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Member updates

BRAN Accelerator Challenge Demo Day

Hear from tech for good/start-up ventures as they pitch for investments, partnerships and strategic relationships to accelerate impact Time: Thu, 2 February 2023, 16:00 – 21:00 Location: Toynbee Hall 28 Commercial Street London E1 6LS Who this event is for Tech for good junkies, impact investors, venture capitalists, angels, strategic partners and anyone interested in investing in business as a force for good. About the Accelerator Challenge cohort In November 2022, we launched our Accelerator Challenge in partnership with BRAN Investments across the UK. We were delighted to welcome a cohort of exciting ventures from across a range of diverse sectors - including health-tech, food and beverage, financial inclusion, ed-tech and climate change - tackling issues that have a positive influence on humankind and / or the environment. These ventures have worked through 3 phases over the course of the challenge and now come together to conclude at our demo day, where they will present to a collective of investors and others in the impact space. If you are interested in investing in this sector, we welcome you to attend and can facilitate. You may have already heard the buzz about a few of them already, so come along and meet them on the day. SIGN UP FOR THE EVENT HERE About Allia Allia has been active in social and environmental issues and supporting tech for good ventures for many years. We pledge to help as many small businesses as we can to make substantial changes to their working practices and systems, through advice delivered by programmes and workshops, as well as within our own Future Business Centres. About BRAN Investments BRAN Investments is dedicated to helping passionate people achieve real business success. Since the late 2000s, banks have become reluctant lenders, and we’ve heard about numerous great ideas and well-run businesses unable to win the financial backing they need to grow. BRAN want to change that. They want to give you your chance. BRAN are a family of four with 40 years’ experience in business and property. Through BRAN Investments, they want to share their own expertise, access to our large network of knowledgeable commercial contacts and offer direct funding and access to capital to help new and promising ventures achieve more. Other information This is an in-person event at Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6LS. For more information, please contact hello@alliaimpact.co.uk

09 Jan

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2 min

Member updates

EY Foundation’s Accelerate launching 2 new programmes – apply before 9th January!

Supporting social entrepreneurs to scale sustainably. Applications now open. Application deadline for North 2023 and UK mentoring-only programmes is 9th January 2023. What is Accelerate? The Accelerate programme supports young social entrepreneurs and social enterprises with a focus on supporting young people into employment, education, or enterprise. We want to help social enterprises to grow and thrive so that they can continue to play an important role in stimulating local economies and affecting social change. We offer a full 3-month programme, and a 1-month mentoring-only programme. The full programme offers a 3-month timetable of support and consists of: A business coach relationship: offering 1:1 support in understanding and leveraging business performanceTailored workshops: targeted at understanding the key financial and operational levers of businessNetworking events: to connect with potential clients, supporters and advisorsProcurement opportunities: opportunity for successful candidates to apply to join large corporate supply chainsLegal support: join legal support clinics around IP and employment law The mentoring-only programme offers 1-month of business mentoring supporting you with: A specific objective in your chosen focus area (operational, strategic or commercial)1:1 Support from an Expert/Specialist in the Field/Subject AreaFree access to a market-leading online growth planning tool Who will I work with? Accelerate is supported by volunteers from a range of teams across EY and external organisations across the UK. Participants will receive support from: Business coaches The wider EY network, including legal professionals Trainers and facilitators from a wide variety of sectors, all specialists in their field   Can I be part of the Accelerate programme? Individuals who meet the below eligibility criteria can apply to the programme: Running a social enterprise that supports young people into education, employment or enterprise or A social entrepreneur aged 18-30 Plus, at least three of the following: Your organisation is already established with 1+ years of tradingYou (the social entrepreneur) are working full-time within the businessYour social enterprise is generating revenueYou have a credible plan to grow at a local, regional or national level which in turn will create employment opportunities in the future Join Accelerate If you meet the eligibility criteria above, apply now to become a part of the next cohort. ⏰Application time: 3-5 minutes  📆 Application deadline: 9th January Further information: https://lnkd.in/eNxxszMRApply now: https://lnkd.in/eVrqEx6J

06 Jan

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2 min

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GLL Sport Foundation invites talented athletes to apply for 2023 Sports Awards as part of its 15th year anniversary

