About Entrepreneurs with Conscience

Why do we do it?

As a group we share the following set of beliefs:

Climate change is the biggest threat mankind has ever faced, time is running out for us all and those most able to contribute to the fight, should contribute the most.

Climate change is a manifestation of mankind’s distorted/dysfunctional relationship with our planet and its resources that has a disproportionately damaging effect on the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world.

“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” and“Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.”
John F Kennedy

History offers abundant examples of the power of the individual to bring about major social change (such as is needed to face the imminent threat of climate change). This is not to negate the role of politicians but to put them in their appropriate place as implementers of change rather than agents of change.

Entrepreneurs with conscience (defined in their widest sense by Bill Shore in his book, Light of Conscience) have a particular set of characteristics that make them much more likely to take on the challenge of showing leadership in tackling climate change.

Who are we?

The idea for the Bath event came out of a conversation between Michael Edge and Andrew Mercer, co-founders of clean energy company, 2OC.   When Michael and Andrew asked Midge Ure, co-founder of Band Aid and Live Aid, to join the project, Midge quickly agreed.

"The best I can do is make people feel embarrassed that they have not done what a bunch of popstars did 25 years ago."
Midge Ure

Michael Edge, the founder and chairman of Bath based mortgage advice company, London & Country, has been a major driver behind a number of projects to tackle climate change.

Andrew Mercer, as well as being CEO of 2OC and of the recently created joint venture with National Grid, Blue NG, is the founder and chairman of Footdown, the Bath based leadership mentoring company. Andrew has seen his concern over climate change grow as a result of his partnership with Michael and the launch of 2OC. In addition, after a campaign lasting almost five years, he recently persuaded his local planning authority, Bath and North East Somerset, to give him permission to build a carbon neutral home, designed by Bill Dunster on the edge of Bath.

Karl Watkin, founder of D1 Oils a biofuels business and one of the low carbon entrepreneurs interviewed for the film, was at the Bath event and urged Michael and Andrew to repeat the evening at cities throughout the UK. Karl brings a wealth of experience, expertise and contacts to the challenge of getting people to act.