South West’s flagship sustainability event grows in scale and ambition
The Festival of Sustainable Business is set to return to Bristol on June 9-10th with an expanded programme and a new home at Bristol Beacon. The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Retrofit West, and green energy innovator Ecotricity lead a line-up of sponsors and exhibitors curated by sustainability consultancy Future Leap to support organisations to unlock growth through sustainable transformation.
The Festival of Sustainable Business provides a platform for the entire South West region to explore solutions to sustainability challenges, learning from providers and hearing the experiences of net zero leaders. With newly elected Mayor Helen Godwin firmly committed to championing just transition principles and collaborating with city and council leaders to unlock the path to net zero, the event will provide an opportunity to reflect on key regional priorities and discuss the role of business in achieving regional and national ambitions.
The two-day sustainability showcase at Bristol Beacon brings together a free-to-attend Exhibition of over 50 sustainability solutions, businesses and organisations with a ticketed Conference incorporating keynotes, panel discussions, seminars, interactive workshops, and networking.
The full programme is now live and available here.
DAY ONE – Monday 9th June
Kicking off the festival, keynote speakers will share the latest climate science, policies, regulations and trends in the Opening Ceremony, hosted by Benita Matofska, global sustainability campaigner and changemaker. Panel sessions, workshops and product demonstrations will then cover key topics such as access to funding, innovations and technologies reshaping industries, retrofit, the future of energy and the power of storytelling.
DAY TWO – Tuesday 10th June
On Day Two, attendees will have the chance to learn directly from businesses who’ll be sharing their experiences of the challenges, opportunities and rewards of sustainable transformation. The Construction Zone, presented by Retrofit West, and the Business Support Zone, supported by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, will provide attendees with hands-on experiences with the latest building technologies and regional sustainability initiatives.
Now in its 6th year, the move to Bristol Beacon allows the Festival to welcome more attendees and host action-orientated sessions with expert speakers from the region and beyond, such as the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Pieminister, Bottle Yard Studios, Retrofit West, UK Green Building Council, Route Zero, Kelpi and Ecotricity.
Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, says,
“The West of England should be the natural home of new green jobs. We already have so many of the component parts, but as the new Mayor, I will need to connect up the brilliant work that’s already happening. Working with the government, I will create a Regional Green Skills Academy to provide adults and young people with the skills and pathway to the well-paid jobs of the present and the future.
“As well as clean energy, sustainable business needs to be powered by major change for our transport system. Congestion is slowing growth and holds up innovation. We need to start a new chapter when it comes to getting around the West of England, with more new train stations and a reliable and consistent bus network.”
Dale Vince OBE, Founder of Ecotricity, says:
“We’re joining forces with Future Leap to support Bristol’s Festival of Sustainable Business. It’s all about sharing what works, learning what doesn’t, and helping more organisations get on the path to net zero. We’re looking forward to hearing from the green pioneers of the South West and beyond. There’s a lot of good stuff happening out there.”
Alan Bailey, Managing Director of Future Leap, says,
“The Festival of Sustainable Business represents our continued commitment to position the South West as a leader in sustainability, not just in the region, but across the whole country.
“This year, we’re really looking to expand the possibilities of the Festival with a programme that covers energy, housing, built environment, consultancy, sustainable finance and much more, opening the floor to experts and industry leaders to present and discuss areas shaping our present and future. These topics are in line with the West of England’s strategic goals, and we are proud to have them as a headline partner alongside Retrofit West and Ecotricity.”
Simon Andrews, Managing Director at Retrofit West, says:
“The Festival of Sustainable Business is a brilliant opportunity to bring together people who can drive real change – from householders to contractors and businesses of all sizes. At Retrofit West, our mission is to help make energy efficiency improvements simple, trusted and scalable. We’re proud to be hosting the Construction Zone at this year’s Festival, showcasing how businesses and homeowners alike can take informed, practical steps toward a net-zero future.”
To check out the agenda and sessions in more detail and secure your ticket, head to: https://www.festivalofsustainablebusiness.co.uk/
In addition to Headline Sponsorship from Ecotricity, Retrofit West and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, the event is also sponsored by University of Bath School of Management, Lexus, Burges Salmon, AMBITIOUS and Clade Engineering Systems.
