A sold out ‘Charity and Business: Speed Connect’ event, hosted by Bute Energy, will bring together 30 charities and some of Wales’ most recognisable businesses for a morning of high impact networking and purpose-led collaboration on 18 June.
A valuable step for charities and business
Charities and businesses both want to do more, but often struggle to find the right way to connect. Smaller charities in particular can find it difficult to access business networks and showcase the crucial work they do, while businesses looking to make a difference may be unsure where their support will have the greatest impact. The Speed Connect event aims to bridge that gap.
Spearheaded by Chamber member Bute Energy, the event will bring together 30 charities and businesses including Admiral, Principality Building Society, Thomas Carroll, Howden, McArthurGlen, Quantum Advisory, Acuity Law and Browne Jacobson. Through a fast-paced format of ten minute introductory conversations, the event offers charities the chance to share their missions, while giving businesses direct insight into causes that align with their values and corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals.
The brainchild of a Chamber member
This innovative event is the vision of Michelle Byrne, Charity Lead at Bute Energy, a Welsh renewable energy developer committed to powering a net zero future.
As a company focused on sustainability and long-term impact, Bute Energy has embedded social value into its approach, recognising that supporting communities is just as important as protecting the environment. Through multi-year partnerships with selected charities, chosen with input from employees, Bute Energy is helping to create stronger, more resilient connections between business and the third sector.
Michelle’s own passion for charitable work is deeply personal. Having raised nearly £20,000 for Cancer Research Wales through endurance challenges in Iceland and China, motivated by family illness and her own melanoma diagnosis, she now channels that same commitment into building impactful partnerships through her role at Bute Energy. The Speed Connect event grew from that passion: a desire to create something practical, accessible and meaningful for both sides of the conversation.
Michelle Byrne, Charity Lead at Bute Energy, said:
“I feel it’s everyone’s responsibility to support charities and ensure they can continue providing their vital services. I feel very lucky to work for a company who shares the same thoughts and values as myself and have allowed me to follow and grow in an area that I’m passionate about.
“Bute Energy allowed staff to be involved in the selection process of their charity partners and signed an agreement for a three year period. This allows us to really make a difference and get to know each other. It isn’t just a tick box or something we feel we have to do; we want to support. I wish we lived in a world where charities didn’t have to exist but we do and we need to ensure charities can continue. You never know when or if you will need to call upon them.”
With the inaugural Speed Connect event already at full capacity and with strong interest from across the network, there are clear plans to repeat it in the future, reflecting the growing appetite for meaningful collaboration between businesses and the charity sector.