The UK’s largest independent athlete support programme opens its annual Award programme for new applications today (20 December 2022). Talented athletes from across 65 areas across the UK are invited to apply for a range of support awards which include financial support, access to sport facilities, physiotherapy, lifestyle mentoring and mental health support. The GLL Sport Foundation celebrates its 15th year in 2023 and it is the UK’s largest independent athlete award programme which has so far contributed over £13m to help over 24,000 athletes on their sporting journey. The innovative scheme is provided by charitable social enterprise GLL and expects to award £1.2m worth of help in 2023 for successful applicants. Already a popular and essential support programme for athletes, the Foundation is expecting heightened athlete interest as the cost of living crisis hits and training costs, equipment purchases, strength & conditioning costs and travel costs continue to rise.   All successful applicants will be given access to the 250 sport and leisure facilities across the UK operated by GLL under its “Better” trading brand. Applications open from 20 December 2022 until 20th February 2023. The award application announcement for 2023 was made at Lee Valley VeloPark, following the commencement of GLL’s newest partnership with Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA). This means that athletes based at LVRPA’s world class facilities are now able to join the GLL Sport Foundation, including Lee Valley VeloPark (which hosted the Commonwealth Games Track Cycling event in 2022), Lee Valley White Water Centre (hosting the ICF Canoe World Slalom Championships in 2023), Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, Lee Valley Athletics Centre, Lee Valley Riding Centre, and the new £30m Lee Valley Ice Centre (opening in 2023). This is in addition to a number of other world class venues – the London Aquatics Centre and Copper Box Arena on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Manchester’s Aquatics Centre (reopens 2023) and National Cycling Centre. Over the past 15 years, GLL Sport Foundation supported athletes have excelled in major competitions and have gained 76 Olympic and Paralympic medals and 77 Commonwealth Games medals. Previous holders of GSF awards include Darryl Neita (athletics), Anna Hursey (table tennis), Charlotte Worthington (BMX), Alex Yee (triathlon), boxers Anthony Joshua, Aiden and Michaela Walsh, divers Tom Daley, Matty Lee and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, swimmers Tully Kearney, Susie Rodgers, Tom Dean and Ellie Simmons. It has always however been a core mission of the programme to support young emerging talent on their sporting journey, with the majority of athletes aged under the age of 21 and the largest cohort under 18 years old. Across the programme, 87% of athletes receive no other funding or athlete support, which underlines the importance of the scheme to both athletes and GLL’s social values. Speaking at the launch of the awards at Lee Valley VeloPark, Peter Bundey, GLL Sport Foundation Chair, paid tribute to the support of Foundation Patron Sally Gunnell and all partners involved in the programme including; SportsAid, Mary Peters Trust, SportsAid Wales, sponsors, medical and local authority partners and a new collaboration for 2023 with Switch The Play, who will provide wider mentoring and mental health support.  “Our awards work alongside a number of national talent pathways, provide a lifeline to individual athletes as well as helping local communities discover the opportunities and enrichment that comes through sport”.  Daryll Neita, who secured a bronze in the women’s 100m and a silver in the 4x4 100m relay at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games said:  “I am so thankful for the support I have received from GLL Sport Foundation. My first individual medal ever is extremely special and I would not be here if it wasn’t for the support I have received from the GLL ‘family’.” The successful impact of the Foundation is important to Patron Sally Gunnell OBE, who remains the only athlete to hold consecutive Olympic, World and Commonwealth titles.  She said:  “From my own experience starting out as a young athlete and progressing through my sport, I understand how important the recognition and support from organisations like the GLL Sport Foundation can be to a young athletes. It can make the difference in achieving sporting ambitions. “This is ever-more important today as we recover from a difficult and challenging two years, where dreams have been put on hold and sport had to stop. Athletes can now refocus having re-started competition and working towards those goals with the support of the GLL Sport Foundation.” Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority said: “We’re delighted to support the GLL Sport Foundation Awards in 2023 – it’s an extension of the commitment we consistently make to communities across the region. “These are hard times for athletes so any extra financial or practical help is welcomed ahead of national and international competition. “Like the GLL Sport Foundation, our venues are truly inspiring, offering world class facilities for athletes and anyone who wants to take part in sports and physical activity for fun and health.” Applications are open until 20th February 2023 via the website portal – www.gllsportfoundation.org About GLL/Better Established in 1993, GLL is the largest UK-based charitable social enterprise delivering leisure, health and community services. Operating under the Better brand, we manage 258 public sport and leisure centres, 113 libraries and 10 children’s centres in partnership with 50 local councils, public agencies and sporting organisations. GLL has 850,000 members and welcomes 46 million customer visits per year. Co-founder and CEO of GLL, Mark Sesnan OBE, is stepping down from his role at the end of 2022. Mark has been a key figure in the social enterprise movement for over 30 years, and under his tenure GLL has grown to being one of the country’s largest and most successful social enterprises. Find out more about Mark’s involvement with GLL here. www.gll.org GSF athletes attending the GSF Awards launch event at Lee Valley VeloPark were: Will Kirk - triathlete Jonty Yin - taekwondo Kimberley Woods - canoe slalom Joe Clarke - canoe slalom Nikita Setchell - canoe slalom Prince Reid - para athletics Chris Reid - para athletics Gavin Rumgay - table tennis Amy Holder - discus Susanna Banjo - athletics Catherine Demont - swimming masters

