Arts & Business in merger talks

Arts & Business (A&B) is immersed in merger talks with Business in the Community (BITC), a business-led charity that describes itself as a “powerful international business network”. BITC has a membership of 850 companies and claims to work with a further 10,000 through its campaigns, ranging from large multinationals to small local businesses and public sector organisations. Its core role is giving advice and support to its members in challenging them “to create a sustainable future for people and the planet and to improve business performance.” Like A&B, it is one of The Prince’s Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which the Prince of Wales is President. Merger negotiations began in July 2011, and any announcements on the outcome of the talk will be made later this year, when it is also anticipated that A&B will be devolving its activities in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland to three independent national organisations, and Arts & Business Scotland, Arts & Business Northern Ireland and Arts & Business Cymru will become independent charities.