With their inherent stewardship and longer-term mindset, family businesses are perfectly placed to support the drive to Net Zero and wider sustainability and ESG goals. But the messaging can be confusing and overwhelming, contradictory and sometimes paralysing. You’re perhaps unsure where to start with so many unanswered questions. What do all the key terms actually mean? Where does Net Zero sit alongside your business priorities? If you are already some way along your journey, how can you optimise your sustainability policies and initiatives across both operations and culture through authentic and cost-effective engagement? Why is sustainability important to building a sustainable family business? Becky Valentine, award-winning Sustainability & Building Health Consultant and Co-owner at second generation Spenbeck, will host this interactive workshop. She will simplify the overwhelm and outline the key steps required to create cost-neutral quick-wins, to either start your sustainability journey or re-energise and guide your next steps. This workshop will help you: Understand the business case for sustainability Clarify and define key sustainability terms, including ESG Recognise your alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework Understand how to begin measuring your carbon emissions Learn the truth about offsetting Explain how sustainability delivers social value Re-script pushbacks Nottingham-based, multi-award-winning Spenbeck has over 40 years’ experience in helping companies and organisations prosper through its client support and expertise in decarbonising heritage commercial buildings. Working across both private and public sectors, Becky is a sought-after sustainability keynote speaker, expert panellist, podcast contributor and feature article writer. Her expertise lies in supporting those with reduced capacities to deliver achievable marginal gains through her ethos of ‘progress not perfection.' These workshops are online and last for 2 hours and there will be time at the end of the workshop for Q&A. They will be run with delegates from different organisations but if you would rather a bespoke course was run for your business, with a session on your current journey and update to aid employee engagement please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to discuss putting on a bespoke programme for you. Forthcoming dates for the workshops: January 25, 2024 - Find out more and book here February 22, 2024 - Find out more and book here

Bridge of Weir, supplier of Fine Automotive Leather to the world’s most respected luxury car brands, proudly announces its partnership with Car Design News and the Royal College of Art to introduce the first-ever Peter Horbury Fellowship Award. The distinguished accolade, named in honour of the late Peter Horbury, a luminary in car design, will be presented alongside a £5000 bursary to the next generation of design talent at the CDN People Awards in 2024. Peter Horbury, who sadly passed away in June 2023, had an illustrious 50-year career, recognised as one of the greatest car designers of his generation. To continue Peter’s legacy by inspiring the next generation of designers, Car Design News, in partnership with Bridge of Weir Leather and the Royal College of Art, where Peter himself was a student, the Peter Horbury Fellowship Award has been established to support young design talent. It is open to first and second-year full-time bachelor degree students from the RCA transportation design course, with the winner selected by course head Dale Harrow and the RCA faculty. James Muirhead, sales director at Bridge of Weir Leather, said: “It is with great honour and pride to support the Peter Horbury Fellowship Award, working in partnership with Car Design News and the Royal College of Art to recognise Peter’s profound contributions to the automotive industry and inspiring the future of designers. Peter was not only a visionary and an inspirational designer for some of the world’s most renowned automotive brands, but he was also a cherished friend of Bridge of Weir.” Muirhead continues: “Over the past three decades, our collaboration with Peter in crafting the interiors of iconic models for Volvo, Aston Martin, Ford, and Geely Group has been a testament to his unparalleled expertise and passion. This award is a beacon of inspiration, passing on Peter’s remarkable legacy to the next generation of designers, ensuring his visionary spirit lives on.” The prestigious Peter Horbury Fellowship Award will be presented at the CDN People Awards ceremony, a celebration that shines a spotlight on the industry's brightest talents and acknowledges the collaborative efforts of design teams behind ground breaking cars. The event is scheduled to take place at the Londoner in London’s Leicester Square on December 7th.

