Responsible Travel's Justin Francis - Inspiring Entrepreneur

Taken from 'Ethical Entrepreneurs: The rise and rise of good business'

An 'Inspiring Entrepreneurs' event hosted by the British Library's Business & IP Centre.

http://www.bl.uk/bipc

Business is getting ethical. It is estimated that social enterprises comprise five percent of the whole UK economy, with a combined turnover of £27bn and businesses with an ethical or green dimension are becoming increasingly powerful and valued by customers. In 2006 the Organic food market was worth £1.6bn, double the amount in 2000 and sales are forecast to hit £2.7bn by 2010.

So how do you start a social enterprise and where are the future opportunities? We hear from four of Britain 's most successful social and ethical entrepreneurs on their experiences.

Justin Francis is MD of ethical travel firm Responsible Travel

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• British
• Library
• Inspiring
• Entrepreneurs
• Ethical
• Business
• Justin
• Francis
• Responsibletravel.com
• responsible
• travel

[pierre23ca]

This amuses. Important points are overlooked. I am a Venture Catalyst at Pier 23 in California. It is more profitable for me to treat my customers poorly, and to overcharge and even cheat them if I can get away with it than it is to kowtow to them. California is populous hence always more customers right around the corner. Therefore ethical business is not always relevant to maximizing profit in populous areas. And I would rather be well paid than fair and I would expect the same from others.