Thought Leadership

We’re proud to officially publish our 2021/2022 Social and Environmental Impact Report! Every day we see the impact our teams have on behalf of their patients, one another and within their local communities, genuinely making a difference to those who need us most. We are therefore thrilled to publish our Social and Environmental Impact Report for 2021/2022 – another truly remarkable year for all of us at Smile Together. The national challenges facing dentistry are well documented and demand for our emergency, referral and private dental care across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly remains at an all-time high. We can’t thank our colleagues, commissioners and other partners enough for their commitment, resilience and support as we continue to navigate our way through the ever-changing dental landscape. This report demonstrates how we’ve continued to innovate our impact and patient care and respond positively to those changes. This is our sixth year as an employee-owned CIC and what an impact we have together through our breadth of patient care and health inclusion initiatives, with such exciting plans for the future. As our report shows, 2021/2022 was another successful year crowned with our achievement of B Corporation certification – independent verification that we meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability in balancing profit and purpose. We hope you enjoy reading our annual Social and Environmental Impact Report. Our thanks as always to Fuel Communications for their creative support and to St Austell Printing Company for ensuring we print in the most environmentally friendly way. Do let us know if you’d like to join us in tackling oral health inequality and improving oral health outcomes. We’d love to have a conversation! Click here to download your digital version of our Social and Environmental Impact Report 2021/2022 and happy reading!

Popular British ethical pioneer coffee brand Cafédirect launches the second season of its podcast today, Building Better Business.  Featuring straight talking conversations with global thought leaders and professionals, the podcast asks: ‘What are businesses doing to protect our future and what more can be done?’ Following the success of the first podcast series which secured a spot within the top 25% of global podcasts**, series two will again be hosted by Cafédirect’s CEO John Steel.  One episode will be released every Wednesday to examine businesses’ efforts in tackling sustainability issues including deforestation, carbon reduction, plastic and big agriculture, and featuring a panel of guests who provide challenge and insight from differing perspectives. Guests on series two include (among others) Jane Aldridge (Managing Director of Coffee, Nestle UK & Ireland), Dorothy Shaver (Global Food Sustainability Director, Unilever),  Lucy Reynolds (VP Communications and CSR, Boots plc.), Mike Berners-Lee (researcher, consultant, professor and writer on sustainability; acclaimed books include ‘There is No Planet B’ and ‘How Bad Are Bananas?’ and ‘The Carbon Footprint of Everything’), Lee Man (Head of Community Fairtrade and Regenerative Sourcing, The Body Shop), Sam Fulton (Director of Corporate Affairs, Nomad Foods (Birds Eye)), Steven Ripley (Group Responsible Sourcing Manager (Forests), Tesco), Mike Barry (former Director of Sustainable Business at Marks & Spencer (led on Plan A), now founder of sustainability consultancy Mike Barry Eco), Zack Polanski, (Deputy Leader of the Green Party), Sahil Kher (Senior public law and regulatory solicitor, Good Law Project). Cafédirect’s CEO John Steel explains the purpose of the podcast: “We all want a healthier planet and fairer future to look forward to.  This podcast explores how business can have a huge impact - and how, as informed customers, we can encourage better practice.” The podcast responds to Cafédirect’s recent survey* which discovered that 96% of people think that businesses should be responsible for their environmental impact and 92% view companies as entirely or largely responsible for the welfare of people who produce their products. The survey also found that corporate greenwashing made it difficult for people to understand key sustainability issues and identify genuinely ethical and sustainable products.  To address this, the podcast aims to inform and inspire its listeners through a better understanding of the issues at stake. In the episode ‘Why is coffee heading for extinction?’  Erinch Sahan from Doughnut Economics Action Lab questions the Managing Director of coffee at Nestlé (UK & Ireland), Jane Aldridge, on the morality of the company: “What are we celebrating? We pat ourselves on the back, they're (coffee farmers) still poor, they are growing the product we sell, they are stuck in poverty. And every year, the giants of the industry declare a big dividend, and have grown that dividend. That just feels like a juxtaposition, that feels like a moral contradiction.” Similarly, Alex Maitland from Oxfam International challenges James Ghaffari of B Lab on Nespresso becoming certified as a B Corp in the episode ‘Why better business governance matters to us all’. Alex states, “I’m not sure it’s particularly helpful for a consumer [because] to get [B Corp] certification requires a change to the constitution, which puts profit and social purpose on an equal footing. But how can it be the case that Nespresso is doing that, while its parent company, Nestlé are very much a profit maximising business, with the main mission of maximising profit for shareholders.” In the episode ‘What’s farming got to do with climate change?’ Guy Singh-Watson founder of Riverford has a heated discussion with Sam Fulton of frozen food company Nomad Foods, where he questions the company’s use of sustainability certifications and claims, stating: “I am sceptical about claims about sustainability, but they are fundamentally carrying on with the business-as-usual model of food and farming….I wouldn't even call my own farming sustainable.” The podcast is available from 18 January on all major streaming platforms and www.cafedirect.co.uk/podcasts.  The season contains nine episodes with one episode released every Wednesday. cafedirect.co.uk NOTES TO EDITORS For press release enquiries, episode previews and interview requests please contact Lauren Morris on lmorris@cafedirect.co.uk John Steel is also available to write op-eds on any of the topics covered by this series.  *The 2022 Cafédirect survey results of 300 people: 40% are very concerned or extremely concerned about climate change.   96% stated that companies should be responsible for their impact on the environment. 92% think that companies are entirely or largely responsible for the people who produce their products, in terms of living wages and safe working conditions.  40% find that it is quite or very hard to identify which products are genuinely ethical and sustainable. For example, our survey found  93% see the term ‘sustainable’ to mean that a product is good for people and environment or good for the environment and 80% think that ‘carbon neutral’ means that it has a positive impact on climate or that it no impact on the climate (when it has a negative impact on climate). 84% believing that everyone in the supply chain is paid fairly before dividends are paid to shareholders **Source: Buzzsprout, 10 October 2022

