This morning, over 20 guests gathered at the Hampton by Hilton, Humberside Airport, for the ‘Sustainability: Beyond Buzzwords’ event, organised by Grimsby Community Energy. Attendees enjoyed a complimentary breakfast courtesy of Hampton by Hilton, followed by insightful presentations from three expert speakers. The event offered a valuable opportunity for businesses and individuals to engage with pressing sustainability issues and explore actionable insights.

Speakers and Key Takeaways:

1. Emma Brigginshaw – myenergi

Emma’s presentation focused on the theme of making deliberate and bold decisions to drive sustainability in business, drawing inspiration from Paul Polman and Andrew Winston’s “Net Positive Business.” She highlighted three core strategies:

Consider Thoroughly, Choose Deliberately, Act Boldly:
Understand your business operations and the internal and external pressures it faces. Conduct a materiality assessment, ideally a double materiality assessment, to mitigate risks and minimize harm while considering the broader impact of your business on the world. Set ambitious goals that challenge the status quo.

Create the Conditions for Success:

Emma emphasized the importance of fostering the right environment for sustainability strategies to thrive, underscoring that success requires a proactive and supportive business culture.

2. Felicia Linch – Wilkin Chapman Solicitors

Felicia’s presentation centered on the evolving role of businesses in leading the sustainability agenda and the potential impact of increased regulation:

Regulation as a Driver for Change:

Felicia highlighted the growing public demand for businesses to shift towards a purpose-driven model, which has led to the formation of coalitions like B Lab and campaigns for initiatives like the Better Business Act. The Act aims to move governance from a shareholder-centric approach to one that considers all stakeholders, ensuring that a company’s success is not solely measured by financial outcomes.

The Public’s Role in Shaping Business Behavior:
Felicia cited research commissioned by B Lab U.K. and Hanbury Strategy, which showed that a significant majority of the UK public believes businesses should be a force for good, suggesting that businesses failing to lead in this area may soon face increased legislative pressure.

3. Dr. Vicky Dunn – Grimsby Community Energy

Dr. Dunn shared insights on integrating sustainability into small businesses with a focus on pragmatic action:

People, Planet & Profit:
Vicky emphasized the importance of balancing social, environmental, and economic factors when developing a sustainability strategy, ensuring that current needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations.

Learn by Doing:
Encouraging businesses to take action now, Vicky urged attendees to start small, adapt, and improve over time, rather than waiting for perfect conditions. Her message was clear: don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

The ‘Sustainability: Beyond Buzzwords’ event successfully brought together industry leaders and local businesses to engage in meaningful dialogue about sustainability. Attendees left with practical advice and renewed motivation to drive positive change in their organisations. Special thanks to Hampton by Hilton, Humberside Airport, for hosting the event and providing a welcoming environment that fostered lively discussions and networking opportunities.

The insights shared today serve as a reminder that sustainability is more than just a trend—it’s a critical and ongoing commitment that requires thoughtful consideration, bold actions, and a willingness to lead by example.