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Innovate to Thrive - Conference Shows How Being Responsible Boosts the Bottom Line

Innovate to Thrive - Conference Shows How Being Responsible Boosts the Bottom Line

Published 06-25-03

Submitted by Business in the Community

LONDON - Business in the Community's annual 'A Better Way of Doing Business' conference takes place at the Hilton London Metropole, Edgware Road on Thursday, July 10. It examines the issues for business that emerged from the first Corporate Responsibility Index, and will agree how these should be addressed. The key issue, of how integrating responsible practice can be a driver for innovation, will be addressed by Chairman David Varney in the key session, 'Innovate to survive'.

The Conference will be addressed by The Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

The event is preceded by the publication on the evening of Wednesday, July 9 of Business in the Community's annual research. This responds to the concern of Chief Executives throughout Europe revealed in research last year, that the key issue for business was the need to attract and retain a talented and diverse workforce. This year's research examines the role played in this by responsible business practice. It covered HR professionals, current employees and undergraduates.

The Conference concludes with the Annual Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner in the presence of Stephen Timms, Minister for CSR, compered by Jim Naughtie and with entertainment by Matthew Parris. The Dinner is sponsored by ScottishPower, Business in the Community Company of the Year 2002.

The Conference is sponsored by Marks & Spencer plc, whose chairman Luc Vandevelde will speak at one of three plenary sessions:

* The first of the three issues highlighted by the Corporate Responsibility Index was that business impact on the marketplace was the least understood and well managed of all the impact areas. Mr Vandevelde will define the concept and propose how it might be measured. The panel session including John Elkington, Chairman of SustainAbility, is designed to identify what Business in the Community should do to help members address the issue.

* The second main area highlighted by the Corporate Responsibility Index was the difficulty experienced by many companies in measuring the actual impact of their investment in the community. The session, titled 'Responsible Employment', will examine the suggestion that a company's primary impact is through its employees, both in recruitment and in the workplace. Speakers include:

  • Duncan Brown, Assistant Director, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
  • Stephen Harvey, Group Director of People, Profit & Culture, Microsoft Ltd
  • John Studzinski, Chairman, Business Action on Homelessness
  • Jean Tomlin, Director of Human Resources, Marks & Spencer.

    * The third and main challenge of the new Index was the need for responsible practice to be integrated throughout the business, and to make the business case to middle managers that this as an important driver for innovation. David Varney, Chairman, Business in the Community and mmO2 will be the key speaker in the third plenary session, 'Innovate to Survive'.

    The facilitator at plenary sessions throughout will be BBC Radio 5 Live's Guy Ruddle.

    David Varney, says: 'The importance of responsible practice in building corporate reputations has been widely and well demonstrated over the past year. The conference will show how responsibility is more than a risk-management tool. It includes developing relationships with society outside your business, and these relationships are the lifeblood of innovation - the lifeblood of business.

    'It's more than a case of 'innovate or survive' - it's 'innovate to thrive'.

    * Up to date information on the Conference is available on the website www.bitc.org.uk/conference.

    * Enquiries for delegate places at the Conference on July 10 should be made to Claire Delamotte on 020 7566 8794 or claire.delamotte@bitc.org.uk.

    * Requests for places at the Research Launch at 5.30pm July 9 should be made to Dominic Hulton on 020 7566 8701 or dominic.hulton@bitc.org.uk.
    ENDS

    · Media enquiries to Elizabeth Forbes, Head of Media and External Communications, on 020 7566 8769, mobile 07831 253 616 or elizabeth.forbes@bitc.org.uk.

    · The events take place at the Hilton London Metropole, Edgware Road, London W2 1JU. Journalists, photographers and camera crews are invited to attend the research launch and conference and those wishing to do so should contact Elizabeth Forbes.

    · Media attendance at the Awards Gala Dinner is by personal invitation from table hosts, coordinated by BITC.

    Notes for Editors

    1. Business in the Community is a unique movement in the UK of 700 member companies. Our purpose is to inspire, challenge, engage and support business in continually improving its positive impact on society. Together, our member companies employ over 15.7 million people across 200 countries. In the UK, our members employ over 1 in 5 of the private sector workforce.
    Membership of Business in the Community is a commitment to action and to the continual improvement of the company's impact on society. Our members commit to:
    * Integrate responsible business practice throughout their business
    * Impact through collaborative action to tackle disadvantage
    * Inspire, innovate and lead by sharing learning and experience.

    2. Awards for Excellence 2003
    - in association with the Financial Times , sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry, supported by ScottishPower, Company of the Year 2002 with assurance by AccountAbility. The Awards for Excellence are the most prestigious UK awards recognising responsible business practice. They promote a better way of doing business by encouraging companies to measure, continually improve and communicate their positive impact on society. National finalists are awarded the BIG TICK impact endorsement mark. Regional finalists will receive a BIG TICK or Certificate of Commendation. National finalists will be invited to a celebration event on June 12. The Examples of Excellence and those awarded as Highly Commended will be announced at the gala dinner on July 10.

    3. Further information about Business in the Community can be found at the website www.bitc.org.uk.

    Registered Office: 137 Shepherdess Walk, London N1 7RQ Telephone 0870 600 2482 Facsimile 020 7253 1877
    Registered Charity number 297716 Company limited by guarantee no: 1619253
    Web site: www.bitc.org.uk

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