Business leaders pledged to create a more inclusive and vibrant economy when they met representatives from the community and voluntary sectors.

The meeting took place at the Robin Hood in Norfolk Place, Brighton, the city's first not-for-profit pub where any surplus is donated to local good causes.

It was organised by Brighton and Hove Business Community Partnership (BCP), an independent body which builds bridges between business and the community.

Representatives from dozens of organisations, including The Argus and Brighton and Hove City Council, attended the meeting to hear how they could get involved.

It also provided an opportunity to award three Brighton firms the CommunityMark, a national kitemark for small and medium-sized businesses recognising community involvement.

Internet company Cubeworks, of Dyke Road; designer and marketing company neo:creative, of Ditchling Rise; and The Butler's Wine Cellar, of Queen's Park Road, were honoured.

They joined 24 companies in the city already committed to the scheme and helped to maintain Brighton and Hove's position as a leading city for community involvement.

Last year, hundreds of staff from some of the city's biggest employers took part in a range of activities from repainting night shelters for the homeless to cleaning up graffiti.

At the same time, it has been estimated business gave charities the equivalent of £125,000 through employee volunteering schemes and free consultancy work.

Oliver Maxwell, from BCP, which runs CommunityMark, said: "Our aim is to build a strong culture of social enterprise in the city's community where everyone wins.

"BCP is uniquely positioned to bring together initiatives from businesses wanting to engage in the community, with community projects looking to benefit from business skills and resources."

Nick Christoforou, media director at neo:creative, said: "We are delighted to be pledging our support to the city community with the CommunityMark. We wanted to bring our skills and knowledge to wider community benefit and the CommunityMark is great because it gives us a way of measuring our involvement and achievements."

Three Brighton companies, the Family Assurance Friendly Society, Integra and Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club, were the first in the country to be presented with the CommunityMark Award.

Any business interested in the CommunityMark and other forms of community involvement should
contact Oliver Maxwell on 01273 770075 or email info@bhbcp.org.uk
July 5, 2005