21 Dec

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5 min

Member updates

Hackney Green Business Seminar

IMPORTANT INFO - THIS EVENT IS ONLY OPEN TO BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS BASED IN HACKNEY Do you want to learn how you can make more environmentally positive decisions in your business? Do you need some expert advice on ways to reduce your carbon footprint? This hands-on event will help you transition towards a net-zero economy! Day 1 : Monday 30th January 2023, 9am – 5pm @ The Fisheries, London Fields, Hackney Day 2 : Monday 6th February 2023, 9am - 5pm @ The Fisheries, London Fields, Hackney Who's the event for? For all established small businesses who are looking to develop and grow into a more eco-friendly and sustainable business. Open to all types of businesses; from start-ups, and solo-founder/ entrepreneurs to high street shops & cafés. Participants must be living in or operating in Hackney, East London. If you live in, are registered in, or your offices/workspace is/are based in Hackney, then this is for you! As part of your participation in this FREE event you'll receive: 🌎 The latest green tips & tactics to navigate the uncertain business landscape 🌎 Develop your personalised “Green Action Plan” 🌎 Access to £250 towards your net-zero accreditation suited to your business* 🌎 Access to 3 free follow-up hours of 1-to-1 mentorship with an Allia Business Coach tailored to your business needs. 🌎 Opportunities to join the Allia Alumni network of 2,000+ ventures 🌎 Leave with your certificate of participation & a wealth of knowledge An overview of the 2 days - what will you come away with? Learn from experts the correct environmental vocabulary & terminologies to use surrounding net-zeroAccelerate your own transition to net-zero in a digestible 2-day seminarNetwork with like-minded entrepreneurs in Hackney who want to make a differenceEngage with peers, mentors, and resources on how Hackney can be net-zeroInsight from Industry experts on the topics of: Green Marketing (Green Claims Code) - How to avoid greenwashing and staying compliant with the latest advertising standardsSustainable Business Models - Building sustainable value propositions into your businessCarbon Calculation Workshop – Understanding your environmental footprint so you can measure, react and reduce as well as sharing this with customers, suppliers, and stakeholdersFunding Opportunities for your business in 2023 (SEIS/ EIS) - The state of green finance and how it can or can’t serve you Work through your challenges with 1-to-1 coaching and stay up-to-date with small business trendsCalculate your Carbon footprint and generate your Green Action PlanConnect with the Allia Alumni Network of 2,000+ small business ownersCertify your actions. Access to £250 towards your Green Accreditation (from BCorp, Green Mark, etc) suited to your business*Build resilience & understand the evolving customer requirements of eco-conscious customers Join us for hot drinks and breakfast (fruit & pastries) from 8.30am on both days to meet the team and other small businesses attending the seminar. A delicious vegan lunch will be provided by one of our Green Business Alumni - Gaia Pulses, who deliver delicious, homemade, organic food in reusable containers - and we welcome you to join us for a drink after the seminar at the Pub by the Park! About Allia Allia has been active in environmental issues and supporting cleantech and smart energy start-ups for many years. We pledge to help as many small businesses as we can to make substantial changes to their working practices and systems, through advice delivered by programmes and workshops, as well as within our own Future Business Centres. From working with Hackney Council we are providing a Green Business programme to help local businesses, start-ups and ventures in the borough to start making positive green steps for their business. Special thanks to the Hackney Council who sponsor this incredible event to move towards net-zero. allia.org.uk

