Meaningful Business Network

Are you looking for ways to make your business more impactful while driving sustainable growth and creating real value for your employees, customers, and community?

Our Meaningful Business Network invites you to be part of a transformative movement in York and North Yorkshire that prioritises purpose-driven business practices to deliver social, environmental, and economic benefits.

What does meaningful business actually entail? For most, it probably means doing more of what you’re already doing well, but taking active steps beyond this to recognise the value of working more collaboratively towards a fair and inclusive economy, as well as realising the potential impact that this can have. Meaningful business therefore goes beyond purpose and profit, to create value for all stakeholders —employees, customers, communities, and the environment—while making a positive and significant social impact.

Join the network

Contact us

We’d be delighted to hear from you.

Join the Network

As a business leader, you know that success today is about more than profit—it's about making a positive impact. Research shows that employees value meaningful work over pay and promotions, customers prefer to support ethical businesses, and communities thrive when companies actively engage in solving local and global challenges.

By joining this network, you’ll:

Connect with like-minded businesses and leaders: Build relationships with SMEs, large corporations, social enterprises, and policymakers.
Share and gain insights: Learn innovative practices and strategies to enhance your business's impact while strengthening your bottom line.
Shape the future of business: Participate in thought-provoking events and initiatives that explore new ways to address sustainability, social impact, and fair economic practices.

Join the network

Upcoming Meaningful Business Event: Think Global, Act Local, Be Meaningful

Join the Meaningful Business Network and SME Renkei Project Team for an interactive event on Tuesday 8th December in York. We will be exploring what UK and Japanese SMEs can learn from each other by sharing practical approaches, real-world experiences and fresh perspectives on building more sustainable and resilient businesses.

We'll also be joined by Reusefully, who are the team behind ReYorkshire, bringing the conversation firmly back to York and North Yorkshire. We will be exploring how circular economy principles, reuse and materials sharing can help businesses reduce waste, make better use of resources and identify new opportunities.

Find out more and book your place

Case Studies

Local businesses have shared their raw, honest, and inspiring stories about being more ‘meaningful’. These aren’t corporate soundbites or polished press releases. They’re real accounts of real people making tough decisions, navigating challenges, and learning what it truly means to do business with purpose.

We hope that these case studies spark ideas, provoke thought, and encourage more entrepreneurs and enterprises to step into a more meaningful way of working.

Blog post

Principles for Purposeful Business

Video

Elspeth Gilfillan, Director of Fillanthropic Consulting Ltd

Video

Leanne Shaw and Holly Hennell, York Cares

The Thinking Behind The Thinking!

The Meaningful Business Network is a hub for sharing ideas, research, and experiences that shape the evolving concept of ‘meaningful business’. Drawing from fields like purposeful work, social value, entrepreneurship, and organisational change, this is a space for exploration rather than fixed definitions.

We've gathered a range of resources, some foundational, some provocative, to support reflection and practice. Whether you're a business leader, policymaker, academic, or changemaker, we invite you to contribute ideas, suggest materials, or share how these insights inform your work.

This is a living collection, growing with your input and engagement.

Contact us

We’d be delighted to hear from you.