Encouraging businesses and charities to work together for mutual benefit

This seminar explores how businesses and charities can work together, and build lasting relationships for mutual benefit. Traditionally, such relationships have tended to be seen as largely one-way, with businesses donating money or time to charities. However, there are numerous ways in which businesses themselves can benefit from working with charities. These range from employee welfare and wellbeing to staff development, as well as the more obvious areas of brand awareness and positive public perception. The seminar will start with introductory remarks from Mark Goodwin, Chair of Trustees at Exeter Community Initiatives, and Emma Jones, Head of Community Relations at St Petrock’s, before holding an interactive discussion to explore some innovative ways in which charities and businesses might work together.

Speaker Bio:

Emma Jones: I've spent most of my career in the charity sector, and my passion for it keeps me going. Fundraising, with its ongoing challenges, has always kept me on my toes, whether working with large national charities or small local ones. I truly believe the world is a better place because of the charity sector. I will always support those working within it and the millions of lives that are improved, if not saved, by the incredible, diverse work charities do every day.

Mark Goodwin: Mark has lived in Exeter since 2004, and worked at the University of Exeter where he was Dean of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. He was also a Board member and Vice-Chair of the Cornwall Local Enterprise Partnership, a Trustee of the Northcott Theatre and the St Luke’s College Foundation, a Board member of the Exeter Science Park and a Governor of Exeter College. He is currently Chair of the Board of Trustees at Exeter Community Initiatives