Bridging Communities

Your favourite cross-community, silo-breaking event is back in Edinburgh!

After a brief hiatus as we took Bridging Communities to Glasgow, we’re pleased to announce that we’re bringing the energy back to Edinburgh.

The Melting Pot in collaboration Business Gateway and some of the city's most engaged community builders, are offering another chance to gather, connect and lean into the innovative potential of your local communities

Join us on the 6th March, where our speakers will share their stories of Purpose and Profit in Business. Our speakers from across sectors will share how you balance the two, why it matters when trying to make change within communities and the impact you can have for both people and the planet. 

What to expect:

• Engaging talks from cross-sector experts on profit and purpose in Business. 
• Insights into Edinburgh's diverse business communities.
• Opportunities to share your passions and projects with like-minded individuals.
• Facilitated, purposeful networking.
• A relaxed environment for making new connections and finding inspiration.

Be part of this transformative gathering. Unleash your potential, connect with like-minded professionals, and contribute to Edinburgh's thriving business community.

Our Speakers

Helene van der Ploeg: CEO - Grassmarket Community Project
Helene has been in catering and hospitality throughout her career, running her own ventures and specialising in start-ups and contract mobilisations for commercial and social enterprises. Her focus is on food as that vital connector, to engage with the community, and work towards reducing poverty, social isolation, mental health issues and the complex challenges facing our communities. As CEO at Grassmarket Community Project her remit is to ensure strong delivery of their social purpose, whilst developing profit making social enterprises that reduce the reliance on funding and ensure a sustainable future for the organisation.

Viana Maya: Motivational Speaker and Founder of pRESPECT

Viana Maya is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and DEI strategist. As the founder of Prespect, she empowers organisations and entrepreneurs through innovative solutions in leadership, career development, and business growth. From creating groundbreaking tools like the Untapped Talent report to supporting marginalised communities, Viana’s journey from homelessness to social impact inspires transformation. She specialises in driving equity and sustainable change through impactful strategies.

Matthew Cameron: Co-Founder of Welljam / Founder of TMC Agency 

Matt is on a mission to change the way we think about work. As the co-founder of WellJam and founder of TMC Agency, he helps businesses cut through the corporate nonsense and build workplaces that actually work—for both people and performance. He also hosts Dear Work (We Need to Talk), a podcast that tackles the messy, complicated, and often broken relationship between people and work.

This May, he’s taking that mission even further by walking 330 miles from Edinburgh to Ben Hope to raise awareness for suicide prevention with The Canmore Trust. With a bold, no-BS approach, Matthew challenges outdated workplace norms and pushes for real, meaningful change.

Hosted by:

• The Melting Pot
• Business Gateway

Alongside our community partners:

• Community Lab
• Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network
• Start up Grind Scotland
• Creative Edinburgh
• Knowvate Hub
• Dechomai LTD
• CodeBase 
• Pride Outside
• Heartsong Live
• TTM Coaching