The Hampshire business community will have the opportunity to find out how they can create profit with purpose thanks to an exciting new event, Business and the Big Society. The conference takes place at Winchester Guildhall on the 13th of October and will demonstrate the commercial sense of engaging in ethical and sustainable business practices by adapting the government's Big Society thinking into their workplace.
High profile speakers who have so far been confirmed at the event include Laura Tenison MBE, founder and managing director of the hugely successful JoJo Maman Bebe. A start-up company in 1993 and now a leading player in the pregnancy and baby market with over 42 stores nationwide, JoJo Maman Bebe has recently opened a store in Winchester. Laura and her company have won numerous awards and are renowned for their ethical business practices and customer service.
Also attending will be Claire Cater, a Senior Adviser to the Big Society Network who brings with her a wealth of knowledge and insight into what the government s doing to engage business in this agenda.
Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP, Steve Brine, said: "I have known Adrienne for some time now, and I am delighted that she is so fully behind the Big Society. She has assembled a top-drawer list of speakers, and I wish her all the very best for a fantastic event."
Joining these speakers in the programme will be Professor Khalid Aziz, the highly regarded Winchester businessman and former television presenter. Khalid, who is also Chairman of Trustees of Naomi House and jacksplace, will explain the commercial benefits to companies forging a strategic partnership with a charity. Proceeds from Business and the Big Society event will also be donated to the charity Naomi House and jacksplace, hospices for children and young adults..
The event is the brainchild of Winchester business coach Adrienne Marsden. After years working in management and leadership development within the private sector Adrienne was appointed by a local authority to research the Big Society agenda and how that translated to the delivery of local services. This work captured her imagination and compelled her to want to raise awareness amongst the private sector about what Big Society thinking could do to help them make a more positive impact on their communities.
Adrienne set up the Business and the Big Society – how to create profit with purpose conference to show Hampshire businesses that they could facilitate social renewal and enjoy bottom line rewards.
She says: "When questioned people say they like to feel they are personally contributing to society. If companies embed social and ethical principles into the heart of what they do not only will this make a difference within their communities, but there is the potential benefit of a more engaged workforce and potentially increased profitability. What I want this event to do is provide tools and strategies that will enable businesses to think more creatively about what they can do and show evidence of how this can impact the bottom line.
Tickets for the event are on sale and in keeping with the ethos, delegates from not for profit organisations can purchase tickets for the event at a vastly discounted price. Winchester based small to medium sized business will also be offered a reduced price ticket. In return the organisers will be donating back into the community with a percentage of all ticket sales being given to Naomi House.
More information...
Tickets can be purchased from The Tourist Information Office on 01962 840500 and full price tickets are also discounted until 13th September.
Visit Adrienne's website at www.themarsdenconsultancy.com
