Meet other social impact organisations to explore the topic of sustainability, share ideas & get support.

About this Event

This event delivered by Town Sq, Oxfordshire Greentech and sustainability charity Bioregional will bring together individuals and organisations working in the environmental sector. This event will look at activity taking place in Oxfordshire, discuss key themes and challenges as well as give attendees the chance to share news from their own organisations, exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations.

The session will start with organisations introducing themselves followed by a short overview of the business case for sustainability and changing/emerging trends due to the current pandemic. We will then explore the key barriers to scaling up environmental action and open up conversation as to the solutions to tackle these trends and themes. We will then finish up by focusing on what is happening, here in Oxfordshire and how organisations can drive their own environmental strategy by focuses on the globally recognized One Planet Living framework.

The session will be limited in numbers to make sure genuine connections are created.

The discussion will cover:

1. Opportunities and challenges as a result of the global pandemic

2. What are the barriers to increased impact and action?

3. What are the potential solutions?

4. Local initiatives and where are the gaps?

5. How to make your organisation more sustainable

6. Signposting to funding and investment streams

Draft Agenda:

10:00 Welcome and Introductions

10:05 Roundtable introductions and networking opportunities

10:20 An overview of sustainability and business in the current climate

10:30 *Discussion* Exploring the barriers to scaling up environmental action

10:40 *Discussion* What are potential solutions to the key barriers

11:10 What is happening in Oxfordshire

11:20 How can businesses drive their own environmental purpose and strategy; an overview of the One Planet Living SME toolkit

11:30 Close

Who is it for?

This workshop is aimed at SMEs that include Social Enterprises, social entrepreneurs, enterprising charities and other purposeful businesses committed to enabling positive environmental impact, either through the work that they do or in the way they run their organisation.

This session will be limited in numbers to facilitate good discussion and strong connections to help build relationships and collaboration going forwards.

The speakers

Lewis Knight – Bioregional

Lewis Knight joined Bioregional in 2013 and worked on the UK’s first Eco Town development, NW Bicester, helping to deliver its sustainability aspirations using the One Planet Living Framework. He is part of the team leading the delivery of One Planet Oxfordshire, a county-wide vision for a truly sustainable future and played a lead role in the creation and delivery of Oxfordshire Greentech, a county-wide business network for the low carbon future. He has over a decade of experience of working in the sustainability sector.

Philippa Hoy – Bioregional

Philippa has over 20 years’ experience of working with industry to help companies become more resource efficient and embrace sustainability more holistically. Working with leading environmental consultancies and charities, she has promoted environmental, energy and biotechnology solutions for a cleaner, greener future. Currently, Philippa is helping to grow Oxfordshire Greentech, the county’s business network for the low carbon economy. Her work with businesses has extended to also helping social enterprises, councils, schools and communities achieve One Planet Living®, Bioregional’s award-winning sustainability framework.

Lucy Wendon – Town Sq

Lucy is the Community Manager at Town Square, and will be facilitating the session.

Bioregional

Bioregional was founded as a charity and social enterprise in 1994 by Sue Riddlestone and Pooran Desai, two environmental entrepreneurs based in South London, who wanted to develop more sustainable ways of living. They created the One Planet Living framework in 2003 from their experiences of planning and working with others to develop the multi-award-winning BedZED eco-village in South London, where their headquarters is still based.

Using this learning, they provide a range of sustainability consultancy services that make it easier for people to live sustainable lives within the planet’s boundaries by:

• helping major developers create pioneering eco-communities

• supporting businesses, including retailers, to create sustainable products and services

Their on-the-ground experience and creative thinking now spans five continents.

Oxfordshire Greentech

Oxfordshire Greentech is the business network supporting the growth of the low-carbon sector in Oxfordshire. They bring together businesses and organisations to encourage innovation, collaboration and knowledge transfer, to facilitate the transition towards a sustainable, low carbon future in Oxfordshire and the world. Oxfordshire Greentech span out of the OxFutures programme and is run through a collaborative partnership Bioregional, Cambridge Cleantech and Cherwell District Council.

Town Square

Town Square is a certified B Corporation, committed to helping people to start and run their own businesses. In September 2019 they launched a co-working community at the Eco Business Centre, based in the eco village of Elmsbrook, and is one of six eScalate Hubs across Oxfordshire.

For more information about the eScalate programme , visit www.oxfordshirelep.com/escalate