Our Membership Executive Chris Morgan takes you through how to make the most of membership. Find out more about the work we do both for and with our members. 12 January 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVBZIP884YA

According to Social Enterprise UK cuts to energy support for business will not deliver savings and could cost taxpayers more. If the proposed changes go through as many as 10,000 social enterprises could face closure putting as many as 160,000 jobs at risk and costing the UK billions in lost output and tax revenue. Peter Holbrook, CEO of Social Enterprise UK commented: “British businesses that should be at the heart of our economic recovery face the threat of closure should the Government prematurely cut back its energy support package for business. In the social enterprise sector, even the existing package has proven inadequate, with at least 3,900 social enterprises set to close, and over 10,000 more at risk of closure. This could put as many as 160,000 jobs at risk and could potentially cost the UK billions in lost output and tax revenue. The long-term costs to the economy would likely outweigh any savings made today from cutting energy support. If the Government goes through with further reductions in support, then the collapse of more social enterprises will become inevitable. Communities across the country will be deprived of businesses that are committed to investing in tackling social challenges and fostering inclusive growth. Supporting social enterprise today is not a cost, but an investment, one that will pay dividends when viable businesses survive these hard times and are able to drive the future recovery.”

Hear from tech for good/start-up ventures as they pitch for investments, partnerships and strategic relationships to accelerate impact Time: Thu, 2 February 2023, 16:00 – 21:00 Location: Toynbee Hall 28 Commercial Street London E1 6LS Who this event is for Tech for good junkies, impact investors, venture capitalists, angels, strategic partners and anyone interested in investing in business as a force for good. About the Accelerator Challenge cohort In November 2022, we launched our Accelerator Challenge in partnership with BRAN Investments across the UK. We were delighted to welcome a cohort of exciting ventures from across a range of diverse sectors - including health-tech, food and beverage, financial inclusion, ed-tech and climate change - tackling issues that have a positive influence on humankind and / or the environment. These ventures have worked through 3 phases over the course of the challenge and now come together to conclude at our demo day, where they will present to a collective of investors and others in the impact space. If you are interested in investing in this sector, we welcome you to attend and can facilitate. You may have already heard the buzz about a few of them already, so come along and meet them on the day. SIGN UP FOR THE EVENT HERE About Allia Allia has been active in social and environmental issues and supporting tech for good ventures for many years. We pledge to help as many small businesses as we can to make substantial changes to their working practices and systems, through advice delivered by programmes and workshops, as well as within our own Future Business Centres. About BRAN Investments BRAN Investments is dedicated to helping passionate people achieve real business success. Since the late 2000s, banks have become reluctant lenders, and we’ve heard about numerous great ideas and well-run businesses unable to win the financial backing they need to grow. BRAN want to change that. They want to give you your chance. BRAN are a family of four with 40 years’ experience in business and property. Through BRAN Investments, they want to share their own expertise, access to our large network of knowledgeable commercial contacts and offer direct funding and access to capital to help new and promising ventures achieve more. Other information This is an in-person event at Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6LS. For more information, please contact hello@alliaimpact.co.uk

