The Sustainable Business Conference 

The Sustainable Business Series campaign aims to share best practice, guidance and knowledge to improve business know-how and progression to net zero.

In April this year, the Government released its Energy strategy. The strategy makes clear the commitment to net zero in the long term. The strategy outlines numerous ambitions including the ambition for offshore wind to deliver 50GW by 2030 and double the UK’s ambition for hydrogen production to up to 10GW by 2030, with at least half of this from electrolytic hydrogen. Government strategy will benefit business in the long term however support is needed right now. Businesses are being asked to continue their commitment to net zero at a time when the cost of doing business is at its highest and continuing to increase.

This conference will help businesses understand their role in progressing to net zero, as well as the opportunities and challenges that will come from the transition. The conference will look to support businesses on their net zero journey at a time when many are struggling.
The conference will help both larger businesses and SMEs understand the importance of net zero and remaining resilient and most importantly committed to sustainability despite the huge economic pressures many are facing right now.

AIMED AT: 

• • Business owners, managers and leaders who are interested in understanding their company’s role in net zero
  • Professionals that want to build a business case for sustainability

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

👫Discover how businesses, of different sizes and sectors, have embraced their role in decarbonising through expert discussions.
🌎 Gain perspectives from regional and national business leaders on why net zero is important and how the region’s business community is rising to the net zero challenge.
📈 Understand the financial case for sustainability, as well as the finance available to assist your businesses decarbonisation, through expert discussions.
🌎Learn business approaches and thinking on achieving net zero.
👥 Inform your business strategy and case for net zero and environmental sustainability.

AGENDA: 

• • • 8:30am Registration & Breakfast
    • 9:00am Welcome & Introductions, Henrietta Brealey, CEO, GBCC
    • 9:05am Reaching Net Zero across the West Midlands, Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor
    • 9:35am Panel Discussion – Net Zero & the Supply Chain, Ellie Horwitch-Smith, Assistant Director, Route to Net Zero, Anna Bright, Chief Executive, Sustainability West Midlands, Final Speaker (TBC)
    • 10:15am Coffee Break
    • 10:35am Making the Financial Case for Net Zero – second keynote speaker, Michaela Wright, Head of Sustainability, HSBC UK
    • 11:05am Panel Discussion- COP 26 one year on, Professor David Hannah, Director of the Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action, Professor Patricia Thornley, Director at the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute, Andrew Whitehead, Senior Partner and Head of Energy, Shakespeare Martineau
    • 11:45am Closing remarks, Henrietta Brealey, CEO
    • 12:00pm Event Close

Be part of the business community making progress towards net zero, and capitalise on the business and economic benefits the transition will bring, whilst protecting future generations. Places are limited. To reserve your place and register today for this event, see the ‘book now’ tab. You can find other events as part of the Sustainable Business Series, by selecting the Series in the events calendar.

This event has been produced for the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce as part of the 2022 Sustainable Business Series. The Sustainable Business Series is the Chambers flagship campaign on environmental sustainability aiming to share best practice, guidance and knowledge on the measures businesses can take, and commercial benefits of, progressing to net zero.

In 2022, the Series contains a series of free events and webinars taking place from the end of September and throughout October and a Sustainable Business Summit on 2nd November. In addition, throughout the campaign, the Chambers will be publishing podcasts and blog content.

Thanks to our Headline Sponsors – Aston University, The University of Birmingham and Shakespeare Martineau