How we work with businesses

Through our flagship campaign The Big Lunch and wider community empowerment work, we encourage people and organisations to make positive change happen – both for their community and for the planet.

We partner with organisations in a variety of ways, from bringing The Big Lunch to people across the country to finding solutions for the climate crisis. We can offer your organisation the tools and opportunity to support and find support from your local community, as well as being part of a global movement to urgently work together to protect, repair and respect the natural world.

If your business is looking to find a partnership which supports your local community and has sustainability at its heart, we may be the perfect fit.

How to work with us Why work with us?

People sat around tables in the Mediterranean Biome. The photo is taken from a height, with the panels of the biome visible in the background.

Part of the Eden Project family

The Eden Project is growing a global movement working with nature to respond to the planetary emergency. We cannot do it alone – we need people across the UK (and the world) to come together, but communities are more fragmented and disconnected than ever. To grow this global movement, we need connected, stronger communities – and that’s where Eden Project Communities comes in.

We’re taking this mission out across the UK, providing opportunities for people to come together. That connection often leads to more great things happening, from which other community ideas and projects start to grow. One step at a time, we can make change happen.

Find out more

Did you know we’re a charity?

We rely on funding to keep our annual programme of courses, events, and The Big Lunch free and accessible to all.

A gift from you, no matter how small, helps us support the amazing people transforming their communities.

Donate today

How to work with us

Hold a Big Lunch in your organisation

Big Lunches can take all shapes and sizes. Depending on your business, it might be as simple as a tea and cake break for your colleagues, or it might look like a series of public-facing events across multiple locations. Whatever works best for your organisation, you’ll see the benefits of bringing people together and building stronger relationships.

We can work with you to provide any resources you may need to organise and promote a Big Lunch.

Email lenglish@edenproject.com to find out more about holding a Big Lunch.

Find Big Lunch resources How to hold a Big Lunch at work

Become a corporate member

Eden Project is collaborating with leaders, mobilising communities, working with scientists, and using the power of arts and culture to provoke and inspire change.

By joining our Corporate Membership programme, your organisation could be part of a dynamic group finding real solutions to the climate crisis. There is a myriad of benefits, from free access to the Eden Project (including event spaces and Eden Sessions concerts) to leadership development and networking.

Find out more about corporate membership

Partnerships in-kind

Work with us as part of a partnership in-kind and promote mutually beneficial areas of work. We can get your brand out to communities on the ground and provide resources you need to help engage your communities. In return, we’d love for you to promote The Big Lunch and other community opportunities with your client and customer bases.

Talk to us about partnerships in-kind

Powerfully local fundraising

Since 2015, over £87 million has been raised for good causes through Big Lunches – and over 3/4 of this goes to local charities or causes.

We think that’s something incredible to celebrate! With your help, we can make every penny go even further.

Fundraising for The Big Lunch

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of consumers are more likely to support a brand with purpose*

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billion – the cost of loneliness to business each year

0 %

of Gen Z believe companies must act to help social and environmental issues*

*The Ultimate List of Workplace Giving and Volunteering Statistics – Bright Funds

*Business Case for CSR in the UK (yourcause.com)

Collectively coming together in-office provides additional engagement opportunity for us to highlight the importance of sustainability and reducing our organisation’s carbon emissions.
Marketing Manager, Apex Lifts

Why work with us?

1) Become part of a national movement

The Big Lunch has been running since 2009 and has grown into a national movement with impressive participation numbers – a massive 1 in 5 people in the UK took part in 2023. We were the official ‘street party’ for major Royal events including the Platinum Jubilee and the Coronation and have partnered in the past with big household names such as PG Tips and Iceland.

Partnering with us could allow you to share your business via our channels to a huge audience of organisers and participants.

2) Work towards B-Corp or Planet Mark accreditation

Research show that 85% of consumers are more likely to support a brand with purpose*. Working towards B-Corp, Planet Mark or other similar accreditation can be a great way to demonstrate your purpose to your customer base and increase loyalty.

These accreditations often involves a community element – supporting your local community and local causes. We can support you to engage with your local community through The Big Lunch!

*Business Case for CSR in the UK (yourcause.com)

3) Support your local community

Build brand recognition and goodwill in your local community by hosting or supporting a local Big Lunch.

It’s a brilliant opportunity to embed your business within your community and promote what you do, while understanding customer needs and desires. Plus, you’ll be offering support to those who may need it most.

4) Reduce the cost of loneliness

Co-op and New Economics Foundation revealed findings in 2017 on the impact of loneliness to business, and the research found a staggering £2.5 billion cost every year (the hit to the private sector makes up £2.1 billion). Of the UK’s population, 3.3% are severely lonely – this is 1 million working adults. When being lonely prevents people living a good life, they’re more likely to:

leave their job earlier
take more sick leave
become unhealthy (mentally and physically)
be far less productive in their job

Currently the private sector is sacrificing £82 per worker, per year because of loneliness. By hosting a Big Lunch at work (or encouraging your employees to attend or host a Big Lunch in their community), you can help to reduce employee loneliness, build connections between teams and improve your work community.

5) Contribute to protecting our natural world

Take an active stance alongside Eden Project in finding solutions to the climate crisis – a global movement working with nature to respond to the planetary emergency.

Be part of a group of like-minded businesses wanting to make change happen and contributing to that change.

Corporate membership