Challenging Convention workshop outcomes

 

Challenging Convention workshop outcomes

Date of the report

January 2010

Author of the report

Business Council for Sustainable Development - United Kingdom (BCSD-UK)

Purpose of the report

This report details the outcomes of the Challenging Convention workshop on 9 December 2009 which was hosted and part sponsored by Sustainability West Midlands, part sponsored by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and supported by Midlands Environmental Business Company Ltd MEBC.

The purpose of the Birmingham workshop was to build on the collaborative roadmap relevant to business in the Midlands region. Drawing on insight from companies that have built a lead in sustainable business practice, the workshop was invited to consider what resilience would look like in their companies and sectors. It was intended that this would include a challenging assessment of business models including the:

  • fundamental market proposition
  • product and/or service offer
  • supporting business processes.

 

Relevance to the region

Successful, sustainable businesses are those which use their insight and judgement to manage risk effectively and create value over the long term. The credit crunch of 2008 exposed serious inadequacies in risk management across critical business sectors which, in turn, threatened the health of the wider economy.

This workshop aimed to provide a framework to embed assessment of the impacts of major environmental and social change expected over the next decade within strategies for long-term value creation and to develop resilience - the ability to withstand shocks and rebuild where necessary, and to anticipate and plan for the future.

What SWM liked

We liked the quote from the Birmingham delegate which was included and the step by step outline of the event which may benefit those unable to attend.  We also liked how many ideas the delegates cam up with.

Links and Contact information

For further information please visit the BCSD-UK website or contact BCSD-UK by phone 0121 693 8338 or e-mail davidm@ebc-info.co.uk.

 

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