Better Business Summit South 2025 Information

The Better Business Summit is the annual flagship conference by the Better Business Network, a community for like-minded Business Leaders that want to create positive action. Hundreds of purpose-driven individuals, change-makers, and innovators have attended our conferences in Manchester in 2023, 2024 and 2025, a three day event that inspires businesses to take action.

This year, we are taking our famous Better Business Summit to the South for a smaller, but just as impactful two day event, designed to unite Projects’ members, the wider Brighton community and any Southern-based businesses who believe that business can and should be a force for good. 

This will comprise of a one day Conference, followed by a day in nature. This event is in collaboration with our friends at Projects, and Early Bird tickets are already sold out - DON’T WAIT AROUND

Scroll down for more information on the schedule for the event, as well as read up on our incredible speakers and partners ⬇️⬇️⬇️

You'll hear from incredible experts from organisations and brands at the forefront of impact, including likes of Bird & Blend, Lucy & Yak, OceanSaver, Creative Conscience, SOS-UK and many more! Sessions at the event will be centred around issues of ethical entrepreneurship, sustainability and innovation, and will be across a variety of formats, from fireside chats, deep-dives, workshops and roundtable discussions. Scroll down to see our schedule and the currently confirmed speakers :point_down :point_down: :point_down:

On Thursday 10th April, a Conference Day will be held at Projects, Nile House exploring how we can create systemic change through collective action, education and support. We encourage our attendees to get involved and so there will be plenty of opportunities for Q&A, sharing stories and networking.

On Friday 11th April, we will be taking attendees into Nature to reflect and connect with each other and the world we are working on making better. The full details on our Day in Nature activities are TBC and will be revealed shortly, along with a more detailed breakdown of the entire event schedule and timings. 

Both BBN and Projects Members get a discounted rate on tickets to the event. On Thursday, attendees enjoy free tea and coffee, a catered plant based lunch as well as an invitation to our breakfast networking event and after party included in their ticket price.

Our Friday day in nature plans will be announced soon. 

THURSDAY 10TH APRIL

FULL CONFERENCE AGENDA 08:00 - 19:00

The below schedule highlights the main areas of the conference. Keynote speeches and fireside chats are taking place in the main room, with Workshops and Catalyst Conversations within additional breakouts.

A catered plant based lunch is provided, as well as refreshments throughout the day.

  • Kick off your day with an energizing 5K run through Brighton. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just looking for a fun way to get moving, this guided run offers a great opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, take in the city sights, and boost your energy before the Better Business Summit South. 

    Make sure to RSVP for a place!

  • Kick off your day with a gentle walk through Brighton!  RSVP HERE TO BOOK YOUR SPOT

    This is a guided walk led by Hannah Keartland.

    This walk along the seafront is designed to give you time and space if you’re a business leader and struggling with the following challenges:

    • Wanting to grow your business … and increasingly understanding that the world needs rapid degrowth

    • Feeling pressure from others to grow your business (e.g. other people on the senior leadership team, investors)

    • Wondering what it means to be a successful business leader in a world with degrowth


    If this is how you’re feeling then you’re not alone – we're speaking to a lot of business leaders who are grappling with the same challenges.

    We’re creating a safe, relaxed space where you can learn from and share with others in a similar position. Please join us for a walk beside the sea before the busy-ness of the Better Business Summit Brighton kicks off.

    Whilst leaving plenty of room for conversation and reflection, Hannah will loosely facilitate the walk to help you leave with new ideas, practical actions and in the knowledge you’re not alone.

  • Doors open - come in and get registered.

  • Join us for breakfast, where there will be hot drinks and tasty pastries a plenty!

    A great chance to kickstart your day and make those valuable connections.

  • Join us for the first session of the day, hearing key insights from BBN Founder Hannah Cox on how to make the most out of the event!

  • We will enjoy 3 × 15 minute keynote speeches from:

    • Lauren Rosegreen, SOS-UK. Lauren will be talking about the Racial Action on Climate Emergency’s (RACE) recently released report on how the environment and conservation professions are amongst the least diverse in the UK.

    • Chrissy Levett and Eddy Altmann from Creative Conscience. They will be exploring how creativity and positive purpose can build better teams and a more resilient business

    • Bud Johnson from Boxless. Bud will discussing how organisations can move Beyond Box-Ticking and into Meaningful DEI actions.

  • A chance to grab a hot drink and reflect on the first few sessions.

  • This exciting fireside chat will see two founders discuss their experiences in running commercially successful, yet highly purpose driven, leading organisations.

    We’ll be hearing from both founders: Mike Turner, from Bird and Blend Tea, and Chris Renwick, from Lucy & Yak.

    They will be having an open and honest discussion about the rewards and challenges of navigating a businesses through growth whilst trying to maintain a positive impact.

  • The Projects team have a surprise activity for us!

  • A break to digest all of the morning’s knowledge over a complimentary plant-based lunch.

    This is included in your ticket price.

  • In the next two hours you have the option to choose between 3 breakout sessions in three different spaces:

    • We have an incredible Authentic Storytelling Workshop being ran by Abb-D Taiyo from Driftime. Attendees will explore what defines their spheres of influence, and how you can create a strategy to communicate this across the next 12 months.