Viarae Prosecco introduces an exciting new voice in wine, celebrating good times and great friends no matter the occasion. A partnership between Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actress, producer, entrepreneur, and writer Issa Rae and E. & J. Gallo Winery, Viarae Prosecco is a bright, crisp, lively, and refreshingly refined take on the classic Italian sparkling wine. Releasing this month in select markets, Viarae’s expressive, aromatic, and subtly dry style is perfect for sipping on its own or as a co-star in a cocktail. “I am thrilled to share my love of Prosecco with everyone through Viarae. It’s carefully crafted, deliciously crisp, and the perfect beverage to celebrate La Dolce Vita,” stated Issa Rae, creator and founder of Viarae Prosecco. Prosecco is the longtime signature sip of Rae both on and off screen. The Italian bubbly was also the hallmark drink of the protagonist in “Insecure,” the acclaimed, Peabody Award-winning HBO show that Rae co-created, starred in, and produced. Founding her own Prosecco label was a natural next step for the creative trailblazer to explore and one she has been working on for several years. Rae is known for her unique flair and infectious sense of humor that she’s weaved into the Black stories she’s brought to life on screen. With Viarae Prosecco, Rae is helping create representation for herself and the vibrant Black female community in a category where it didn’t previously exist. That commitment is reflected in the radiant gold and brown packaging. Inspired by the spirit of Italy 1978, the label unapologetically represents the freedom to let loose and be authentic. “We are excited to partner with Issa Rae, who entrusted us with executing her vision of the perfect Prosecco – one that shares our desire to serve joy in everyday moments. Crisp, lively, and expressive, this is a perfect choice for those candid, unfiltered times with friends, whether that’s a sunny day by the pool or in the bright city lights at night,” says Beth Orozco, Vice President of Marketing for E.& J. Gallo Winery. “Issa also shares our mission to demystify wine and make it more inclusive. Viarae will help us reach that goal.” Vintage-dated Viarae Prosecco D.O.C. is crafted from 100% Glera — the traditional grape of Prosecco — grown and made by the prestigious La Marca cooperative in Treviso in Northern Italy.

Willmott Dixon teamed up with Oxford Brookes University to celebrate the topping out of its project to construct two new, innovative buildings offering teaching, learning and research space at the university’s Headington Hill site. The occasion was to mark both buildings reaching their highest points. When complete, the new teaching buildings and workshops will enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and creative industries activities as part of the University’s long term Oxford Campus Vision which will see Oxford Brookes bring together all its Oxford activities on the Headington Campus over the coming years. The new buildings are set to open their doors for the 2024/25 academic year and will be the new home for the University’s School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, currently based at Wheatley. The topping out ceremony saw Willmott Dixon director Neville Dale joined by guests including Professor Alistair Fitt, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University. Professor Fitt said: “The construction of these two innovative buildings is moving at a fast pace, and we look forward to opening the doors in the 2024/25 academic year." “Students, staff, industry partners and the local community are going to benefit immensely from the rich and stimulating environment that these fantastic new spaces will offer, where they can learn, study, work and socialise. I would like to extend a thank you to our construction partners, Willmott Dixon, as well as a range of partners who have played a key role in the development of two important buildings for the University and wider region.” Richard Poulter, managing director of Willmott Dixon, added: “This project is about the future of education, the nurturing of young minds and the creation of an environment that inspires creativity and learning." “The Headington Hill buildings are designed with the environment in mind, embodying modern construction principles that align with the University's mission to promote responsible and sustainable development. We look forward to seeing the project progress and are excited for the opening.” Transforming student and staff experience As well as being the new home for the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, the facilities will also co-locate the University’s Schools of Architecture and Built Environment and the School of Arts on one campus. The teaching building will be on three floors and include innovations such as immersion and robotics laboratories, as well as technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR) and 3D printing. A centrepiece VR Cave will allow students to step into an immersive world in order to create virtual buildings and towns, and disassemble Formula 1 cars and test different designs. The workshop will become a hub for students and staff from motorsport and mechanical engineering who will benefit from high-voltage testing facilities, advanced scanning technology and an automotive lab with a range of Formula 1 racing cars. In addition, Oxford Brookes Racing, the University’s award-winning Formula Student team, will be based in the workshop.

