The launch of our Community Working Group, a new business-to-business network, will help provide space for our members to strengthen their community engagement.

On 30 January 2025, we welcomed nine participants to the first Community Working Group, organised and facilitated by the BID, and kindly hosted by the London Hotel Marriott Marble Arch.

We kicked off the first meeting with discussions on the topics of impact reporting and skilled volunteering, as well as understanding more about what participants wanted from the group going forwards.

Discussions during the first meeting.

Recent research showed UK companies’ commitment to social impact initiatives is at an all-time high and increasing at a greater pace than the global average.

However, there are many challenges, for example, in connecting with the right cause or delivering meaningful projects, while at the same time ensuring business continuity.

Whether you are a CSR/ESG lead, an HR or Office Manager, or your company’s community champion, our working group will support our members with their key issues in delivering community engagement.

The benefits of joining the group include:

• Connect and network with other companies working on CSR/ESG projects in the Marble Arch area
• Be part of discussions that find new approaches and practical solutions to a range of challenges in delivering strong community engagement
• Hear from BID members and external guest speakers about their perspectives on diverse themes and topics related to employee volunteering
• Influence the role of the BID in how it supports you to deliver on your community engagement priorities

There is no minimum commitment required to join the Marble Arch BID’s Community Working Group, and businesses can rotate staff attendance depending on the upcoming agenda or if it makes joining the group more feasible.

The group is led by Marble Arch BID’s Community Manager Phil Hanks, who brings over 20 years’ experience working and volunteering with the voluntary and community sector, including delivering employee volunteering initiatives with a range of companies. If you are a BID member and would like to join our Community Working Group, please contact Phil here.