The Prince's Mayday Network

The History of the Prince's Mayday Network

 "Climate change is the greatest challenge facing mankind today and we only have a very small window of opportunity to act" 

HRH The Prince of Wales

The Prince’s Mayday Network is convened by Business in the Community and was named after the international ‘Mayday Mayday’ distress signal and was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2007. It began as a one day event, a call to action to business to pledge their commitments to tackling climate change.

Historically summits have been held on 1st May and The Prince’s Mayday Summit in 2009 was the UK's largest gathering of businesses committed to taking action on climate change.  Events were held across the UK, and you can watch the highlights of the London 'hub' event here.

We have now evolved from a one day event to a year round movement. Together, The Network is tackling climate change and resource depletion by sharing ideas, information and inspiration and in doing so creating a pathway to better ways of working and ultimately a sustainable future. With more than 3,000 businesses now part of the Mayday Network, it's clear that a shift is happening. If business is to lead the way and show how exciting a different way of living and working can be; we will all need to continue our collaborative response to the Mayday call. All businesses are invited to join us as we begin to shape the destination and route map for a truly sustainable future. Please stay with us on the journey, and invite every business you meet to join us too.

A Message From Our Patron

When I issued the Mayday distress signal to UK businesses in 2007, it was as a call to action on climate change. I had no idea then that the tremendous response to that signal would grow to become such a powerful and collaborative movement of companies from all sectors and of all sizes, all aligned in their desire to travel together towards a better, sustainable future – one where businesses will continue to thrive and prosper.

In the past year my Mayday Network has really taken shape, with an 82% growth in member numbers since May 2009.  The new Mayday website and increased use of social media, the addition of webinars to the free support programme and partnerships with relevant organizations including the Federation for Small Businesses have helped us to inspire and support new and wider audiences. Mayday members tell us that the appeal of the programme lies in the structured, accessible framework of the Mayday Journey, and I am delighted that more businesses than ever took part in the 2009/10 report back, updating us not only on their emissions data but also the stories behind the positive changes they are making. You will find throughout this report inspiring examples that can motivate you to take action. I am most delighted that many of the Mayday businesses measuring and reporting their emissions this year were doing so for the first time.  This housekeeping is vital to understanding a business’s impact and exactly where it can quickly cut emissions and costs.

Cuts and ‘stopping’ can however only take any business or individual so far on this journey. The most exciting stage begins when we think not only how we can reduce the impact of our existing operations, but how we as leaders can redevelop in their place the fully sustainable businesses of the future. That is why we have added the ‘transform’ step to the Mayday Journey this year, to find and showcase some of the most inspiring examples of low carbon, sustainable business models. 

 I am personally also excited by the  innovative Mayday projects which promise to show what a positive, sustainable future will look like and what the role of business will be in achieving that future, including the Leadership Skills Inquiry that Vincent De Rivaz of EDF Energy led this year to begin to investigate the ways in which businesses can fully embed sustainability across all levels and functions; the sustainable marketing work that BITC is leading with the Marketing Society and  the 'Sustainable Future Vision' project being driven by members of the Mayday Leadership Team. The belief that we need to focus on a positive destination we will want to run towards rather than the doomsday scenarios that we are currently running away from is also at the heart of my ‘Start’ initiative. Aimed at helping individuals to begin to buy into a better, sustainable way of living, Start builds upon the solid platform of Mayday, with the understanding that innovation and relevant communication and education from the wider business community to its customers will be central to the transformational change that must occur throughout society if we are to safeguard both people and planet. The transfer of this learning to other parts of the world through Business in the Community’s International team and Global Partner Network is an exciting next step on our own journey, and we look forward to building on the foundations of the successful Mayday Network that already exists in Chile in the year ahead.

So, while the Mayday distress signal is still entirely relevant and the issue of climate change even more pressing than it was in 2007, this year has seen a heartening change of direction for the rescue mission of Mayday businesses towards the shores of a bright and innovative future.  Please continue to work together on this vital and exciting journey and encourage every business you meet along the way to join us.