World Kindness Day is celebrated annually on November 13 and serves as a global reminder of the significance of compassion and goodwill, something that the world seems to be lacking in many ways today. World Kindness Day emphasises the transformative power of kindness, promoting the idea that small acts can ripple outwards, creating a chain reaction of positivity, and reinforcing the role that we can all have in being a force for good, something that the family business community does on a regular basis. World Kindness Day was established with the purpose of highlighting and promoting the importance of kindness in society. The day encourages individuals to prioritize compassion, empathy, and understanding in their interactions with others. By fostering a global culture of kindness, the initiative aims to create positive change, improve relationships, and contribute to a more harmonious world. It serves as a reminder that acts of kindness, whether they involve strangers, friends, or family, have the potential to make a meaningful impact on individuals and communities. Ultimately, the purpose is to inspire people to choose kindness as a guiding principle in their daily lives, fostering a more compassionate and interconnected global community. On World Kindness Day, people worldwide engage in various acts of kindness to spread positivity and make a difference. These actions range from small, personal gestures to larger community initiatives. Individuals may choose: Random Acts of Kindness : People often perform spontaneous acts of kindness, such as paying for someone's coffee, leaving uplifting notes, or offering compliments to brighten someone's day. Community Service Projects : Many communities organise or participate in service projects, volunteering their time to help those in need. This could include activities like cleaning up public spaces, assisting at local shelters, or organising food drives. Educational Programmes : Schools and organisations may host events or programmes that focus on kindness education. This could involve discussions, workshops, or activities aimed at promoting empathy and understanding. Social Media Campaigns : The digital sphere plays a significant role, with social media campaigns encouraging users to share stories of kindness, inspiring others to join the movement and create a virtual wave of positivity. Corporate Initiatives : Companies may engage in acts of corporate social responsibility, such as supporting charitable causes, initiating workplace kindness programs, or encouraging employees to volunteer. The overarching goal is to create a collective consciousness around kindness and encourage individuals to incorporate it into their daily lives, fostering a more compassionate and considerate global community. This day encourages people to engage in acts of kindness, both big and small, with the aim of fostering a more empathetic and connected world. From simple gestures like holding the door for someone to larger efforts such as community service projects, individuals around the globe unite to make a positive impact. These values strongly resonate with the values that are embedded within family firms around the world and it is always great to see so many family firms embracing a day such as this.

JCB is celebrating 70 years of manufacturing its iconic backhoe loader with the unveiling Platinum Editions of the 3CX and 4CX models. Company founder Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE invented the backhoe concept and the first JCB model was manufactured in 1953 after he combined a lightweight backhoe with a Major Loadall tractor loader. It created, for the first time, a single machine which combined a front shovel and rear excavator arm. While it took 20 years for JCB to build its 50,000 backhoes, under the leadership of JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, more than 900,000 have now been made. JCB has been world market leader for backhoes for almost 25 years and today manufactures the iconic machine in the UK, India, and Brazil. A total of 70 limited-edition 70th birthday 3CX PRO and 4 CX PRO machines will be manufactured. Lord Bamford said: “The backhoe loader is an incredibly versatile machine and thanks to continued innovation and evolution, it remains just as relevant today as the day it was first invented. The JCB backhoe loader remains one of the most popular pieces of construction equipment in the world and it has a very exciting future ahead of it.” The Platinum Edition models will have servo excavator controls, Powerslide, air conditioning and bi-directional auxiliary flow hydraulics. The machines will bear limited edition Platinum decals and grille badge. They will have Platinum-coloured wheels, while in the cab there will be an embroidered graphic in the carpet and upgraded seat material with 70th anniversary branding, along with a steering wheel centre cap featuring the 70th logo. Each machine will also have a special plaque and customers will receive a special Platinum gift pack with the backhoe loader. Over the last seven decades JCB has continued to develop and enhance the backhoe loader concept, with turbocharged engines, powershift transmissions, all-wheel drive and extending dipper arms. The machine has broadened in appeal, with the launch of the skid-steer based 1CX, the all-wheel steer 3CX Compact and the larger 4CX and 5CX equal-sized wheel machines.

