Inspiring Generations strategy from ECB, Hoar Cross Hall named Best Spa and Best Spa for Sustainability and Mercedes-Benz's EV Battery recycling plant
FuturePlus
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Inspiring Generations strategy from ECB
This week, FuturePlus member, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) , announced an updated Inspiring Generations strategy for the next four years.
The strategy details cricket’s vision to become the most inclusive team sport in England and Wales while growing and uniting the game and leading it through global transformation.
“This strategy is formed from extensive engagement with the cricket network. To now achieve our aspirations will require all of our brilliant Counties to drive the game forward in their local areas. It requires the game’s outstanding charities – the ACE Programme, Chance to Shine, the MCC Foundation, the Lord’s Taverners and SACA – to continue to reach communities that cricket has traditionally failed.
“And it needs the power of individuals – volunteers, coaches, fans and players – to continue to pour their hearts into the game we love. Cricket is a unique game that can reach communities no other sports can. It can inspire the nation and bring people together from all walks of life.” - Richard Thompson , ECB Chair?
The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket recommended that several of these action plans be published. They set out in more detail how we will address issues identified by the ICEC Report.
Key actions include:
You can read the full strategy here.
To learn more about the ECB’s inclusion strategies, listen to the Business of Sustainability episode, where Alexandra Smith , Co-Founder of FuturePlus and Polly Milne , Project Director at FuturePlus, were joined by Tessa Whieldon , Head of Female Participation and Growth at the England and Wales Cricket Board.
?? Listen here.
Two Magnolias named Impact VC Investor of the Year: Social Impact
Congratulations to Two Magnolias Venture Capital on winning Impact VC Investor of the Year: Social Impact at the Real Deals ESG Awards!
"We couldn’t be prouder of our investor partners at Two Magnolias Venture Capital for being named Impact VC Investor of the Year: Social Impact at the Real Deals ESG Awards.?This award acknowledges their vision and dedication over the past three years. It’s been an honour to support Two Magnolias on this journey through the FuturePlus platform and to witness firsthand the meaningful social impact they and their portfolio companies are creating for a better future. Congratulations to the entire team at Two Magnolias. This is a well-deserved recognition of the change you're leading!" - Mike Penrose
The Real Deals ESG Awards, judged by an independent panel of ESG experts, celebrate private equity firms and their advisers who are committed to sustainable practices, robust ESG data collection, and creating meaningful impact in their portfolio companies.
A huge congratulations to Founders Jessica Sue Rasmussen DipWSET and Marie Korde , and the whole Two Magnolias team.
Hoar Cross Hall named Best Spa and Best Spa for Sustainability
Huge congratulations to the incredible team at Hoar Cross Hall Conferences & Events for being recognised as one of The Best Spas in the UK at the prestigious Good Spa Guide? Awards.
Hoar Cross Hall is a property of FuturePlus member, Barons Eden - Hotel and Spa Collection .
A special thank you to the 259,479 spa enthusiasts who voted this year, supporting their favourite wellness destinations across the UK.
The Hoar Cross Hall team didn’t just win a spot among the UK’s best spas—they also achieved honours in:
Congratulations again to everyone at Hoar Cross Hall! Here’s to many more awards!
The Sustainable Investment Report
FuturePlus has been featured in IFA Magazine 's The Sustainable Investment Report 2024.
This comprehensive report, which was researched and written by renowned compliance consultant Tony Catt , offers a deep dive into the evolving landscape of sustainability in investment.
It provides a valuable snapshot of the industry's current thinking and practices in this area, addressing the pressing need for sustainable investment solutions in today's world.
In this insightful feature, he dives into how the FuturePlus platform is helping businesses build trust, efficiency, and resilience through continuous ESG measurement.
As the importance of sustainability grows, our platform provides the tools needed to stay ahead, ensuring that ESG goals are set, monitored, and achieved.
?? Explore the full report and learn how FuturePlus is contributing to the transformation of sustainable investment practices, here.
Business of Sustainability: Grind
To launch the new Sustainable Futures Live event series, our co-founders and the co-hosts of the Business of Sustainability podcast, Alexandra Smith and Mike Penrose , were joined by Grind | Certified B Corp 's Founder and CEO, David Abrahamovitch , for a very special podcast recorded live at Sustainable Ventures .
Together, they explore David's journey from opening the iconic Shoreditch café in 2011 to building Grind into a brand synonymous with sustainability. This podcast was recorded as part of the launch of Sustainable Futures Live, a new event series in partnership with FuturePlus and Sustainable Ventures.
?? Listen here.
83% of CSOs see C-Suite collaboration as key to achieving sustainability goals
A recent report, The CSO at a Crossroads, explores the evolving role of Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) and the increasing importance of collaboration within corporate leadership to achieve sustainability targets.
As sustainability becomes a central focus in corporate governance, CSOs are now moving beyond their roles as innovators and becoming integral to compliance and strategy.
The report highlights that 83% of CSOs believe working closely with other C-Suite executives is critical to driving ambitious sustainability initiatives. This collaboration allows for sustainability goals to be embedded into core business strategies, creating a unified approach across departments.
Another key finding is that 64% of CSOs feel that regulation helps create meaningful strategic impact, giving them a framework to influence business operations more effectively. However, the growing responsibilities of CSOs mean that 50% spend most of their time on “high-impact” work, often focused on compliance and reporting, which can limit their capacity for innovation.
View the full report here.
The Business Loop: Future-Proofing your Business in a changing environment
We're collaborating with Jaguar Land Rover Reading and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) for an evening with Reading-based business leaders to explore new ways to save money, to grow business responsibly, and to cut through in changing times.
Event Speakers:
Mike Penrose , Co-Founder, Future-Plus
Ben Morgan , Founder, Circular Accounts Ltd
Doug Johnson , Director and Founder, Mesh Energy Ltd
Clare Sharp , Project Manager, Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Event Highlights:
What to Expect:
Key Topics:
?? When: 14th November
?? Where: Reading Jaguar Land Rover, RG2 0QX
??? Free & open to members and non-members of Federation of Small Businesses
?? Prizes: Win a day ticket to Burghley Horse Show or a 24-hour demo in a PHEV or full electric Jaguar Land Rover vehicle Reserve your spot today and join us for an evening dedicated to driving responsible business growth.
Mercedes-Benz opens EV Battery recycling plant
Mercedes-Benz AG has partnered with Primobius to launch Europe’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling plant, aiming to recover over 96% of materials from used batteries.
Located in southern Germany, the facility uses a cutting-edge mechanical-hydrometallurgical process to recycle battery materials, including the valuable metals found in the "black mass" within battery anodes and cathodes.
“Together with our partners from industry and science, we are sending a strong signal of innovative strength for sustainable electric mobility and value creation in Germany and Europe.” - Ola K?llenius , Mercedes-Benz Group’s chairman
The plant is designed to be more sustainable and energy-efficient than traditional methods. By operating at low temperatures of up to 176°F and using renewable energy, including solar-powered roofs with a peak output of 350 kilowatts, Mercedes-Benz significantly reduces the environmental impact of battery recycling.
This process is not only less wasteful but also ensures carbon-neutral operations. With an annual capacity of 2,500 tonnes, the plant will produce over 50,000 new EV battery modules, marking a major step towards closing the battery recycling loop. Mercedes-Benz is the first automaker to achieve this fully in-house, and it plans to expand the facility’s capacity in the future.