Business

Companies encouraged to future proof their businesses

Launching the 2018 Responsible Business Summit, which takes taking place at Belfast Waterfront Hall on Wednesday October 10, are (front row) Valerie Gourley (NI Chamber of Commerce), John Brolly (Irish News), Kieran Harding (Business in the Community) and Richard Donnan (Ulster Bank). Back - Garret Kavanagh (BT), Joe McDonald (Asda), Jorge Lopes (Diageo) and Angela McGowan (CBI)
Launching the 2018 Responsible Business Summit, which takes taking place at Belfast Waterfront Hall on Wednesday October 10, are (front row) Valerie Gourley (NI Chamber of Commerce), John Brolly (Irish News), Kieran Harding (Business in the Community) and Launching the 2018 Responsible Business Summit, which takes taking place at Belfast Waterfront Hall on Wednesday October 10, are (front row) Valerie Gourley (NI Chamber of Commerce), John Brolly (Irish News), Kieran Harding (Business in the Community) and Richard Donnan (Ulster Bank). Back - Garret Kavanagh (BT), Joe McDonald (Asda), Jorge Lopes (Diageo) and Angela McGowan (CBI)

THE biennial Responsible Business Summit, organised by Business in the Community, has been confirmed for Belfast's Waterfront Hall on Wednesday October 10.

It will be themed as ‘Future Proof your Business’ and will feature a range of expert speakers and thinkers from the worlds of business, academia and the third sector.

Aimed primarily at a business audience, the summit will investigate evolving business models and sustainability issues that will affect how we do business in the future.

Ulster Bank is the key sponsor for the third time along with media partner the Irish News and Asda, BT and Diageo. Business in the Community is also partnering with the NI Chamber of Commerce to reach a broader base of business opinion and take its messages around corporate responsibility to a wider audience.

Ahead of the summit, Business in the Community will host its annual CEO Breakfast in partnership with the CBI, giving business leaders the opportunity to discuss some of the top-level issues.

Business in the Community managing director Kieran Harding said: “Since our first Responsible Business Conference in 2012, we've been using the event to focus business attention on a sustainable future.

"We all know that the world of work and business is changing, and through this summit, we want to encourage local businesses explore the impact of these changes on their business and help them to develop ideas for the future.

“We will have a particular focus on key areas such as the impact of new technologies, changing demographics and the skills needed in the future workforce – and what business can do to help ensure the next generation has the skills that will be required,” he adds.

Richard Donnan, head of Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland, said: “Future-proofing is an essential activity for business and doing so, by looking at their broader community and stakeholder engagement, is vital for companies that want to remain successful and sustainable in the long-term.

"The line-up for this event is always impressive and the content thought-provoking, so I look forward to a stimulating event in October.”

:: For further details on the Responsible Business Summit, click on www.bitcni.org.uk