Business in the Community

At the end of April, we were proud to host the North Responsible Business Impact Showcase. As the first event of its kind, it shines a spotlight on organisations and individuals in the North West who are leading by example; recognising meaningful impact, celebrating collaboration and sharing stories that inspire others to get involved. This event highlights what BITC does best, bringing together business professionals and community leaders together to celebrate impact and showcase the art of the possible. Some of those recognised included: ✨@deloitte_uk with @faresharegm : recognised for tackling food waste and food insecurity through fundraising, skills-based volunteering and practical support for FareShare’s capacity. ✨@officialfirstbus : recognised for outstanding community commitment and social value initiatives (Routes to Work placements, workplace visit support and sustained local charitable support). ✨@novuspropertysolutions : recognised for a responsible business programme embedding social value through community partnerships, donations and colleague volunteering delivering measurable local impact. ✨@oddartsuk with various partners including @sodexouk_ire and shoosmithsllp : recognised for cross-sector collaboration delivering fundraising, pro bono support, apprenticeships and community improvements, alongside EDI and anti-racism training. ✨@hollingworth_ac : recognised for inspirational careers leadership, building employer partnerships and strengthening careers provision across Rochdale in line with Gatsby Benchmarks. ✨@growingtogetherness : recognised for inclusive community growing and volunteering, overcoming barriers to contribute skills, confidence and positive community impact through the allotment project.

This month we visited Sheffield for our King’s Seeing is Believing programme to see inclusive employment in action. The insight? It starts long before hiring, shaped by access, education, and opportunity. Did you know... 1 in 4 in poverty 10-year life expectancy gap 75% of employers facing skills shortages Through Pride of Place, partners are tackling this together, because inclusive growth is key to economic success. To find out more go the link in our bio. Learn more about Seeing is Believing, generously supported by @linklatersllp and @salesforceuki #SeeingIsBelieving #ResponsibleBusiness #Sheffield A huge thanks to the organisations who shared their work and hosted us : @Aviva , Special Melted Products Ltd, baesystems, Gripple Ltd, Sheffield Forgemasters, Worldline, @firstbus_uk , WJ Group, HLM Architects, Emphasis Training, Barhale, Arup, Anchor Hanover Group, @henrybootplc SheffieldBusinessTogether @savethechildren @sheffieldfutures The Sheffield Collage Early Years Community Research Centre

🎙️ How can business unlock opportunity from an early age? On #TheLensPodcast, @sarahtraversni is joined by Malcolm Gomersall (@grantthorntonuk ) and May Asagba (@cainafrica ) to explore how business can inspire young people and drive social mobility. 🎧 Listen now and follow The Lens on Acast, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast platform. Link in bio. #ResponsibleBusiness #SocialMobility #Leadership #Podcast

Today on our King's Seeing is Believing visit, we welcome Kate Josephs, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, who focuses on the significant challenges from inequality and health outcomes to barriers around skills and young people.

Take a look behind the scenes with Sue Husband OBE, Community Impact Director, BITC. At our King's Seeing is Believing visit in Sheffield. Giving us insight into what the role of business has in creating opportunities. #pathwaystowork #sheffield #responsiblebusiness #placebasedwork

After months of planning, we delivered the event, Building Psychological Safety in the Workplace, with @amey_uk . Psychological safety is the shared belief that people can speak up at work without fear of negative consequences. In psychologically safe environments, employees feel able to ask questions, share ideas, challenge decisions, and admit mistakes while still being treated with respect. It is not about being “nice,” avoiding conflict, or lowering standards; rather, it enables honest dialogue, learning, and accountability. When psychological safety is present, people are more willing to contribute fully because they trust that their voice will be valued. Psychological safety is also critical because it directly affects how well organisations perform and make decisions. When people feel safe to speak up, risks and errors are identified earlier, assumptions are challenged, and better decisions are made. Teams are more innovative because individuals are willing to experiment, learn from failure, and offer new ideas without fear of blame. Getting psychological safety right also has a profound impact on engagement, wellbeing, and retention. Leaders play a crucial role in shaping these environments through their everyday behaviours, such as how they respond to mistakes, invite input, and handle disagreement. Organisations that intentionally build psychological safety create cultures of trust and resilience, enabling people to perform at their best and sustain success over time. By convening diverse organisations, our event enabled rich discussions and fresh perspectives that participants would not typically encounter within their own silos. This exposure to different approaches sparked creativity and encouraged out-of-the-box thinking. We were also delighted to announce the launch of a new toolkit, sponsored by Amey, which will provide employers with a practical resource for embedding psychological safety in the workplace to be released soon, helping all organisations promote psychological safety in the workplace. ✨

At last year’s inaugural Pride of Place Summit at Aviva Studios in Manchester, leaders from business, government, and the voluntary and community sector came together to focus on one shared goal: driving long-term, place-based regeneration in communities across the UK. Our Pride of Place programme unites people from all walks of life around a vision for a better future, nurturing collaboration, sustained investment and self-belief to drive action so that millions can thrive in a place they call home. In just under a month, on 2 June, we will build on that momentum as partners come together again for the Pride of Place Summit: Building Thriving Places Through Long-Term Partnership, exploring practical action on the economy and skills, pride and community, and leadership and partnership. Pride of Place is now active in 19 places across the UK, working with local stakeholders to build a shared vision, identify their own challenges and innovate their own solutions. Learn more and get involved via the link in our bio. #PrideOfPlace #ResponsibleBusiness

Right now in the UK, because of things like income, housing and air quality, where you’re born can cut your life short by up to 16 years. It doesn’t have to be this way. That’s why Business in the Community is proud to join the Health Equals coalition, working alongside organisations across sectors to address the building blocks of health and #MakeHealthEqual. For us, this builds on our long-standing work with businesses to create healthier, more inclusive communities, from supporting good work and employment opportunities, to improving financial wellbeing, tackling place-based inequalities, and driving responsible business practices. By working together, we can help ensure everyone, everywhere has the chance of a long and healthy life: .uk/

This #MemberMonday we’re delighted to shine the light on @newcastlebuildingsociety and its work on race equality. Swipe through to learn more about how they are putting inclusion into practice. Interested in advancing race equality in your own organisation? Join the UK’s largest responsible business network today – together we can make an even greater impact at bitc.org.uk/join-us #ResponsibleBusiness #WorkplaceInclusion

We're proud to celebrate the 14th cohort of our Cross-Organisational Mentoring Circles (COMC). COMC helps employers support career progression for Black, Asian & ethnically diverse talent—thanks to our amazing mentors. Join the next cohort in September via the link in our bio.

Our Pride of Place programme shows what responsible business can achieve through partnership. In #Blackpool, businesses, leaders & communities are shaping a long-term future - driving investment, opportunity and a shared digital vision.

April is #StressAwarenessMonth. Stress & burnout are now too significant across the workforce for employers to ignore. Taking a proactive approach to mental health is non‑negotiable for a healthy, productive organisation. Learn how we can help at: .uk/wellbeing