and Skills Director, Business in the Community. Thanks also to all those who attended. #AccelerateAction #InternationalWomensDay #ResponsibleBusiness

📺 Pete Westall, Chief Values Officer at The Midcounties Co-operative and member of our West Midlands Leadership Board, shares how inclusive employment practices come to life in our "Little Acts, Big Impact" series. He highlights the company's partnership with social enterprise Miss Macaroon, showcasing how small acts can transform lives. Watch the video and join our inclusive recruitment campaign, Opening Doors. Together, we can make an even greater difference, and ensure that no one is left behind. https://lnkd.in/eqq2UmuK #InclusiveRecruitment #ResponsibleBusiness

Join us at 10am today for our free International Women's Day event focusing on the steps employers can take to ‘Accelerate Action’. With the geopolitical climate as it is right now, promoting gender equality has never been more important. Hear from a panel of esteemed speakers including: - Mary Macleod, Chief Executive, Business in the Community and Chair of the Women’s Business Council Heejung Chung, Director of the King's Global Institute for Women's Leadership, Professor of Work and Employment, King's Business School - Vicky Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Danske Bank UK and Chair, Business in the Community Northern Ireland - Ola Kolade, Education, Employment and Skills Director, Business in the Community - Kirstene Hair, Inclusion and Wellbeing Director, Business in the Community 👉 Open to all - register here: https://lnkd.in/eYyHbrt6 #IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay

👏 We're incredibly proud that 2025 marks 30 years of our Race Equality campaign. While we've achieved significant milestones, we recognise there's still a huge amount of work to be done to create truly inclusive workplaces in a challenging climate. 💡That’s why we invite you to join us for an insightful, free online event where we'll explore crucial actions for UK employers in this ongoing journey. Our esteemed speakers include our Race Director Sandra Kerr CBE; Albertha Charles, Partner PwC Global and UK Asset and Wealth Management Leader and member of BITC Race Leadership Team; Justin Onuekwusi, CFA, Chief Investment Officer, St. James’s Place (SJP) and member of BITC Race Leadership Team; and Richard Iferenta, Partner and Vice Chair, KPMG UK, and BITC Race Leadership Team Chair. Together, we'll continue driving impactful change and reinforcing our commitment to racial equality in UK businesses. Let's build on our progress and shape a fairer future for all. Register today: https://lnkd.in/eeCScgCQ #ResponsibleBusiness #RaceAtWork

🎉 Happy Birthday to us... We're celebrating another year of working with our members to deliver positive change for businesses and communities. We know business has a vital role in building a fairer, more sustainable world. Our network represents over 7 million people—more than 20% of the UK workforce—and we've benefitted nearly 10 million people over the last few years, transforming lives in eight of the most deprived places in the country. But what's next? Our focus over the next 10 years is to engage even more business leaders in impactful action within their organisations and local communities. Want to join the movement? Become a member and be part of a powerful network of businesses committed to making a difference:https://lnkd.in/ekHVEbND