Two iconic Maryland companies, Perdue Farms and McCormick & Company, a global leader in flavor, joined the Maryland Food Bank and other partners today in “A Day of Delivering Hope” to deliver nutritious meals to 5,200 individuals and families struggling with food insecurity on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. “At Perdue, we are passionate about our efforts to help alleviate hunger in our communities, especially here in our home state,” said Kevin McAdams, CEO of Perdue Farms. “It’s gratifying to see what we can accomplish together with like-minded partners like McCormick and the Maryland Food Bank to bring some hope to our neighbors and raise awareness of this important issue ahead of the holiday season.” Volunteers from Perdue and McCormick and others packed 5,200 meal kits at the Maryland Food Bank’s Eastern Shore facility in Salisbury, which will distribute the meals to neighbors in need across the Shore’s eight counties. The meal kits include PERDUE® no-antibiotics-ever chicken marinated with McCormick’s Old Bay® seasoning, McCormick’s Zatarain’s® rice, tomato sauce, a vegetable seasoned with McCormick’s All-Purpose Himalayan Pink Salt with Black Pepper and Garlic, and Mason Dixie cheddar biscuits. The collaborative partnership aligns with Perdue’s Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors® outreach focused on improving quality of life and building strong communities, McCormick’s commitment to doing what’s right for its communities, and the food bank’s mission to feed people, strengthen communities, and end hunger for more Marylanders. “McCormick is proud to work alongside Perdue Farms and our longtime partner, the Maryland Food Bank, to help provide for food insecure Marylanders across the Eastern Shore,” said Brendan Foley, President and CEO of McCormick & Company. “For over 130 years, McCormick has brought people together across the table and around the world to create happier, healthier lives. Coming together with two iconic Maryland companies to bring A Day of Delivering Hope to life underscores our commitment to doing what’s right for the communities where we live, work, and operate, especially for those in need.” The Maryland Food Bank estimates that up to two million Marylanders may face food insecurity this holiday season – that’s one in three residents who don’t have regular access to healthy meals. Food insecurity is on the rise due to a combination of factors, including the end of pandemic-era benefits, lingering inflation, and high food prices that continue to hit consumers hard. “We’re incredibly grateful to Perdue and McCormick for this donation of delicious meals that will no doubt make this holiday season a truly special and memorable one for families across the Eastern Shore,” said Carmen Del Guercio, the Maryland Food Bank’s President & CEO. The “A Day of Delivering Hope” initiative was also supported by the Research Chef’s Association, Mason Dixie®, Paris Foods, the St. Michael’s Community Center, Pactive Evergreen, International Paper, Illes, and Cryopak.

East Staffordshire men’s community group is celebrating the next step in building a toolkit to tackle loneliness and isolation, thanks to support from JCB. Rocester and District Men’s Shed has taken delivery of £500 worth of tools to enable members to practise DIY and woodworking skills at their weekly get-togethers. The group’s ten members travel from Ashbourne, Uttoxeter, Stramshall and Denstone, to meet each Wednesday morning for cuppas, chats and making and mending sessions. The Men’s Shed movement is an international organisation founded in Australia to bring men together for making and repairing goods, but mainly for companionship – whether they are retired, unemployed or have disabilities. Founder and chairman of Rocester and District Men’s Shed, Ian Roberts said: “As churchwarden at St Michael’s Church in Rocester my job was to strengthen relationships with the community, and I heard about the Men’s Shed movement." "While there are lots of clubs and groups for women to meet, there was nothing specifically for men to overcome issues of loneliness and isolation - especially in retirement - so in June last year we set up the Men’s Shed in a portable cabin on land behind Rocester Village Hall.” Ian, who took early retirement from JCB ten years ago, but continues to work as a tour guide at The Story of JCB, added: “Up to now members have had to bring along their own tools, but the JCB donation has enabled us to begin equipping the shed with items that everyone can use; we now have a table saw, mitre saw, and variety of hand saws and drill bits." “We are extremely grateful to JCB for their support, and this donation will enable us to grow, welcome more members and really make a difference to the lives of local people in building that sense of community and combatting loneliness.”