Supporting social entrepreneurs to scale sustainably. Applications now open. Application deadline for North 2023 and UK mentoring-only programmes is 9th January 2023. What is Accelerate? The Accelerate programme supports young social entrepreneurs and social enterprises with a focus on supporting young people into employment, education, or enterprise. We want to help social enterprises to grow and thrive so that they can continue to play an important role in stimulating local economies and affecting social change. We offer a full 3-month programme, and a 1-month mentoring-only programme. The full programme offers a 3-month timetable of support and consists of: A business coach relationship: offering 1:1 support in understanding and leveraging business performanceTailored workshops: targeted at understanding the key financial and operational levers of businessNetworking events: to connect with potential clients, supporters and advisorsProcurement opportunities: opportunity for successful candidates to apply to join large corporate supply chainsLegal support: join legal support clinics around IP and employment law The mentoring-only programme offers 1-month of business mentoring supporting you with: A specific objective in your chosen focus area (operational, strategic or commercial)1:1 Support from an Expert/Specialist in the Field/Subject AreaFree access to a market-leading online growth planning tool Who will I work with? Accelerate is supported by volunteers from a range of teams across EY and external organisations across the UK. Participants will receive support from: Business coaches The wider EY network, including legal professionals Trainers and facilitators from a wide variety of sectors, all specialists in their field   Can I be part of the Accelerate programme? Individuals who meet the below eligibility criteria can apply to the programme: Running a social enterprise that supports young people into education, employment or enterprise or A social entrepreneur aged 18-30 Plus, at least three of the following: Your organisation is already established with 1+ years of tradingYou (the social entrepreneur) are working full-time within the businessYour social enterprise is generating revenueYou have a credible plan to grow at a local, regional or national level which in turn will create employment opportunities in the future Join Accelerate If you meet the eligibility criteria above, apply now to become a part of the next cohort. ⏰Application time: 3-5 minutes  📆 Application deadline: 9th January Further information: https://lnkd.in/eNxxszMRApply now: https://lnkd.in/eVrqEx6J

Launching in January 2023, Social Procurement Connect is a new initiative from Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) created to support organisations add social value and impact into their supply chains. Building on the successes of SEUK’s Buy Social Corporate Challenge, which has directed over £250 million towards social enterprise suppliers, Social Procurement Connect will take our social procurement experience and expertise to a broader community of organisations. It will be a digital service to guide and support organisations who want to improve their purchasing and buy from social enterprises centred around an online resource hub which will contain best practice learnings, and tools developed by SEUK. Social Procurement Connect is open to any organisation interested in bringing social enterprises into their supply chain from social enterprises themselves to private and public sector organisations. Through joining Social Procurement Connect participating organisations will benefit from: Tips for creating and implementing an organisational social procurement initiativeExpert insights on social enterprise suppliersA review of your supply chain and the opportunities it presents to bring in social enterprise and social value.An online peer community of leading social procurement practitioners and fellow early adoptersTools for better understanding your organisation’s impact through its supply chain Introductory webinar We will be hosting an introductory webinar to introduce Social Procurement Connect and social sourcing on 19 January 2023 from 10-11 am. You can register for the free webinar here.