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B Corp Fest 2025

Founder, Community Clothing | Sustainability Pioneer | Author of “LESS”

Patrick Grant has a lot to say about clothes; how many we buy, how we value them, what they’re made from, and importantly who made them and where. His campaigning clothes brand Community Clothing supports local clothing and textile manufacturers across the UK and Patrick is an outspoken advocate for radical change in the fashion industry. He is a regular on TV and Radio being best known for his role on the hit BBC series The Great British Sewing Bee. His new book LESS was published by Harper Collins in May 2024 and was an instant Sunday Times bestseller!

Patrick Grant has a lot to say about clothes; how many we buy, how we value them, what they’re made from, and importantly who made them and where. His campaigning clothes brand Community Clothing supports local clothing and textile manufacturers across the UK and Patrick is an outspoken advocate for radical change in the fashion and clothing industry, for moving beyond sustainable to circular and regenerative.

Patrick’s career in fashion has spanned almost two decades. In that time he has rebuilt the Savile Row tailor Norton & Sons, relaunched E. Tautz, for which he won Menswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards, and built the most successful designer collaboration in Debenham’s history with Hammond & Co. He has worked with some of the world’s best known brands including Cartier, Rolls Royce, Lotus, BMW, Mercedes, The Macallan, Chivas Regal, Barbour, Christian Louboutin, and Alexander McQueen.

Then in 2015 Patrick bought the ailing Blackburn clothing manufacturer Cookson & Clegg, saving the factory from closure. This got him thinking about the fate of the many other great UK textile and garment makers, many of which he knew well, and how to secure their future and the future prosperity of the communities that those businesses support. The result of this thinking was Community Clothing which was launched in 2016 and has since earned him widespread praise.

Patrick is a regular on TV and Radio, as a commentator and a documentary maker, but he is best known for his role on the hit BBC series The Great British Sewing Bee, which was nominated for a BAFTA in 2022. Patrick won Celebrity Mastermind and The Weakest Link, but didn’t do as well in Masterchef. He has written on diverse subjects for many titles including The Financial Times, The Times and GQ. He has written three books, Original Man, published in 2014, and released LESS (a Sunday Times bestseller) and The Savile Row Suit in May 2024 . Patrick has a degree in Materials Science from Leeds and an MBA from Oxford, an honorary Doctorate from Heriot Watt, an honorary Fellowship from UCLan, is an honorary Professor at Glasgow Caledonian, and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In 2018 he gave a Ted Talk about the thinking behind Community Clothing. And he is an ambassador for The King’s Foundation, a charity which supports education activities for people of all ages across the UK.

Isabel McLennan is an Engagement Manager at B Lab UK, working to enhance the community experience for UK B Corps. She previously worked in the recertification and impact teams at B Lab UK, supporting companies through recertification and developing in-depth knowledge of what it means to be a B Corp.

Programme Manager, Boost Business Lancashire

Andrew returns as event facilitator, representing Boost’s support for sustainable business growth and B Corp certification across Lancashire.

ESG Director, Silentnight Group

An accidental bed-ologist with a passion for sleep and sustainability. Angela has enjoyed a long career at Silentnight, (the UK’s most trusted sleep brand), and fortunate to have enjoyed many apprenticeships within one company.  Angela’s most recent focus has been evolving ESG within the business to an industry leading position, not only to meet regulatory compliance and deliver resource efficiency, but also as a powerful tool for driving innovation and growth. By integrating longer term thinking into strategic planning, we’ve established a clear sense of purpose across the wider business and learnt to embrace that discomfort is necessary for growth. Also, and most importantly, that a truly sustainable business is one which recognises the importance of people and planet alongside profit. Always inspired by Lawton’s principle of ‘More, Bigger, Better Managed and Joined Up,’ so currently very excited to be part of the Silentnight team aiming for B Corp certification.

Keeper of the Flame, Atkinsons Coffee

Atkinsons Coffee Roasters, established in 1837 in Lancaster, UK, has a rich heritage of delivering exceptional coffee and tea. In 2005, the Steel family revitalised the company, blending tradition with innovation to enhance traceability and transparency, fostering trust among their clientele.

Ian is the driving force behind Atkinsons, having transitioned from a successful career in television production to pursue his passion for coffee. Under his leadership, Atkinsons has not only preserved its rich legacy but also embraced modern practices that prioritise social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Achieving B Corp status is a milestone that underscores Atkinsons Coffee Roasters’ unwavering commitment to using business as a force for good.

For a deeper insight into Ian Steel’s philosophy and Atkinsons’ mission, you might find his TEDx talk, “How Coffee Can Save the World,” particularly enlightening.

https://youtu.be/7Q0Flg_iiqE?si=jsEo-kJSJraQeLlc

From Purpose to Proof: Turning B Corp Impact into Social Value Wins

Leigh responsible for embedding social value within Lancashire Skills Hub, Lancashire County Council, and wider authorities, employers, providers and partners.

Leigh has worked in a range of sectors focussing on roles that have supported the socio-economic development of people, places and communities. Leigh has experience in local government, transport, further education and most recently worked in Social Housing.

Dr. Zoe Detko is an emissions reduction expert and founder of Ardea Eco-innovation, a consultancy helping businesses cut carbon, achieve compliance, and make real progress toward Net Zero. She loves tackling Scope 3 challenges and working with supply chains to create meaningful impact, embedding a culture of sustainability at every stage.

In The Ripple Effect, Zoe talks about how the choices businesses make can have a bigger impact than they might think. Through case studies, she shows how small actions in your business can lead to big changes, proving that even small businesses can make a real difference in tackling climate change.

Zoe will be talking about the different paths to Net Zero, and explaining why the first step is often the hardest. She will show you how to embed your Net Zero journey into every decision point in your business and explain how this can help you reduce emissions as your business grows.

Molly Gould is the founder of Effable; a portal for brands to find their voice and vibration in this world. A certified B Corp telling stories through Brand Knowing, impact reporting, and brand voice work. She is also a yoga and meditation teacher, avid reader, and has recently signed up for her first half marathon, which she will absolutely tell you about.

Molly will be running a People Versus Planet climate card game to get you uncomfortable.  Leave your ego at the door and come play with the polarity and edges of what it means to work in these realms.