Business in the Community (BITC) is a British business-community outreach charity promoting responsible business,
CSR, corporate responsibility, and is one of the
Prince's Charities of
King Charles III (formerly the
Prince of Wales).
BITC works with companies in the UK and internationally, who are committed to improving their impact on society. BITC seeks to positively shape business impact on the environment, in the marketplace, in the workplace and in the community. It is an organisation that works with businesses to improve their
corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a form of international private business self-regulation which aims to contribute to societal goals of a philanthropic, activist, or charitable nature by engaging in or supporting volunteering or ethicall ...
(CSR) credentials, offering advice and programmes tailored to meet their needs.
Background
BITC was set up in 1982 and its current CEO is Amanda Mackenzie OBE, who joined the organisation in 2016. Prior to this,
Dame Julia Cleverdon was CEO from 1992 to 2008 and is now vice president, and Stephen Howard was CEO from 2008 to 2016.
Each of BITC's campaigns is managed by a leadership team, made up and chaired by senior business leaders. Leaders include Steven Holliday, chief executive of
National Grid plc
National Grid plc is a British multinational electricity and gas utility company headquartered in London, England. Its principal activities are in the United Kingdom, where it owns and operates electricity and natural gas transmission networks ...
; Mark Allen, chief executive of Dairy Crest Group; Paul Drechsler, chairman and chief executive of
Wates Group
Wates Group Ltd is one of the largest family owned construction, property services and development companies in the United Kingdom.
Wates Giving, the firm's charitable foundation, has donated over £10 million since 2008.
History
Edward Wates ...
; Richard Howson, chief executive of Carillion, and Ian Cheshire, CEO of Kingfisher plc.
Business in the Community is one of
The Prince's Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which
Charles III is president. Seventeen of the nineteen charities were founded personally by The Prince.
Related activities
The Responsible Business Awards
Business in the Community launched the Awards for Excellence at its AGM in December 1997. They are presented annually to businesses that are judged to show innovation, creativity and a sustained commitment to corporate responsibility.
The Prince's Seeing is Believing (SIB)
The Prince's Seeing is Believing programme was started by the Prince of Wales in 1990, by inviting businesspeople to go on visits around the county. Some 8,000 chief executives have led visits tackling subjects such as urban homelessness and illiteracy to challenges facing hill farmers in remote areas.
Opportunity Now
Founded in October 1991, and supported by the then Prime Minister John Major MP, Opportunity Now is a UK membership organisation working towards gender equality and diversity in the workplace.
The campaign's chair
Helena Morrissey, CEO of Newton Investment Management and founder of the
30% Club
The 30% Club is a campaign group of business chairpersons and CEOs taking action to increase gender diversity on boards and senior management teams. It was established in the United Kingdom in 2010 by Helena Morrissey with the aim of achieving a m ...
, was appointed in 2013.
BBC Documentary Series
John Walsh made the award-winning 2003
BBC documentary series ''
Headhunting The Homeless'' following the work of Eva Hamilton's
Business Action on Homelessness project as part of Business in the Community.
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References
External links
Business in the Community*
The Prince's CharitiesOpportunity Now
{{DEFAULTSORT:Business in the Community
Charities based in London
1982 establishments in the United Kingdom
Organizations established in 1982
The Prince's Charities
Social responsibility organizations