Banpu plans to encourage future leaders
Energy company Banpu – with a focus on social sustainability – is working to inspire young social entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas and join Banpu Champions for Change 7.
The plan is in collaboration with Change Fusion, a non-profit institute under the Thai Rural Reconstruction Movement Foundation and Royal Patronage.
In its seventh year, this programme aims to support entrepreneurs aged between 20-35 to use their businesses to create change in Thai society, communities and the environment, while maintaining successful and long-term operating profits. Prospective social entrepreneurs, either as an individual or a group of up to four people, can submit their applications between January 1 – February 28 2017 to win a chance to receive total initial funding from Banpu of more than Bt2 million.
Banpu believes in the business credo: an industry will be strong only when it is developed in tandem with social and environmental responsibility.
For the past six years of this programme, Banpu has helped nurture business establishment of 62 social enterprises with funding and skill support. Also, this programme has been building up a strong network of like-minded entrepreneurs, encouraging knowledge sharing, learning and business relationship among participants.
Banpu hopes to be part of the movement to sustainable growth by continuously supporting the development of social enterprises in Thailand. This aligns with Banpu’s corporate social responsibility philosophy; learning is the power of change and development, said Udomlux Olarn, head of corporate affairs, Banpu.
In 2017, Banpu Champions for Change 7 will be more intensive than ever before. Banpu has been focusing upon fostering social enterprise initiatives to make significant change for targeted social issues and beneficiaries. Throughout the programme, the social entrepreneurs will receive professional advice and attend workshops related to business, marketing, branding, funding, finance and social impact assessment with industry experts from many related fields.
The participants will also have opportunities to strengthen a network of social entrepreneurs among themselves and Banpu Champions for Change Alumni with the mutual aim to make Thailand’s social enterprises grow further.
