C-suite leaders convene in Bradford as part of BITC’s flagship Seeing is Believing programme
- Business leaders from across the UK visit Bradford to understand the challenges facing people living and working in the area, and how businesses can benefit from taking action.
- The visit comes as research shows that the proportion of households with one or more dimensions of deprivation in Bradford is 57%, 5.3% higher than England and Wales.
- The visit was led by Sir Richard Lambert, Chair of Bloomsbury Publishing plc and Susan Allen OBE, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Building Society.
Business in the Community (BITC), The Prince’s Responsible Business Network, has today, under the leadership of Sir Richard Lambert, Chair of Bloomsbury Publishing and Susan Allen OBE, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Building Society, brought C-suite business leaders to Bradford to understand some of the challenges faced by those living in communities in Bradford and Keighley which can lead to high levels of deprivation, low social mobility and lack of economic opportunities.
The visit, part of BITC’s flagship Seeing is Believing programme, supported by Salesforce and Linklaters LLP, helps business leaders understand the role they play in addressing societal issues while also reaping the benefits of doing so.
Business leaders visited Rainbow Children’s Centre, which offers support and activities for parents and carers of babies, children, young people and families in the Shipley, Keighley and surrounding Areas. They also visited Eastwood Community School to understand how low literacy levels act as a key barrier to children achieving better results and accessing opportunities later in life. The visit also included Keighley Creative to help business leaders understand the importance of employer partnerships with education providers, and how they can set up young people for a better future.
The visit comes as research shows that the proportion of households with one or more dimensions of deprivation in Bradford is 57%, 5.3% higher than England and Wales. In Keighley, one of the areas of Bradford where business leaders are visiting, household deprivation rises to 58%. [2] Deprivation is calculated by looking at the quality of housing and a household’s access to education and health and their employment status.
In addition, the unemployment rate in Bradford is almost twice as high as the UK average at 6.4%. Unemployment can contribute to deprivation in many ways including financial strain, health impacts and social exclusion.
The visit was attended by C-suite business leaders from a range of companies, including LNER, Santander, Muse, Yorkshire Water, Burberry, and Emerald Group Publishing. The visit follows work that BITC has been doing in Bradford and Keighley since 2021, led by Sir David Wootton to break down barriers facing people living and working in the area.
The Seeing is Believing programme, one of the most prestigious immersive experiences available for C-suite leaders, helps drive BITC’s Place programme, facilitating cross-sector collaboration to deliver long-term and transformational impact in places across the UK.
Sir Richard Lambert, Chair of Bloomsbury Publishing, said:
“Bradford is a wonderful city with so much to offer, however people living and working in the area are facing too many unacceptable barriers stopping them from getting on in life.
“With the average reading age in the UK being nine years old, research shows that having low literacy skills impacts a person’s future and this is without a doubt contributing to the issues we saw today. I hope that today’s visit sparks action from businesses to think outside the box in terms of the action needed. Addressing literacy levels would be an excellent place to start and has clear business benefits.”
Chief Executive of Yorkshire Building Society, Susan Allen OBE, said:
“Today’s Seeing is Believing visit has provided an important reminder of some of the challenges faced by people across the country.
“It’s in our interest as business leaders to support the communities we serve and in which our colleagues live and work. By helping people reach their potential, businesses can reap the benefits from creating a talent pool of diverse employees and thriving local economies.
“I hope today’s visit will inspire action which won’t just impact the people currently living in communities in Bradford, but it will make the future brighter for generations to come.”
Mary Macleod, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, said:
“At Business in the Community’s Seeing is Believing visit to Bradford today, we have seen the deep challenges facing so many people there, which are holding them back from getting on in life. However, we also saw the hope and determination of business leaders and the local community to work together to transform lives and make Bradford a brilliant place to live and work. Through working together, I have no doubt that business leaders will step up to act and do more, as they help lead the way to creating a better Britain and hope for the future.”
The Seeing is Believing programme was established by the then Prince of Wales in 1990. The programme, supported by Linklaters LLP and Salesforce, was born from a simple but powerful belief that the best way to close the gap between the boardroom and the community was to take business leaders out to the communities and, through the power of experiential learning, to inspire and challenge participants. The visits are designed to encourage business leaders to think strategically about the implications for their own businesses and the practical actions that can be taken in response, leading to meaningful and sustained impact for both businesses and communities. To date, over 25,000 business leaders have taken part in the Seeing is Believing programme which has led to various initiatives being set up including Career Ready, Ban the Box, and mentoring circles in collaboration with the Department for Work and Pensions.
ENDS
Notes to editor
- Photos of the visit are available upon request.
- Census 2021 Office for National Statistics