BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY
Business in the Community is the oldest and largest business-led membership organisation dedicated to responsible business. We champion responsible business as essential for long term economic growth and resilience.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net decrease in total funds of £985k for the year ended 30 June 2025, driven by a lack of equivalent large donations compared to the prior year and reduced membership and advisory income. Per the trustees' report, free unrestricted reserves of £253k are significantly below the policy-required minimum of £2,179k, though the charity maintains a going concern status through cost reductions and strategic partnerships.
What the accounts disclose
“£160,000 – £169,999 1”
“Currently free reserves are significantly below the level that the policy requires”
“The accounts incorporate the results of Business in the Community (BITC) and its subsidiaries (BITC Trading and Advisory Ltd and Scottish Business in the Community [dormant]).” — page 41
Corporate structure
- Registered company of the charity Companies House 01619253
- Trading subsidiary: BITC TRADING & ADVISORY LTD. Companies House 02210750
- Turnover: £471k
- Profit before tax: £405k
- Donated/gift-aided to the charity: £405k
- Other Debtors include £33,084 (2024: £55,306) due from the parent company, Business in the Community.
“The company’s results for the current year was a profit of £405,118 (2024 - £450,046) which was distributed to the charitable company Business in the Community under gift aid payment; thus reducing retained earnings to £nil (2024 - £nil).”
Company officers (Companies House)
- LEWIS, Paul Gareth on trustee list
- HARRISON, Peter on trustee list
- BAHROLOLOUMI, Zahra Shiva not on trustee list
- DAVIES, Victoria Anne on trustee list
- BHATIA, Raman on trustee list
- CHARLES-JONES, Lucinda Claire on trustee list
- ROSE, Alison, Dame on trustee list
- HUTTON, Richard John on trustee list
- WOLFENDEN, Lesley Ann
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 30/06/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (05/02/2020)
- Received assets from another charity (26/04/2017)
Trustees
- Peter Harrisonchair
- Dame Alison Rose
- Lucinda Charles-Jones
- Paul Gareth Lewis
- RICHARD HUTTON
- Raman Bhatia
- Victoria Anne Davies
- Zahra Shiva Bahrololoumi CBE
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/06/2025 | £12.9m | £13.9m |
| 30/06/2024 | £18.4m | £14.0m |
| 30/06/2023 | £14.0m | £15.8m |
| 30/06/2022 | £14.5m | £15.6m |
| 30/06/2021 | £16.9m | £14.8m |
Common questions
Is BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net decrease in total funds of £985k for the year ended 30 June 2025, driven by a lack of equivalent large donations compared to the prior year and reduced membership and advisory income. Per the trustees' report, free unrestricted reserves of £253k are significantly below the policy-required minimum of £2,179k, though the charity maintains a going concern status through cost reductions and strategic partnerships. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £160,001 - £170,000 band.
Who funds BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY?
Funders whose own accounts filings name BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY as a grant recipient include THE EARL OF NORTHAMPTON'S CHARITY, THE PWC FOUNDATION, THE T U U T CHARITABLE TRUST, COLUMBIA THREADNEEDLE FOUNDATION, EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (INTERNATIONAL) CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland | 26/07/2024 | £14k | Q3 2024 Empower Programme |
| The Mercers' Company | 01/12/2021 | £88k | Grant to Business in the Community |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 20/08/2021 | £10k | Skills Match |
| UK government | 01/04/2021 | £165k | UK Community Renewal Fund |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 17/06/2020 | £419k | National Business Response Network - Covid 19 |
| UK government | 01/04/2018 | £33k | FSF Partnership Grant - West Yorkshire (2018) |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 16/03/2015 | £148k | Housing Association Employability Social Impact Bond |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 22/06/2012 | £188k | Aiming Higher |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 08/05/2012 | £4.8m | Business Connectors |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 25/10/2011 | £7k | Energy Efficiency at Business in the Community Belfast |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 16/06/2011 | £10k | Confidently Female |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 26/01/2006 | £139k | ProHelp Programme |
| Northern Rock Foundation | 15/03/2004 | £45k | Grant awarded to Business in the Community (Cumbria) |
| UK government | — | £34k | FSF Partnership Grant - West Yorkshire (2017) |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| PERSULA FOUNDATION | 1 | £580k |
| CRIPPLEGATE FOUNDATION | 1 | £455k |
| BGF FOUNDATION | 1 | £375k |
| SANTANDER UK FOUNDATION LIMITED | 1 | £85k |
| WALCOT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | 1 | £25k |
| JOHN SWIRE 1989 CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £22k |
| PILKINGTON CHARITIES FUND | 1 | £14k |
| CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS' LIVERY CHARITY | 1 | £11k |
Charities like this
- GOOD BUSINESS FOUNDATION
- BUSINESS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (UK) LTD
- BUSINESS DISABILITY FORUM
- THE PRODUCTIVITY GROUP
- B LAB (UK)
- THE CHARTERED ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS SCHOOLS
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY | £12.9m | £160,001 - £170,000 | — | below | — | no doubt |
| GOOD BUSINESS FOUNDATION | £316k | £80,000 - £89,999 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BUSINESS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (UK) LTD | £1.9m | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| BUSINESS DISABILITY FORUM | £4.4m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| THE PRODUCTIVITY GROUP | £3.0m | — | 12 | above | — | no doubt |
| B LAB (UK) | £11.7m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |