corporate office

The Good, the Bad and the Greedy: A critical look at UK business ethics

Northumbria University, Newcastle, is hosting a public lecture in partnership with the North-East Initiative on Business Ethics (NIBE) featuring two eminent speakers with strong views on 21st Century corporate behaviour.

The lecture will be held at Northumbria’s Newcastle Business School on Monday November 22 at 13:00pm. It will showcase two recent books; The Good the Bad and the Greedy: Why We’ve Lost Faith in Capitalism by Spectator business editor Martin Vander Weyer, and From Bags To Blenders: The Journey of a Yorkshire Businessman by manufacturer and venture capitalist Gordon Black CBE. The lecture format will include a dialogue between the two authors.

Professor Robert MacIntosh, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Business and Law at Northumbria and Chair of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said: “There is a palpable appetite for business to play its part in a responsible and sustainable recovery from the pandemic but as we will hear from our high-profile speakers, ethical values are too often conspicuous by their absence. We are delighted to be hosting the lecture in partnership with NIBE which work tirelessly to promote responsible business. I look forward to welcoming staff, students and the business community to this great event.”

Caroline Theobald CBE, co-founder of NIBE and Chair of the Advisory Board at Newcastle Business School, added: “Our aspiration at NIBE is to become a focal point for good business behaviour and to see the entire North East region recognised as a great place to do trustworthy, honest and transparent business. This conversation between Martin and Gordon is a perfect opportunity to advance the cause, and to showcase highly entertaining, insightful and sometimes hard-hitting experiences from the world of business.”

In The Good the Bad and the Greedy, published by BitebackMartin Vander Weyer argues that capitalism has lost its moral compass, has lost public trust and is in urgent need of repair — but remains a great engine of progress and prosperity.

From Bags To Blenders: The Journey of a Yorkshire Businessman, published by Icon Books, recalls the author’s long experience as a manufacturing supplier to Marks & Spencer and draws lessons on how all companies should care for staff, suppliers and customers as well as shareholders.

For more information on the lecture and to register a place please visit our events page.