LIVERPOOL firms will next week be encouraged to think about giving more of their time and resources to help others less fortunate.
National Pro-Bono week runs from November 10-14 and there will be workshops and advice surgeries held in 13 towns and cities, including Liverpool.
The week is being organised by Business in the Community (BITC), which has 624 members working with community groups across the country.
BITC in Liverpool will be giving particular focus to its work through the Step Clever programme, which enables people across north Liverpool and south Sefton to set up their own business or help to grow an existing one.
The project aims to create 500 new businesses and 1,500 new jobs in the targeted areas.
On Tuesday, November 11, BITC will hold a reception to let businesses know how they can drive and support regeneration in the most deprived areas of Merseyside through skill exchange with aspiring entrepreneurs.
The event takes place at the Liverpool Daily Post & Echo atrium in Old Hall Street between 6-7.30pm. Rachel Komrskova, regional manager for BITC in Liverpool, told LDP Business: “The event aims to highlight the great need for skill exchange to benefit the growth of enterprise in Merseyside and therefore help drive regeneration.
“We are also keen to raise awareness among businesses about how they can use the skill exchange to upskill their own employees.”
Liverpool law firm Weightmans, a member of BITC, encourages all of its 800 employees to take part in pro-bono activities.
Partner Peter Foreshaw said: “Pro-bono in its widest form covers the use of skills to assist those who don’t have them and cannot afford them so our pro bono policy also includes Business Action on Homelessness and work placements for the unemployed.
“All our employees are given two extra paid leave days a year to participate in corporate social responsibility projects and our managing partner David Lewis has agreed to offer mentoring to a social enterprise.”
To secure a place on the BITC reception, email rachel. komrskova@bitc.org.uk
tonymcdonough