Being self-aware is an essential skill if you want to develop yourself, improve your leadership ability and the capability of those that you work alongside. On this course you will explore why self-awareness is an important skill for leaders/managers. Who is this course for? This course is for anyone who is looking to improve their self-awareness in the context of leadership, particularly those who manage and lead others or who are looking to move into a leadership position. Being self-aware is an essential skill if you want to develop yourself, improve your leadership ability and the capability of those that you work alongside. On this course you will explore why self-awareness is an important skill for leaders and managers and help you to develop a greater understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses and identify the areas that you need to build on in order to help you to better lead in your organisation. You will also be given specific tools that you can use to gather feedback from others in your organisation as well as help you to approach receiving feedback in a positive manner Number of Modules: 3 Duration: 6 - 8 hours Available: Online, In-Person or Supported With Coaching Module 1 – Why is Self-Awareness Important For Leaders? What is self-awareness Emotional intelligence Johari Window Why is self-awareness important for leaders Challenges Module 2 – Developing Self-Awareness How do I see myself? Values How do I think others see me? How do others see me? Module 3 – Seeking Feedback Why leaders should seek feedback The Power of listening How to receive feedback Tools for seeking feedback Barriers to receiving feedback Feedback from a previous course delegate: "This course is a great foundation to understand self-awareness for leaders. Next step is to apply the practical actions and reflective practice to gain further benefits from the content of this course." “This training programme is being run on behalf of Family Business United by QuoLux™, a family business themselves and a certified B Corporation.”

Leadership has a significant bearing on the conduct and quality of people’s everyday life as well as on team and organisational performance. Leadership can be developed in order to gain a competitive advantage. This course introduces a range of models, techniques and approaches to enhance how to effectively lead people and move towards delivering high performance. Who is this course for? This is a course for leaders and managers, from CEO to first-line supervision, who wish to establish a consistent and effective way of leading in their team, department or organisation. Leadership has a very significant bearing on the conduct and quality of people’s everyday life as well as on team and organisational performance. Leadership can be developed in order to gain a competitive advantage. This course introduces a range of models, techniques and approaches to enhance how to effectively lead people and move towards delivering high performance. Number of Modules: 4 Duration: 12-16 hours Available: Online, In-Person or Supported With Coaching Module 1 – What Is Effective Leadership? Workbook What is leadership What is effective leadership The Leadership Grid What is 'leading' Leadership Spectrum Check your knowledge Module 2 – The Effectively Leading People Model Workbook LMX Leadership style ELP Model Preferred leadership style Check your knowledge Module 3 – Becoming A More Effective Leader Workbook 20-60-20 Effectively leading people and the change curve Action Centred Leadership™ Urgent Important Matrix Conscious competence model Check your knowledge Module 4 – Moving Towards High Performance Leadership Across An Organisation Workbook High performance challenge Transformation Model – Critical Activity 1 Transformation Model – Critical Activity 2 Transformation Model – Critical Activity 3 Transformation Model – Critical Activity 4 Transformation Model – Critical Activity 5 Transformation model conclusion Values driven leadership Purpose-led leadership Check your knowledge Feedback from previous course delegates: "The content of this course allows you to experience a 'light bulb' moment. By critically reflecting on yourself and your behaviours, you are able to learn and gain the most from new actions. When you ‘look in the mirror’ at yourself and your behaviours, what you see may not be pretty, but the tools you receive here are practical and easy to apply, giving you the advantage and inspiration to start something new and be someone different." "The QuoLux course is very impressive, with a fantastic workbook learning style that ensures a high level of comprehension of each of the modules and practical tasks. The use of a diverse array of learning techniques and media means learning is really embedded and continually reinforced." “This training programme is being run on behalf of Family Business United by QuoLux™, a family business themselves and a certified B Corporation.”

