The Fourth Bottom Line: Flourishing in the era of compassionate leadership

About Paul Hargreaves

How can businesses make a really positive difference in the world and help reverse the injustice that seems to be increasing year by year? I started my business 20 years ago with the aim of changing the world for better and ambitiously took on three addicts within my first five employees. I realised fairly soon that perhaps it may be better to establish a sustainable business first before taking on the world. And that is exactly what we have started to do. I am CEO of fine food wholesaler Cotswold Fayre supplying many retail outlets with artisan food and drink throughout the UK & Ireland. I have always believed that successful businesses value their own people and those within our supply chain and are passionate custodians of our planet. I have also for many years invested my time and company resources into an orphanage and schools in one of the poorest parts of the world Western Kenya. To my delight I discovered there were many other companies who believed the same as us and Cotswold Fayre became one of the founding UK B Corporations. B Corps are companies that meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance and are the voice of business for the future as businesses realise more that their purpose is to be a force for good. My first book Forces for Good was Management Today's second top Business Book to Read in 2019 and gives examples of the changes that we and many other businesses in the UK have made in order to create a better world. There are loads of practical examples of how you can do your part whether you are a business owner start-up manager or influencer within your business to improve your triple bottom line (people planet profit). I am very aware personally that attempting to change the world involves personal change too and this is the subject of my second book The Fourth Bottom Line due for publication in May 2021. As a B Corp ambassador I am available to speak at conferences and events for other businesses inspiring and equipping companies and organisations of all sizes in the UK and beyond to find their purpose and do their part in creating a better world.