Chair of judges

Hester Davies Bell | Social Impact Manager, Sony Music UK

Hester is Social Impact Manager at Sony Music UK where she helps manage the UK arm of the Global Social Justice Fund, a $100 million Fund that operates across different territories and divisions of Sony. Created in June 2020, it exists to support social justice, equal rights and anti-racist initiatives around the world, and is part of the global Sony Music Group commitment to support communities and help address structural inequality for lasting change. Hester is passionate about social justice and prior to her role at Sony Music, her experience spans education, anti-racism and tech.

Our Chair of Judges speaks on the current business-charity partnership climate

1. Given the current social and environmental climate, what shifts have you noticed in the types of partnerships businesses and charities are forming? Are they focusing on different issues now compared to five or ten years ago?

Over the past decade there has been a noticeable shift in how businesses and charities work together in the UK. Partnerships have evolved from one-off, transactional donations to more strategic, long-term collaborations. Increasingly, companies are offering more than just funding - they’re contributing time, skills, resources and platforms to drive deeper impact.

At the same time, the focus of these partnerships has expanded. While health and education remain core priorities, there's now a stronger emphasis on climate, equity, mental health and broader systemic change. These reflect a growing awareness of the interconnected challenges facing society today.

Together, these evolutions have enabled businesses and charities to stay aligned with changing societal issues, whilst continuing to make a meaningful, relevant and lasting impact.

2. Now that purpose-driven business is everywhere, how do you spot a truly authentic partnership that's making a real difference in a world? What key signs do you look for that prove it’s not just for PR?

For me, two key indicators of an authentic partnership are transparency and collaboration.

When there is open communication between charities and businesses about goals, challenges, and outcomes – especially when things don’t go to plan. It shows that there is trust between the organisations, mutual respect for the expertise that both bring to the relationship, and a genuine desire to drive progress.

Similarly, when charities and businesses come together to co-create a partnership, looking at what they can both bring to the table. This indicates a genuine investment and desire from both sides to make meaningful change. Approaching a partnership in this way creates space for collaboration on a deeper and more strategic level, whilst ensuring the partnership is grounded in shared values and working towards a common goal.

Embedding both transparency and collaboration into partnerships demonstrates trust, shared accountability, and joint commitment. It ensures that risk is not only understood but shared, and that both organisations are invested not just in optics, but more importantly, in outcomes.

3. Working at Sony Music, how do you think the music industry can uniquely amplify a charity's message, in a way other industries can't?

Music transcends cultural, generational and geographic boundaries, making it one of the most powerful tools for storytelling. At Sony Music, we operate in a space where emotional connection is everything and that gives us a unique ability to amplify charitable messages in ways other industries can't.

Through music, we can spark conversations and inspire action around causes that matter. We've seen artists mobilise their platforms to raise awareness and funds for a huge variety of charitable work, from supporting grassroots music venues to responding to humanitarian crises. But it’s not just about reach, it’s about authenticity. When an artist genuinely connects with a cause, their support resonates on a human level. That authenticity builds trust, drives engagement and brings cultural relevance to the charity’s mission which can create impact that goes far beyond a typical campaign.