The event, called ‘secrets of sustainable business – who cares wins’ is the first event of its kind to be held in Lincolnshire and will bring together ambitious businesses of all sizes and aspiring social entrepreneurs to uncover the secrets of making money by doing good.

Jo and her entrepreneur husband set out to market the world’s first organic chocolate, deciding on ‘green’ to represent their environmental ethos and ‘black’ to reflect her high-quality cocoa beans used and proved to the world that you can make money and do good.

Also joining Jo on the stage at The Epic Centre this October is Josh Littlejohn – one of Scotland’s high flying social entrepreneurs who often rubs shoulders with George Clooney. Josh of Social Bite set up a business to help homeless people and found that you can run a chain of restaurants and make a difference. Josh is also behind Scotland’s biggest business awards and he will be inspiring delegates with his story from unemployment to entrepreneur in under five years.

The University of Lincoln and Social Change UK are working in partnership to host this conference which will be held at the Epic Centre, Lincoln Showground on 19 October 2015. It promises to be a great opener to Lincolnshire Business Week held in the county from 19-23 October. Tickets are priced at just £75 per delegate.

Sue Cadd, Innovation Manager at The University of Lincoln said: “It is not very often that we get great speakers from well known brands and companies to come to Lincolnshire so we are really excited to welcome a great line up to this event. We know that these speakers will change hearts and minds about how to do business now and in the future and we really hope to see businesses of all sizes sign up to attend”.

Kelly Evans, Director at Social Change UK, a Lincoln based campaign company

said: “Businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of operating in an ethical, socially responsible and sustainable way. This is not an event about solar panels and energy efficient light bulbs, although we do think this makes good business sense. This conference is for just about anyone who wants to make money now and in the future. If you think because you give money to charity you are ticking the box on community responsibility – think again. Before the financial meltdown the biggest trend in business was a move towards sustainability and social responsibility and now we are coming out of hard times businesses are moving even faster towards this goal. Those businesses who choose to ignore sustainability, ethical trading and social responsibility do so at their peril… profit without responsibility will kill your brand”

More speakers will be added to the line up over the next six weeks. Others confirmed to speak include Steve Vasconcellos-Sharpe who leads a think tank working with government and publishes a leading magazine called Salt – all about compassionate business thinking - and Simon Leadbetter from Green and Blue who will talk about how to invest ethically and how to attract investment. Workshops will focus on the route to Fairtrade and creating an ethical brand.

Glenn Le Santo, journalist and broadcaster will chair the day.

 

For more information about the conference and to book tickets please go to www.caringbusinesses.com