Commissioner asks Pembrokeshire and Welsh Businesses for help with Future Generations Report
Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, has this morning held a workshop at Bluestone National Park Resort to share best practices and ideas to help shape the Future Generations Report for 2020.
The event, organised by the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and Marten Lewis, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Bluestone – and facilitated by BITC Cymru – brought together a number of Bluestone’s community and supply partners to discuss some of the key issues and potential opportunities in Pembrokeshire and Wales.
The workshop also considered how the private sector can help the third sector, with a presentation from Barry John MBE from Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock’s VC Gallery.
The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales role – the first of its kind anywhere in the world – is to be the guardian of future generations. This means helping public bodies and those who make policy in Wales to think about the long-term impact their decisions have. The workshop focussed on how decisions are going to impact in the long-term, and how businesses can work together to prevent problems from occurring, recognising that no single individual, charity, or company can respond to some of the big challenges that need to be addressed.
Bluestone last year launched its own Free Range Future movement, highlighting the Resort’s deep commitment to working in a responsible manner while sharing and learning from others.
Producing a Future Generations Report is one of the Commissioner’s duties as set out in the Well-being of Future Generations Act. The report will advise on improvements public bodies should make in order to set and meet well-being objectives, to improve the economy, society, environment, and culture of their area. The report, which will be published in May 2020, will also include information on the progress to date and recommendations on what should happen in the future.
Representatives at the event included Sophie Howe (Future Generations Commissioner for Wales), Marten Lewis (Head of Corporate Responsibility at Bluestone), Debbie Rainbow (Bluestone Organisation Development Director), Rebecca Rigby (Bluestone Director of Operations), Bonnie Hall (Programme Manager, BITC Cymru) Emily Nixon, (PwC), Paul Ratcliffe (PBSECO Biomass), Steve Keating (Sustainability Lead at Pembrokeshire County Council), Cllr Josh Beynon (Pembrokeshire County Councillor & Future Gen Leadership Academy member), Barry John MBE (VC Gallery), Rob Poyer (Natural UK), Claire Howlett and Ceri Wilmott (Bidfood) and Dr Gaynor Lloyd-Davies and Helen Nelson (Office of the Future Generations Commissioner).
Speaking after the event, Sophie Howe said: “I am delighted to be at Bluestone National Park Resort to meet with individuals, charities, and businesses from Pembrokeshire and across Wales to discuss the importance of the Future Generations Act and hold a workshop which will feed into my report. It is evident that great work is already being done and we have been able to discuss and share some great ideas on best practices. We’ve all got a part to play in constructing Wales that we want to see in the future – I am delighted to have businesses like Bluestone fully supporting our work”
Marten Lewis, Head of Corporate Responsibly, added: “We have been delighted to host the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales as well as our community and supply chain partners this morning. Sustainability and protecting the environment is something that is incredibly important to everyone across the Bluestone Family. Today was a fantastic opportunity and we are so pleased to be feeding into the Future Generations Report.”
Rebecca Falvey, Head of Programmes, BITC Cymru also added: “BITC Cymru are delighted to have formed a strategic partnership with the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and proud to have the wellbeing goals so well aligned with our aims and vision for Wales as a Responsible Business nation. We are pleased to be working with BITC Cymru Members Bluestone on this exciting event, highlighting their good work in creating strong communities and a healthy environment - in which we can all thrive.”
If you would like to learn more, and to feed-in to the Future Generations Commissioner’s Report, please visit https://futuregenerations.wales/