January Events – Forward Look

January is round the corner for a new year, so here’s a forward look at what the Better Business Network has going on. Some of these events are exclusive to our members, but you can try out our networking events as a guest to see if the network is right for you.

The Better Business Network is an inclusive network for purpose-driven business owners and leaders who want to grow their business and make the world a better place. We help you grow your impact, income and audience while advocating for systemic change.

Joining as a member allows you to support impactful organisations as part of a more powerful collective through donation of your membership fees, whilst also increasing your individual impact

Interested? Learn more here or book in a call with our Community Manager James.

Check out our YouTube video explaining why you should join the network if you aren’t already a member here

For a full look of our events leading into next year – Check out the BBN event calendar on our website.

THURSDAY 11TH JAN  | 9-10:30AM | BREAKFAST NETWORKING & MEMBER CO WORKING DAY | X+WHY MANCHESTER 

The Better Business Network are now officially hosting Breakfast Networking sessions on the second Thursday of each month for purpose driven businesses to connect. This event is open to everyone, not just BBN members.

RSVP for free to our January Breakfast Networking event here or check out our other upcoming events here

Are you a business owner who cares about your social and environmental impact? Do you work for a company that believes in a sustainable and just world, where businesses can be a force for good?

This is a relaxed, fun and easy way for you to meet other purpose-led businesses, to make meaningful connections and learn from one another.

These sessions will run from 9-10.30 am, and this event is open to all, not just Better Business Network Members. There will be hot drinks, fresh fruit and pastries provided for attendees to enjoy while having a chat.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AFTERWARDS?

We’re inviting people to stay and co-work for the rest of the day from the X+Why Office! This means you can crack on and get some work done from an incredible space, whilst also giving further opportunities to connect with your fellow attendees.

If you are a Better Business Network Member you are able to get co-working Day Passes as part of your membership, and so you’ll be able to do this completely free!

Interested? You’ll need to send our Community Manager, James, an email to confirm your space at james@thebetterbusiness.network

If you are not a Better Business Network Member, please feel free to stick around and co-work for the day from the space. You will need to purchase a Day Pass from the X+Why website to get access after Breakfast Networking ends at 10am.

WEDNESDAY 17TH JAN – FRIDAY 19TH JAN | 9-6pm| THE BETTER BUSINESS SUMMIT | MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL 

We’re incredibly excited for our upcoming annual flagship event – the Better Business Summit 17-19 January 2024

Click here to purchase your Tickets 

WHAT IS THE SUMMIT? 

The Better Business Summit is the annual flagship conference by the Better Business Network, a community for like my new business leaders that want to create positive action. It’s a three-day event based in Manchester celebrating and educating leaders in how to create better businesses. This is one of the most important opportunities in the North to independently bring businesses together to discuss how to create a better future for people and the planet.

The theme for 2024 is ‘Radical Utopia’ – This is about looking at how we can create a future base around positive systemic change focusing on:

  • Future of Cities
  • Future of Food 
  • Future of Work
  • Future of Society 
  • Future of Economy

 

WHO WILL BE THERE?

Patagonia, B LAB UK, Carbon Literacy Project, Royal Association For Deaf people, Faith in Nature and many others are set to take stage at #BBS24 with many other incredible speakers joining alongside them. For a full breakdown of summit speakers, check out our other blog post revealing them all here

 

 HOW MUCH ARE TICKETS?

Tickets are on sale now. If you are a member of the Better Business Network you will get access to discounted tickets for the event.

Prices range from £150 – £375 depending on the amount of days you wish to attend and if you’re eligible for Better Business Network membership discount.

You can purchase your tickets here

 

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? 

Attendees have free tea and coffee throughout the day. A hot catered plant-based lunch as well as invitation to our evening networking event an after party included in their ticket price

 

KEY POINTS FROM BETTER BUSINESS SUMMIT 2023:

  • In 2023 the summit featured Patagonia, 1% For the Planet, Faith In Nature, B Lab UK and other purpose driven Businesses at Manchester Metropolitan University for three days of sold out inspiration.
  • We sold out all three days, with 350 purpose driven Business Leaders of you joining us on our Main Summit Day
  • 125 attendees posted about it on LinkedIn over the three days, reaching up to 320,000 followers with 716 comments and 3000 reactions
  • 20+ press articles sharing the event (found here)
  • Currently over £1,000 is getting donated in waived Speaker Fees to 1% for the Planet. 
  • We saved over 1,000 disposable cups going to landfill by using mugs and glasses! 
  • 200 Vegetarian Breakfasts and 350 Vegan Lunch Meals, reduced our collective carbon footprint by at least 50% from a standard conference buffet
  • Check out our Gallery of Images from the three days, by our Amazing Photographers Craige and Tom. If you share these, please credit them 🙂 
  • You can sign up to our Partners Elevate Speaker Directory so they can support providing diverse speakers in the North West.

 

WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE?

2023 hosted a one day carbon literacy training for 35 people. One-day summit with 350 attendees followed by a hike in the Peak District for 50 attendees

2024 will compromise of a two-day summit, full of workshops, panels, and keynote speeches, followed by a day of nature-based activities:

Two days at Manchester, Met University discussing innovative, new ideas and approaches, discussing how we can create systemic change through collective action, education and support

Taking place across four lecture halls, networking sessions and exhibition spaces

Our third day will take attendees into nature to reflect and connect with each other and the world we are working on making better.

The full schedule and programme will be released closer to the date.

 

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?

Check out the BBS 2023 highlights video from last years summit for a taste of things to come

For more summit content we also have a  2023 Better Business Summit YouTube playlist for even more insight on what’s to come in 2024.

For a more in-depth look at all the details you can view our sponsor pack

Join us alongside hundreds of other Business Leaders who want to redefine what it means to create a better world!

#BBS24

THURSDAY 23rd AND FRIDAY 24th Nov | 10-2PM | CARBON LITERACY TRAINING | ONLINE

Join us for two half-day virtual sessions to complete our accredited Carbon Literacy online training course. Buy your tickets here.

Members of the Better Business Network have access to all our courses at a 50% discount, but are able to access our Carbon Literacy course for free depending on their tier level. Courses start at £180 per person for Individuals to join an existing course or at £1000 to run a private workshop for a business or private organisation.

To take advantage of our member exclusive offers and discounts, become a BBN member by signing up here.

The course is designed for those working within professional services, who want to make a positive change and take action on climate change through their job role. 

This course is aimed specifically at those in the professional services industries, and will take you from the basics of climate science, and what is happening with the climate emergency; through to how this will impact everyone, enabling you to pledge relevant carbon reducing actions in your life, work & industry.

On successful completion of your Carbon Literacy training, after submitting your actions, you can become certified as ‘Carbon Literate’, joining more than 40,000 others, and including business leaders across multiple sectors. By taking part in this course, you will join employees from staff across other businesses including the NHS, Patagonia, BBC and ITV in training their staff to become ‘Carbon Literate’, helping to embed a widespread low-carbon culture.

After completing the course, you’ll be required to complete a Participant Evidence form which will then be sent to the Carbon Literacy Project for approval. Once the form has been approved you will receive your certificate.

 

Friday 26th Jan  | 9-10am | S.M.A.R.T MENTORING session with Jannine Barron, Regenerative Business Mentor | Online

This is a BBN member only service. SMART mentoring are monthly meetups, where Regenerative Business Mentor, Jannine Barron, will facilitate a mentoring process that is sure to inspire and ignite practical solutions to real business dilemmas.

To apply to be mentored, you must be a BBN Member and can find information about this in the members area or via James, our Community Manager, at james@thebetterbusiness.network

RSVP for free to our January SMART mentor session here or check out our other upcoming events here 

Jannine Barron is the Regenerative Business Mentor. She helps purpose-led business owners experience and apply regenerative thinking to their businesses so they can build a legacy of impact as well as success.

Check out our YouTube video explaining how this session works here