Approximately 30 business owners and managers gathered at The Flowerpots Inn towards the end of January, for a buzzing Sustainability in Business event. Supported with funding from Winchester City Council, the event featured three presentations.
First, Jaimie and Paul from The Pollinator, who work with businesses and help them achieve B Corp certification, spoke about the power of finding the purpose in your business, and the benefits of transparency. Then Simon Burvill from furniture business Gaze Burvill described the transformative journey his business has been on, the rejuvenated connection with employees, a new approach to profit and the benefits of their relationship with a charity aligned with their business ethos. The third speaker was Stuart Mills from local charity Winchester Action on the Climate Crisis (WinACC), who outlined the support available to businesses, both locally and nationally – from community energy initiatives and accreditation schemes to free Low Carbon Assessments.
If you would like to find out more please visit the At Work page of our website.
Talks were followed by vibrant conversation and an opportunity to network with like-minded local business representatives, with many offering feedback on changes they would consider making over the next 3, 6 and 12 months. These included taking the time and space to step back and consider the purpose of the business, trying the free B Corp Impact Assessment tool, examining the source of raw materials and sustainability in the supply chain, measuring carbon footprints, addressing energy efficiency and installation of renewable energy sources.
The Flowerpots kindly offered their lovely barn space for free, and provided delicious plant-based refreshments. New Leaf intends to follow up on this with a series of business events. Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram accounts for more to come!