Time after time, in industry after industry, teams have proven their value in achieving goals and driving performance. The Effectively Leading Teams course provides models, approaches and ways of working that will dramatically increase a leader’s and manager’s knowledge of leading their teams towards achieving high performance by developing the teams and team members to be the best that they can be. Who is this course for? This is a course for leaders and managers, from CEO to first-line supervision, who wish to effectively lead teams better by understanding teams and teamwork, building the team and balancing the team by appreciating who will do what and why people act and behave in the way that they do. The course then focuses on creating a healthy team culture including how to delegate responsibility so that team members are empowered to make better decisions. The course concludes with the 10 routines that become habits that develop and maintain teamwork. Number of Modules: 4 Duration: 12 - 16 hours Available: Online, In-Person or Supported With Coaching Module 1: Teams & Teamwork in Organisations - Balancing the Team Workbook Teams in Organisations What is a team and teamwork Types of teams Balanced Teams model Check your knowledge Module 2: Building The Team – Who Will Do What And Why Workbook Stages of Teamwork Effectively Leading Teams model Balancing the Task-Team-Individual Five aspects in teamwork Ladder to the Moon Check your knowledge Module 3: Team environment - Building A Healthy Culture Workbook Accountability & responsibility Decision making Six steps to an empowered organisation Self-managing teams Check your knowledge Module 4 – Seven Habits of Effective Team Dynamics Workbook Closing the Communication gap Running effective meetings Coping with conflict Problem solving Creating a conveyor belt of talent Reward and recognition - where to focus Housekeeping: 5S Developing & maintaining teamwork Check your knowledge Feedback from previous course delegates: "This course gives you a good understanding about the meaning, importance and diversity of being a leader." "There is a good balance of learning and reflection. We know we can strive to be better leaders but sometimes it's having the foresight to know how. The modules and course are providing me with the direction to make changes where I hadn't necessarily recognised I could, or needed to." “This training programme is being run on behalf of Family Business United by QuoLux™, a family business themselves and a certified B Corporation.”

Leading change is one of the most important and difficult roles of leadership at any level in an organisation. This course focuses on why change is important, introduces tools and models that will help you to lead people through change. Who is this course for? This course is for leaders and managers from CEO to first-line supervision who are responsible for designing, implementing and/or leading change. Leading change is one of the most important and difficult roles of leadership at any level in an organisation. This course focuses on why change is important, introduces tools and models that will help you to lead people through change, explores different types of change and desired end results as well as helping you to consider how you can move towards high performance and being one step ahead of the competition. Number of Modules: 4 Duration: 8 - 10 hours Available: Online or Online & Supported With Coaching Cost: From £799 per person Certificate Available Upon Completion Module 1: Introduction To Change Introduction to Change Why Change is Important Why Change Fails and what you can do about it Barriers to change Leading change Change curve Module 2: How To Lead Change How Change Feels 20-60-20 Rule Leading people through the change curve Create a crisis/sense of urgency Importance of actively listening and asking questions Leadership Spectrum Effectively Leading People to Lead Change Module 3: Desired End Results & Types Of Change Types and Dimensions of Change Planning Change Step Change vs Incremental Change Forcefield Analysis Nudge Theory Power, Influence and Interest - Stakeholder Analysis Four Components of Leading Change at Different Levels Module 4 – Moving Towards High Performance What is High Performance? How much Change? Winning Hearts and Minds Leading in a VUCA and VUCA 2.0 World High Performance, Pressure and Stress Manage Emotions, Respond with Logic and Manage Momentum Systems Thinking Feedback from previous course delegates: "Another enjoyable module that has good, variable content, that will support my role, and indeed my peers." "This course was a great way to learn how to manage changes within the organisation and ensure they are successfully implemented. It is a dynamic course with many different ways of learning (reading, watching, listening and reflecting). The mini quizzes at the end of each module and the TRAction workbooks definitely helped me to see where I needed to relook at something and gave me achievable actions to use within my business. I definitely feel more equipped to take on the changes that are happening within our business at the moment." “This training programme is being run on behalf of Family Business United by QuoLux™, a family business themselves and a certified B Corporation.”