HAMPSHIRE Chamber of Commerce is holding a forum to bring firms and charities together.

The Bto3 Opportunity Expo and Skills Exchange is aimed at boosting mutual understanding and opening up closer connections so businesses and charities can better support each other.

The event, taking place at the Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium on Wednesday, July 19, has been developed by the chamber’s Meet The Charity steering group. It includes charity professionals, representatives from civic bodies and senior figures from businesses of different sizes and industry specialists.

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Ross McNally, Hampshire Chamber chief executive and executive chairman, said: “Our skills exchange is a novel opportunity for companies and charities to come together face-to-face for mutual support.

“It is a uniquely Hampshire forum that will provide expert insight on how Bto3 relationships can help with skills development, ESG objectives, strategic investment decisions and improved staff motivation and retention.

“Sharing best practice is at the heart of good business. We know there is a wealth of excellence in the charities sector to address the demands of effective governance, asset management and community engagement.

“We’re privileged to showcase this to our member network and to learn from the best practice that exists in many Bto3 relationships.”

Among the speakers will be Ben Ward, chief executive of Wonderseekers, the charity behind Winchester Science Centre.

Ben said: “I'm delighted that Wonderseekers is able to host the event. Collaboration is a core value of ours and essential to us achieving our charitable reach and impact.

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“Young children are often excluded from conversations that ultimately impact on their lives. Wonderseekers is on a mission to change that, believing early intervention is an essential enabler of social change, and I hope to use the event to raise awareness of this with the organisations attending.”

The Bto3 Opportunity Expo and Skills Exchange will begin at 4pm on Wednesday, July 19 with networking and an exhibition.

This will be followed by a plenary and question-and-answer session, led by the Cranfield Trust, which will consider how to build effective Bto3 relationships.

Exhibitors will then have five-minute ‘spotlights’ to put forward elevator pitches about their business or third sector work to fellow attendees.

More information on the forum can be found on the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce website.