Speaker Lord Matthew Elliott of the Jobs Foundation (fifth from left) with chamber dignitaries and festival sponsors.
Published: October 2, 2024 | Updated: 2nd October 2024
Dorset Business Festival kicked off this week with a launch event at Rick Stein’s Sandbanks restaurant in Poole.
More than 100 businesspeople gathered to hear from Ian Girling, chief executive of festival organisers Dorset Chamber, and Matthew Elliott, who discussed the mission of his charity Jobs Foundation to champion business as a ‘force for good’.
Chamber president Tony Brown also signed an agreement to mark his organisation’s bronze award in the Defence Employer Recognition scheme for its Armed Forces friendly credentials.
He was joined by Major Joe Williamson of the British Army to receive the honour through the Armed Forces Covenant.
Dorset Business Festival – the largest of its kind in the region – spans three weeks this October under the theme ‘business as a force for a good’.
Ian said: “It was a tremendous start to the Dorset Business Festival.
“This year’s festival is designed to show just how important a contribution businesses make to society and the economy, while demonstrating to businesses that acting in a social and environmentally responsible way delivers real benefits for their bottom line, growth and future development.
“It was a privilege to welcome Lord Elliott and hear him talk about the Jobs Foundation’s valuable work and examples of the very real difference businesses are making to their employees’ lives and local communities.
“We very much look forward to his return for our Business Festival conference on Wednesday 9 October.
“Signing the Armed Forces Covenant and receiving the bronze award in its Defence Employer Recognition scheme was also the perfect way to celebrate the start of the festival and show what a difference businesses can make.
“We can’t wait for the rest of the festival to get underway, showing just what a supportive, dynamic and progressive business community we have here in Dorset.”
The festival continues with a business expo on 2 October, a festival conference on 9 October and the Dorset Business Awards on 10 October – all at the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth.
The day-long Business Festival Conference, hosted by broadcaster Declan Curry, will include keynote speakers, Q&As and networking.
Panels will focus on embedding environmental and social responsibility for growth; sustainable business; leadership and innovation; and “Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Beyond”.
There’ll be speakers from Lush, Organix, Suez, the Department for Education, YMCA Bournemouth, Nourish Care Systems Ltd, 4Couture, Marsham Court Hotel and Bournemouth and Poole College.
The keynote speakers are global climate change consultant and social entrepreneur Benita Matofska and political analyst and president of The Jobs Foundation Lord Matthew Elliott.
Dorset Business Festival is also supporting a Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Homewards Employer Engagement Event on Wednesday 16 October at the Marsham Court Hotel.
The festival is supported by Lester Aldridge, Blue Sky Financial Planning, Bournemouth and Poole College, Dorset Council, ElectriX and YMCA Bournemouth.