21 Dec

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3 min

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Cockpit Winter Open Studios 2022

November 2022 A must-visit London event for those curious to discover work by the worldʼs most exciting makers, Cockpitʼs Winter Open Studios return this year, revealing the extraordinary work made behind closed doors at Cockpit Bloomsbury from 25 to 27 and Cockpit Deptford from 2 to 4 December. United by their unrivalled skill and imagination, Cockpit makers span every kind of craft practice, from finely made functional homeware to exceptional one-of-a-kind art objects. With prices to suit all budgets and many one-off, new and exclusive pieces launching, there is no better place to buy handmade this Christmas. The Winter Open Studios offer a rare chance to purchase directly from the private workshops of more than 160 of the countryʼs best emerging makers and globally renowned craftspeople working in textiles, glass, weaving, jewellery, ceramics and much more. Works are created sustainably and hyper-locally, on site and by hand. While investing in storied pieces that are designed to last, visitors can experience the visceral nature of physical making up close. They can explore what it means, and how it feels, to make and own things with intrinsic meaning and exceptional quality. A number of makers will show new work at Cockpitʼs Winter Open Studios, including a group of timeless yet contemporary new jewellery designs by Zia Huang, whose imaginative breadth of work spans everything from abstract minimalism to organic geometric forms. Jeweller Hannah Bedford will show Rain, a new collection that has evolved from a series of observations of droplets in nature. Also debuting a new jewellery collection, Ciara Bowles will unveil Kaleidoscope, an exciting group of jewels that juxtapose and harmonise colour combinations using reclaimed gemstones. Shamanic spirit artist and jeweller Chloe Valorso, an MA graduate in Jewellery and Metal at the Royal Academy of Arts, will introduce a new collection of Spirit Amulets and new editions to her much-loved Smiley rings. Exclusively for Open Studios sculptor Lucille Lewin will launch a series of new pieces, including small porcelain works, brass boxes and petri dishes. As part of her ongoing research and development of glaze, ceramicist Tessa Eastman will reveal pieces glazed with metallic surfaces alongside five miniature versions of her popular Baby Cloud Bundle sculptures. Textile artist Ellen Mae Williams will show work created during her recent residency on the Greek island of Skopelos, seen in the UK for the first time at the Winter Open Studios, while weaver Eva Dennis launches new wall hangings crafted from vintage fabrics and recycled yarn as well as earrings and brooches. Those looking for a hands-on experience are invited to join print artist Paige Denham for a Christmas stocking screen printing workshop, alongside a number of other interactive opportunities at Cockpit Bloomsbury ad Cockpit Deptford. Annie Warburton, CEO, said: “As days grow shorter and nights darker, at this time of year we turn towards the light of human connection. Most of the year, a makerʼs studio is private space and rightly so, but Cockpit Open Studios is the moment that we open to welcome guests to connect with our makers and show the extraordinary work being made on site. In the dopamine rush of Black Friday deals, itʼs easy to be seduced into bargain buying. Craft offers something different, more soulful, more enriching, more nourishing. A visit to Cockpit is anything but ʻjust shoppingʼ. Itʼs a moment to take time, have conversations and to linger over choosing a gift made with heart, soul, care and imagination. A gift that will bring lasting pleasure. “ Public admission Cockpit Bloomsbury: 25-27 November, Cockpit Yard, Northington Street, London WC1N 2NP Cockpit Deptford: 2-4 December, 18-22 Creekside, London SE8 3DZ Opening times: Friday 2 ‒ 8pm, Saturday & Sunday 12 ‒ 5pm General admission tickets are £6, concessions are £4 Tickets for Cockpit Bloomsbury Winter Open Studios Tickets for Cockpit Deptford Winter Open Studios About Cockpit Cockpit is home to some of the most exciting makers in the world. Spanning every kind of craft, Cockpitʼs makers are united by their extraordinary skill and imagination. Our Mission A voice for making in all its forms, Cockpit stands for the transformative power of craft to shape a better world. Cockpit gives makers tools to build their businesses so they can focus on what they do best: making. From studio space to business advice, Cockpit is where careers in craft are made. At the heart of the craft community, Cockpit is an ardent champion of social justice. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Cockpit bridges that gap, opening pathways for new talent to succeed. Our Story Cockpitʼs name comes from our first studio site at Cockpit Yard, Bloomsbury. Originally an eighteenth-century cockfighting arena, the yard was taken over by a cabinet maker in 1745. It has been a site for craft and making ever since. Cockpit as we know it today began in 1986 when Camden Recycling created five starter units in Cockpit Yard for young, unemployed makers. In the early 2000s, Cockpit opened its second location in Deptford and launched its pioneering business support programme. From there, Cockpitʼs reputation grew to become the destination for makers starting up in practice. Highly sought-after, a place at Cockpit is a mark of quality. The organisation has launched the careers of some of the biggest names in contemporary craft. It is a place to discover the stars of the future. A registered charity and award-winning social enterprise, Cockpit is now home to 150 of the worldʼs finest makers. Cockpit is recognised as a UK top 100 social enterprise on the NatWest SE100 index 2021 and is proud to be a London Living Wage employer. Cockpitstudios.org | @cockpit_studios

