FACING THE FUTURE TOGETHER

Join Plunkett and the community business movement for a national event being held in the West Midlands this summer

Date: Thursday 6 July (10.00am – 16.15pm)

Location: IET Birmingham, Austin Court

After a four-year absence, Plunkett Foundation is running its first face-to-face conference since 2019, bringing members, advisers, and experts together for a one-day networking and knowledge sharing event.

Facing the Future Together will take place in July in the heart of Birmingham and promises an exciting, enlightening and inspiring day of key note addresses, expert panels, and interactive workshops, as well as one to one sessions with specialised business advisers.

Keynote streams include Creating Inclusive Community Business: A Rural Perspective, The Road to Net Zero: Community Businesses as Climate Champions and Trends, Challenges and Opportunities: Retail and Hospitality.

Additionally, two workshop streams with eight interactive sessions will get to the heart of the issues that community businesses say they’re most concerned about: People and Finances. For more information and to see the full programme go to: https://plunkett.co.uk/facing-the-future-together/

Designed in collaboration with Plunkett Foundation members, the programme includes a mix of sessions to appeal to community businesses of all shapes and sizes; from new groups to well-established and trading businesses, from all corners of the UK, and for all business types.

Claire Spendley, Head of Community Business at Plunkett, said: 

“I’m really excited to be able to bring community businesses together to learn from each other and share experiences, after such a prolonged period of change and challenge, for the first Plunkett conference since 2019. Whilst we understand that the communities we work with are still navigating a challenging operating environment, we know that community businesses up and down the UK are pulling together to make a genuine, positive impact for local people – and we want to share these stories and inspire those involved in community business to see the opportunities they have to make a difference”.

Confirmed speakers for the event include representatives from national funders, community sector bodies, partners from the cooperative movement, authors, and campaigners and of course community businesses themselves.

Sam Ross, Plunkett Member, Secretary at Farmborough Community Shop and confirmed panellist said:

“Plunkett plays an important role in encouraging community businesses to run as thriving, sustainable businesses, to ensure they are competitive, and invest in their people. There is no substitute for coming face-to-face to discuss these issues” 

The full details of the event can be accessed via the Plunkett Foundation website, and members are advised to make use of the early bird discounts on tickets, before 30 April 2023.

Plunkett is grateful to all the partners, supporters and market place contributors that have made the event possible. If you’re organisation is interested in sponsoring the event please get in touch with Sarah Benn, Memberships & Training Manager - [email protected]

EARLY BIRD OFFER! Book before April 30th for 20% off your first ticket purchase

To find out more, visit the conference dedicated conference landing page here