    • The other two sessions are TBA

  • A chance to grab a hot drink and reflect on the first breakout sessions.

  • This final main session of the day is TBA

  • Join Hannah Cox and the BBN team for the closing session of the day.

  • Join the Projects team for a reflective, interactive session to round off the day.

  • Join us on the rooftop (weather permitting) to network and catch up with other attendees!

2025 Speaker List

Take a look below at our incredible speakers joining us for our main conference. They are experts from organisations and brands at the forefront of impact across the world of business, education, charity and government.

Check out our schedule above too to make sure you don’t miss the speakers you want to see.

In line with our values and ethics, our aim is always to provide a diverse line-up. If you have accessibility requirements, please let us know when you buy your ticket so we can ensure we can accommodate you. Check out our Impact Policies.

Chris Renwick
Lucy & Yak

  • Chris is the Co-Founder of Lucy & Yak, a clothng brand on a mission to prove that it’s possible to create great products, that give people joy, and are kinder to the planet and the people that make them.

Chrissy Levett
Creative Conscience

  • Chrissy Levett – Positive Creative Activist. UK based Designer and Creative Director, studied at the Royal College of Art in London.

    She’s won a number of creative industry awards, is a TEDx speaker + author believing creative thinking is vital for us to solve the world’s greatest challenges.

    Now Founder & CEO for Creative Conscience a global movement set up to empower, reward, train and support creative thinkers to use their talents for social & environmental impact.

    Chrissy has an Honorary Doctorate in Design from NTU and is passionate about behaviour change, taking action and education.

2025 Sponsors and Partners

Thanks to our brilliant sponsors and partners who are supporting us to put on the Better Business Summit South in April!

Mike Turner
Bird & Blend Tea Co

  • Mike is the Co-Founder and MD of innovative Tea Mixologists, Bird & Blend Tea Co.. They create the UK's largest range of unique and exciting tea blends then retail these through our high touch, customer experience focussed stores, online (www.birdandblendtea.com) and through a select group of amazing partners.

Lauren Rosegreen
Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK)

  • Lauren is a Senior Project Manager (Inclusion and Climate Justice) at SOS-UK and focusses on making sustainability more inclusive & equitable, especially for communities disproportionately affected by the climate crisis.

    Leading on The Race Report UK, supporting underrepresented groups to be part of the climate justice journey.

Abb-D Taiyo
Driftime

  • Abb-d Taiyo is co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at digital agency and B Corp, Driftime® – a mission-driven creative partner, helping progressive brands, established companies and sustainable initiatives, achieve long term impact through design and digital empowerment.

    Alongside Driftime®, Abb-d is invested in change beyond the design industry by co-founding and co-steering Design Declares!, a progressive movement bringing together designers, design studios, agencies and institutions to declare a climate and ecological emergency.

    More recently, Abb-d has been appointed as one of the co-chairs for the B Local in Sussex. A localised community advocating B Corp principles and business beyond the norm.

Bud Johnson
Boxless

  • Bud is the Founder of Boxless.

    Boxless is your trusted partner to support you and your organisations social & environmental responsibilities. We believe organisations with a strong foundation across the pillars of EGS & DEI are happier & more effective. We provide tailored solutions to help you drive positive change & achieve success.

Alex Young
Projects

  • Alex is the Managing Directgor at Projects. Projects are a certified B Corp​ and are dedicated to providing inclusive work spaces that benefit people and respect our planet. We prioritise creating environments where everyone can thrive personally and professionally. Our commitment to informed decision-making and sustainable practices ensures that we not only support businesses in their growth but also contribute to a better future.

Ticket Tailor

  • The world's most-loved ticketing platform. Whether it's your first event ever, or your biggest event yet, they make it simple to sell tickets online

    They believe that growing a business is about so much more than just profit. They want to make sure every ticket sold on our platform has a positive impact on the world around us.

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Projects

  • Projects are a certified B Corp​ and are dedicated to providing inclusive work spaces that benefit people and respect our planet. We prioritise creating environments where everyone can thrive personally and professionally. Our commitment to informed decision-making and sustainable practices ensures that we not only support businesses in their growth but also contribute to a better future. 

Creative Conscience

  • Creative Conscience are a creative community and global not-for-profit organisation who believe that creative thinking and innovation can make positive change.

    Our mission is to embed purpose-driven creative thinking into every institution, brand and organisation across the world.


Locate Productions

  • Creating standout campaigns while regenerating the planet.

    At Locate Productions, we merge authentic storytelling with a commitment to sustainability, helping brands, agencies and purpose-led businesses craft impactful campaigns while leading the way in low-carbon production.

    We believe every business has a responsibility to help regenerate our depleted planet. In the midst of a climate and nature emergency, businesses must do more than align with a net zero future, they must use their power and potential to give back.

    That’s why we created Days in Nature, offering businesses a chance to step away, reconnect with the natural world and inspire meaningful change. We’re excited to bring this experience to the Better Business Summit South, helping attendees embrace nature as a catalyst for impact.

Not sure what to expect? Take a look at our highlights video from the Better Business Summit 2025!