The 6th annual Business Exchange South West Charity Conference & Expo is returning for 2024 on Thursday 13th June at Bath Racecourse.
This year our founding headline sponsors Milsted Langdon and Stone King are joined by St John’s Foundation.
The theme of the day is ‘Driving Positive Change’ with the aim to open up conversations around societal issues and how we can all work collectively to make a difference in our community.
David Hobdey, Chief Executive at St John’s Foundation, said, “We are delighted to get behind the day in our special year as we celebrate 850 years of St John’s Foundation.
“Founded in 1174, St John’s Foundation is one of the UK’s oldest charities and we’re all about changing lives for good. We support children from birth to 12 years old, older people aged over 55.
“Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) is a fantastic place to live and work but we do have unique challenges and we must strive to do better. One of our key ambitions is to use the Foundation Fund to significantly reduce the attainment gap for children aged 7-11 (Key Stage 2) in B&NES by 2030. This gap is the single most striking measure of inequality, placing B&NES, in respect of its progress in reducing the gap, close to the worst out of all local authorities in England. The causes of this gap are complex and relate as much to the support children receive for their behavioural and emotional development from pre-birth as that gained from formal education.
“The Business Exchange South West Charity Conference & Expo is a great platform to bring people together to discuss these vital issues which are holding our area back. We look forward to welcoming people from all backgrounds on the day, as it is only by working together that we can drive positive change.”
The Business Exchange South West Charity Conference & Expo is a unique event in the UK. There are lots of charity and not for profit events on a national scale but not so many that focus on a region and uniting a community. The event has grown from just a conference with 100 people in a room in 2019, to now attracting 600+ delegates and over 50 exhibition stands.
The 2023 event attracted hundreds of people to Bath Racecourse from across the country as word has spread that we’re doing something different on our patch to drive positive change.
Anita Jaynes, Founder of The Business Exchange, said, “The conference and expo was born as I recognised that something special was happening on our patch. We have lots of leading charities and not for profits based in the South West and many professional service firms which support and nurture their growth. Working together with Milsted Langdon, Stone King and other partners over the past five years, we’ve created something unique which is being recognised on a national scale. Visitors to the 2023 event travelled from as far as Exeter, London, Manchester and Plymouth and we can’t wait to build on this momentum in 2024. Thanks to the teams at Milsted Langdon, Stone King and St John’s Foundation for getting behind the day. I can’t wait to make this year’s event even more impactful, driving positive change here in the South West and further afield.”
A key aim of the day is to bring businesses together with the charities and not for profits to share skills and discuss ways of working together. Charities embrace the day to promote their current fundraising campaigns and volunteering opportunities. Businesses attending use the day as an opportunity to choose the charities they would like to support either through time or fundraising efforts.
Peter Woodhouse, Head of Business and Social Enterprise at Stone King has worked with the TBE organisation team from the beginning to make the day happen. He said, “We’re delighted to be involved in the event. It’s important to bring charities and businesses together. It’s key to charities to work with businesses to allow them to have the greatest impact they can. Bringing the two types of organisation together can ultimately help charity beneficiaries and have a greater impact on our communities.
“Stone King is committed to delivering impact through its own work and advising clients who are similarly connected. We have been based in Bath for 250 years, we have a deep-rooted connection to the community and part of our mission is to improve the lives of those in it.”
Stone King is recognised as one of the leading law firms for charities and social enterprises in the UK. The firm’s lawyers act for many hundreds of charities from across the sector from household names, including almost 200 of the largest charities in the UK, through to local community groups.
Milsted Langdon are award-winning accountants and business advisors and work with charities, trusts and not for profits. The firm helps organisations in the third sector to thrive by having a wealth of knowledge and experience in advising charities of all sizes on a wide range of issues.
From planning to setting up a charity to technical advice on regulatory or compliance issues and minimising tax liabilities, Head of Charity and Not for Profit Gill Freeman and the specialist team, pride themselves on providing the best support, to enable organisations to focus on their core principles.
ABOUT THE DAY
Networking Breakfast
The Charity Conference & Expo will begin with a networking breakfast at 8:30am. This will be a sit-down breakfast with inspiring guest speakers and tables arranged to introduce you to new and relevant people and organisations.
Tickets are priced at £30+VAT
The Expo
The expo is free to attend but registration is essential. Charities and businesses are also invited to exhibit at the expo. As an exhibitor you receive:
- A table – 6ft x 2ft
- A white tablecloth
- 1 Chair
There is space for a pop-up banner, marketing literature on the tables and an ipad/tablet.
Charity expo stands: £90+VAT
Business expo stands: £180+VAT
Charity stand with 2 breakfast tickets: £140+VAT
Business stand with two breakfast tickets: £240+VAT
Seminar and Workshop sessions
There will be a number of seminar and workshop sessions throughout the day which will all be free to attend.
There is an opportunity for you to host your own seminar session on the day. We can work with you on a topic that fits the day and showcases your message. Previous seminar sessions have looked at business strategy, sustainability, crowdfunding mastery, business for good, volunteering opportunities and digital transformation.
Seminar sponsorship is £450+ VAT
To find out more and to book your tickets click here.
Download the TBE Charity Conference & Expo Media Pack here.
