70. The Company of Entrepreneurs Raleigh Lecture Drapers’ Hall, 22 May 2023

 

Along with the Masters of many City Livery Companies, the Thames Warden, Martin Bigg, represented the Company of Water Conservators at the fourth Raleigh lecture in the impressive surroundings of the Drapers’ Livery Hall.  (The first Hall was bought from Henry VIII by Thomas Cromwell who subsequently forfeited it to the King.)

We were joined by Year 12 students from a wide range of state and private schools in and around London, many of which are supported by Livery Companies.

Before the lecture there was a workshop on the theme “Is Enterprise Sustainable? Impacts and Externalities in Business Today”.  Participants discussed sustainable cities, social enterprises, nature-related financial disclosures, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta, which generated a wide range of views.

The lecture was given by Timothy Bovy, an ESG Consultant who talked about balancing economic growth, environmental care, and social well-being, awareness of scarcity of resources, and whether ethical, sustainable business is truly possible.  The discussions afterwards between students, staff, and Livery were very energised and enlightening.  Answers were not easy to come but there was a better understanding of each others’ perspectives.

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