24 Nov

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4 min

Member updates

Circular-enabled solutions: reducing environmental impact and maximising social outcomes in supply chains

Impact is hard baked into the DNA of social enterprises: it’s what makes us who we are and drives what we do. And in 2022, Stitch, powered by Connection Crew, has been thinking hard about this: how to push further for greater social and environmental impact and nudge this change up and down supply chains. Powered by the award-winning team at Connection Crew, Stitch is designing and delivering production solutions that minimise environmental impact and maximise social outcomes. Taking off in 2022, Stitch’s exhibition stands alone have: Achieved 93% of materials being reused or recycledDelivered 785 hours of direct social value employment for people with experience of homelessnessRe-used over 12,500 kilos of materials, saving these from being single-use or going to landfill And it’s not just exhibition stands. Stitch is working on innovative projects for clients across industries. In 2022, Wates partnered with Connection Crew following a successful installation project delivered by Stitch. This has catalysed further work to design and install welfare areas for staff, in turn helping improving their Considerate Construction score and evidencing their commitment to working with social enterprises (and hitting ESG goals at the same time.) “[They] have proven themselves to be adaptable and professional. Having identified transferrable skills, they have built welfare areas and also completed a successful pilot in modular install. Their drive, passion and capability are as fantastic as the impact they are having on the lives of homeless people.” Su Pickerill, Head of Social Value, Wates Group Services Stitch has also recently won CBRE’s Going Above and Beyond award for service delivery, recognising their work to deliver film services that hit CBRE’s needs: “Stitch have delivered a brilliant service and we're really proud to be partnering with them. Their commitments to making a positive impact through their work is inspiring, and we've loved being part of this. For these reasons and more, this is why we wanted to recognise their work as winners of our Above and Beyond award for service this year.” Gemma Lindley, Supplier Engagement Director, CBRE We’ve now worked with clients in industries including pharmaceuticals, construction, real estate and more: delivering circular-enabled production solutions that are environmentally-sound and socially powerful. What next In 2023, the ambitions of Stitch are to do even more: develop, find and use more circular-enabled materials and processes; create new pathways and opportunities for our ex-homeless crew; and support change in processes for our clients and suppliers. Every project inches Stich’s ability to innovate new, better and more ambitious methods to deliver projects that help fulfil ESG commitments. Check Stitch out here or get in touch to find out how we can work together to deliver your needs: info@stitchlive.co.uk

22 Nov

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2 min

Member updates

COP26 becomes COP27 – was there good news? (and Amplify Goods turns one).

