Business, Events & Entertainment | Posted on October 2nd, 2024 | return to news
Dorset’s celebration of business bursts into life
The three-week Dorset Business Festival opened with a business breakfast at Rick Stein’s restaurant at Sandbanks.
Dorset Business Festival, which is organised by Dorset Chamber, opened with a business breakfast at Rick Stein’s restaurant at Sandbanks, which featured keynote speakers and backing for the British Armed Forces.
More than 100 businesspeople packed into the venue to hear from the chamber’s Chief Executive Ian Girling and Jobs Foundation President Matthew Elliott, who spoke about the charity’s mission to champion business as a ‘force for good’.
Chamber President Tony Brown signed an agreement to mark the business support organisation’s bronze award in the Defence Employer Recognition scheme for its forces friendly credentials.
He was joined by Major Joe Williamson, British Army – Armoured Futures and Integration – to receive the honour through the Armed Forces Covenant.
Dorset Business Festival – the largest of its kind in the region – is being held over three weeks this October, with the theme of ‘business as a force for a good’.
Ian Girling said: “This year’s festival is designed to show just how important a contribution businesses make to society and the economy, while demonstrating to businesses that acting in a social and environmentally responsible way delivers real benefits for their bottom line, growth and future development.
“It was a privilege to welcome Lord Elliott and hear him talk about the Jobs Foundation’s valuable work and examples of the very real difference businesses are making to their employees’ lives and local communities. We very much look forward to his return for our Business Festival conference on Wednesday 9 October.
“Signing the Armed Forces Covenant and receiving the bronze award in its Defence Employer Recognition scheme was also the perfect way to celebrate the start of the festival and show what a difference businesses can make.”
The festival continues with a business expo today 2 October, a festival conference on 9 October and the Dorset Business Awards on 10 October – all at the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth.
The day-long Business Festival Conference, hosted by broadcaster Declan Curry, will include keynote speakers, Q&As and networking. Its panels will focus on:
- Embedding Environmental and Social Responsibility for Growth
- Sustainable Business: Where Profit and Planet Align
- Leadership and Innovation. Business as a Problem Solver
- Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Beyond: Their Future in our Hands
Panellists are from such diverse organisations and businesses as Lush, Organix, Suez, the Department for Education, YMCA Bournemouth, Nourish Care Systems Ltd, 4Couture, Marsham Court Hotel and Bournemouth and Poole College.
The keynote speakers are global climate change consultant and social entrepreneur Benita Matofska and political analyst and president of The Jobs Foundation Lord Matthew Elliott.
Dorset Business Festival is also supporting a Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Homewards Employer Engagement Event on Wednesday 16 October at the Marsham Court Hotel.
The festival is supported by Premier Festival Partner Lester Aldridge and Festival Partners Blue Sky Financial Planning, Bournemouth and Poole College, Dorset Council, ElectriX and YMCA Bournemouth.
Please share post:
LATEST NEWS:
CHARITY OF THE YEAR
Subscribe to the online magazine news letter
