With just over a month to go until the return of the Spark Social Conference, businesses are urged to think about putting social and environmental value at the top of their work agenda.

The virtual event on February 17 – titled Purpose to Profit – will bring together social enterprises and private sector companies to encourage new ways of working across the county.

It will be a great opportunity for business owners to understand better how a positive social and environmental impact can help grow their customer base, attract investment and increase their bottom line. And, for social enterprises, it will be a chance to network with private sector companies and learn how to work in partnership.

Those attending the free event will hear from a fantastic line up of speakers including Mark Barrow, Executive Director of Place at Shropshire Council, Andrew O’Brien, Director of External Affairs at Social Enterprise UK – the UK’s leading authority on social enterprise, Sonia Roberts, Chief Executive of supported employment and training charity Landau and Michelle John, founding director of PEGS, which supports parents, carers and guardians impacted by Child to Parent Abuse.

Conference delegates will also hear from Joe Lockley, co-founder of pioneering Shropshire boxing club – Bright Star Boxing Academy, John Clarke from award-winning CIC Social Telecoms and Mark Bebb from premier caravan supplier Salop Leisure in a series of inspirational, pre-recorded interviews about their successes and achievements.

There will be a panel discussion drawing on expertise from Shropshire’s very own social enterprises and private sector businesses. Members of the panel include Sonia Roberts from Landau, Nicky Kent from Social Heart CIC, John Clarke from Social Telecoms and Neal Hooper from Aico.

Webinars giving sound, expert advice to businesses and social enterprises will also be live streamed throughout the event, which runs from 10am until 1.30pm, and there will be a chance to hear from numerous organisations across Shropshire which are already prioritising their corporate social responsibilities and working successfully with social enterprises.

Emma Chapman, manager for the Marches Growth Hub Shropshire, which will host the Spark Social Conference along with Shropshire Council, said: “Without doubt, those businesses taking their corporate social responsibilities seriously will be those that flourish in the coming year and beyond.”

To find out more and to register visit: https://www.investinshropshire.co.uk/expand-grow-in-shropshire/spark-social-conference-2021-virtual/