On 31st October, 2021, COP26 launched, full of post-pandemic excitement and hope for collective action on the health of our planet. Yet, after 13 days of very little action and legal commitments by our global leaders, we knew we had to take our own action. On Friday 12th November 2021, COP26 ended and Amplify Goods was born.  With COP27 just around the corner, we’ve paused to reflect on the past year.  We’re proud that Amplify Goods has continued to challenge the status quo - growing a circular-enabled, net-positive, women led and mental health focused social enterprise that is part of the Just Transition. With political turmoil around us all, in the UK and globally, we know progress on climate goals has been modest at best.  Amplify Goods remains determined to make practical progress on the transition where so many seem frozen in the headlights. It’s been encouraging to see how many people are changing their behaviours to respond to the energy crisis and the climate emergency.  There seems to have been a shift by consumers too, with more asking big businesses to stand up and be transparent about their impact >> good and bad >> socially and environmentally. Almost every product we currently use needs redesigning for a Net Zero future, and we stay hopeful by celebrating the actions already made. So here’s to amplifying our top 5 bits of good news since COP26 ….and they are all big! BANKING -  Triodos Bank has been joined by 300 others in signing the UN Principles for Responsible Banking, a vital movement now representing nearly half of the world’s banks!  There is more to applaud: a recent commitment by  Lloyds Bank’s to shun fossil fuels and Axa’s recent commitment to invest $500m in ocean nature-based solutions aimed at improving resilience for 250m people in coastal areas around the world. ACT: Join Triodos GREENWASHING - Triumph for the Good Law Project, Friends of the Earth and ClientEarth lawyers as UK admits its net zero strategy is unlawful and has agreed to come up with another one.  Even the Harvard Business Review is warning of the negative impacts! If we’ve turned a greenwashing corner, its good news we will see less stuff like this from HSBC. ACT: Donate to Client Earth LAW - Over 200 organisations endorsed a position paper calling for inclusion of a crime of ‘ecocide’ in the revised EU Directive on protection of the environment through criminal law. Then the EU's environmental affairs (ENVI) committee voted to back the revision to include ‘ecocide’. Boom. We see the ‘Stop Ecocide’ movement as VITAL to turning a corner in the fight; if the definition is agreed, and it’s then legislated as a crime, businesses will really have to change to protect their financial existence! ACT: Join Stop Ecocide CORPORATES BUYING FROM SOCIAL ENTERPRISES - Just weeks after our launch, we found ourselves on a call with Lyreco. Within 3 months we’d met the team and within 9 months we were in their catalogue in front of 70,000 UK businesses - together, we’re working to raise the bar for sustainable buying in UK. We’ve sold millions of doses of soap already, but that’s just the beginning! Lyreco’s support programme is great for SE’s ACT: Apply to join next year’s Lyreco Supplier Support Programme, as they once again offer a helping hand to ambitious microbusinesses and social enterprises with their established supply chain and scale. Get in touch: wise.goodness@lyreco.com. ADAPTATION - As much as adaptation seems like a sad plan b, it's important too - PLAN A [change the system] + PLAN B [adapt], because the most financially vulnerable (primarily in the Global South), are at a huge risk and it’s our emissions in the Global North that have caused it. Two and a half billion people are now covered by adaptation plans with 53 (and counting) long term strategies submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. ACT: Get involved in the Climate Justice Alliance So as COP27’s final day looms on Friday 18th November 2022, we’ll turn one, but the big hope is for more people to embrace the Just Transition: So, our call to action - Global leaders: get on with it. And to our fellow Social Entrepreneurs: look after your mental health and whenever you can, make sure your peers know that we’ve got each other’s backs! Ps. Happy Birthday Amplify Goods, celebrate a bit and then crack on; the hour is now. About Amplify Goods Amplify Goods is all about redefining products that work for our collective future. Amplify Goods is a unique B2B hygiene brand balancing function, carbon, plastic and social impact. Offering liquid washes, glass dispensing systems, compostable sponges and accessories via distributors, we partner with you to rinse-return-clean-reuse bulk containers using a circular business model validated by ReLondon. Amplify Goods is a net-positive and women-owned social enterprise, investing profits in the wellbeing of Quiet Changemakers working towards a Just Transition. amplifygoods.org

07 Nov

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4 min

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