How can business move from a corporate responsibility strategy based on incremental change to transformational actions that will change the face of business and help create a sustainable future for everyone?

On the 17 and 18 March Business in the Community (BITC) is running a two day convention attended by top businesses to consider the future of corporate responsibility: what are the new models that businesses need to adopt in order to embrace global opportunities and respond to key challenges?

At the 'Responsible Business Convention 2011' participants will hear from business about the practical solutions that businesses have embraced, but also what are the next big ideas. www.responsiblebusinessconvention.org

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, BITC said: "The way we do business continues to evolve. We know customer needs and demands are developing and new technologies are enabling new ways of working. Supply chains are shifting and new markets are opening up. A more connected generation is emerging. Knowing more about the world presents enormous opportunity, especially for business. At the 'Responsible Business Convention' we hope to share our vision of a sustainable future, inspire business to accelerate the pace of change and offer practical solutions."

Speaking at the convention on 18 March, Ian Cheshire, Group Chief Executive, Kingfisher plc will present BITC's new 'Visioning the Future - Transforming Business' programme and call on businesses to join him in making a commitment to think seriously about how they can move beyond incremental steps to the transformational change needed within business to create a sustainable future.

Ian Cheshire, Group Chief Executive, Kingfisher plc said: "The changes we are likely to see in our society and environment over the next two decades and beyond will require a paradigm shift in the economy and society. The companies that recognise and plan for it now will be the winners of the future. We need to think now about how business services will evolve in the next two decades and beyond. The opportunities are real for those who help create a sustainable future."

The 'Visioning the Future - Transforming Business' programme will take businesses on a positive journey to the future. Helping them to first picture and then plan and build the business models that will lead them into a successful, sustainable future. It will provide an inspiring, positive and structured programme which helps businesses understand what will change, what this means for business and what actions are needed.

Encouraging consumers to be more sustainable is a necessary and increasingly important step to ensure we can all move towards creating a sustainable future. On 17 March BITC will launch new research and a guide, 'Influencing Consumer Behaviour - A guide for sustainable marketing,' to help companies do just that.

Through practical advice and case studies, the guide describes the business case for influencing consumers to be sustainable and how companies can identify their own 'Area of Opportunity' - the space in which consumer priorities, business action and brand values are aligned.

The guide includes case studies on: B&Q, Kraft Foods, EDF Energy, Marks and Spencer, Unilever and Waitrose. Each has contributed to the research by sharing their consumer insights with BITC and Insight Exchange.

If you would like to receive a press pass for the Responsible Business Convention or require further information please contact Vicky Gashe on 020 7566 8794 / 07714 411 539 vicky.gashe@bitc.org.uk

At the Convention BITC will also welcome the following organisations into membership: AT&T, Bibby Line Group, Bird & Bird LLP, Bouygues UK, ESRI, Etihad, Hitachi Europe Ltd, John Sisk & Son Ltd, Keele University, Pace, PD Ports, Pertemps Ltd, Perrett Laver, Research in Motion UK ltd, Resource UK Ltd, The Danwood Group Limited, UBM, UKAR, UK Power Networks

Business in the Community stands for responsible business.

We are a business-led charity with a growing membership of 850 companies, from large multinational household names to small local businesses and public sector organisations.

We advise, support and challenge our members to create a sustainable future for society and to improve business performance.

Our members work with us to define what responsibility looks like in the workplace, marketplace, community and the environment - and we share what we learn about driving performance through responsible business practice.

www.bitc.org.uk

Influencing Consumer Behaviour - a guide for sustainable marketing
To get a copy of the guide please visit our website: www.bitc.org.uk/marketplace/index (report will be available from 17 March) or contact Vicky Gashe for a PDF copy.

Visioning the Future - Transforming Business Programme
The vision sees a prosperous world, one that can sustain itself, that enriches lives and where we have thriving and cohesive communities. A world that allows human advancement and that embraces technology. And one that addresses the challenges - rising energy costs, extreme weather events, resource constraints. The great news is that this is a world that people really want. When 9 billion people (projected world population by 2050) want something, that’s a great opportunity for business.

The Visioning programme helps business to understand this world. What are the biggest issues businesses need to start solving now and what are the opportunities? It will help you understand what will change, what this means for business and what actions business needs to be taking right now.

The aim of the programme is not to give all of the answers. What it will provide is an inspiring, positive and structured programme that is unique and has been created by some of the best business minds. It will help businesses to indentify both short and long term opportunities and will draw on the creativity of hundreds of businesses over the next few years. Thinking, working together and taking action.

The programme aims to makes businesses more resilient, set up for growth - achieving both while being at the heart of creating a sustainable future.

View a new film produced by BITC, aimed at engaging business people via their 'right brain' and encouraging them to begin picturing, planning and creating their future business model - www.bitc.org.uk/visioning.

Next Steps

BITC is encouraging three levels of involvement with the programme, depending on readiness and ambitions:

• Sponsor: support the programme as a sponsor and apply the programme to your own business, participate in the 12-month facilitated process, profile as sponsor and supporting partner in the programme
• Partner: Involvement in the 12-month facilitated process
• Early Adopter: select elements of the programme from a priced "menu," starting with a facilitated workshop package, access to resources and a summary of learnings that will have been developed by the Partners.

www.bitc.org.uk/visioning

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