London, UK - Marketplace is the theme of the Business in the Community Annual Conference 2004. For the first time, business, key opinion formers and media will focus on the market drivers shaping the ways business operates. Debate will cover sourcing and manufacturing, supply chains issues, communicating products and services, interacting with customers, to disposing of products. Business has never been under such attack in the evolving marketplace. Issues surrounding core products from obesity, GM foods to advertising in schools are becoming hot debating topics.

Guy Ruddle, Presenter BBC Radio 5 Live, will facilitate the conference. David Varney, Chairman of mm02 and Business in the Community will welcome delegates.
The Rt. Hon. Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Energy, e-Commerce & Postal Services will announce the CSR Academy.
Update on the OFR consultation from Phil Hodkinson, Chief Executive Insurance and Investment Division, HBOS and member of the DTI Materiality
Working Group.
Keynote Speech: Ben Verwaayen, Chief Executive, BT plc will deliver the keynote speech on how CSR can improve marketplace performance using quantified evidence and examples from BT's experience in both the consumer and business marketplaces.

There will be 3 panel debates on today's marketplace drivers:

1. How to tell the saints from the sinners
   How do you tell the companies that really get it from those for whom it is only skin deep?.
   Key speakers:
   Digby Jones, Director General, CBI; Will Lewis, Business Editor, Sunday
   Times; Alan Parker, Senior Partner, Brunswick Group Ltd; Ben Verwaayen,
   Chief Executive, BT.
   
2. No place to hide
   How companies respond to social challenges around controversial core business.
   Key speakers:
   Philip Dewhurst, Group Director Corporate Affairs, BNFL; David Davies, Vice President, Philip Morris International.
   
3. Changing the engine, not the oil
   Focusing on how companies develop and promote their core products.
   Key speakers.
   Mike Clasper, Chief Executive, BAA; Daniel Lamarre, President and COO, Cirque du Soleil®; Vicky Pryce, Director General, Economics & Chief Economic Advisor, DTI; Simon Loftus, Chairman, Adnams plc.
   All delegates take part in the BT Better Business Game
   Balancing business decisions responding to diverse stakeholder expectations.
   Who gets priority?

1. Responsible marketing to children: the key issues.
   
2. Public services, private risk?: public-private partnerships.
   
3. Punching above their weight: small companies making impacts in disadvantaged communities.
   
4. Sense and sensitivities: promoting healthy lifestyles for employees &
   customers.
   
5. Keeping in touch: what do your stakeholders really think?
   
6. Chain reaction: crisis management scenario with experts.
   
7. The OFR and beyond: sharing good case studies in voluntary reporting.
   
8. Corporate social opportunity: getting it right & capturing learnings.
   

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

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