Businesses of all sizes, all sectors, established or just starting up are invited to take part in the Hybrid COP 26 Roadshow meeting on The Business of Net Zero.

Event: West of England COP26 Roadshow Business Event

Venue: We The Curious, Harbourside Bristol, BS1 5UE

Date: Thursday, 4 November 2021

Time 12:00-17:00

Cost: There is no cost for delegates to attend. This event is supported by HM government’s #TogetherForOurPlanet campaign.

“Achieving net zero emissions will require a whole economy transition – every company, every bank, every insurer and investor will have to adjust their business. This could turn an existential risk into the greatest commercial opportunity of our time.” Mark Carney, ex Bank of England

This interactive and practical meeting will offer delegates the opportunity to discuss:

• How Bristol and the West of England can reach Net Zero by 2030
• What is happening at COP26 and how this is changing the business landscape
• What is Net Zero and what businesses need to know
• How are businesses in the West of England reducing carbon emissions
• New business growth opportunities to address climate change
• Where businesses can go for help

Delegates will get to take breakouts sessions to discuss the practical steps businesses can take on their journey to Net Zero or to identify new opportunities. And of course, there will be lots of opportunities to network and share ideas with others in our exhibition space.

13:00 - Introductions and overview of day, Jaya Chakrabarti, Business West President

13:05 - What’s happening at COP26, Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol

13:15 - Regional COP26 events, Jon Rattenbury, SW Energy Hub - tbc

13:20  - Why does this matter to business? Colin Skellett, Group Chief Executive Wessex and YTL UK

13:35  - What does Net Zero look like (and jargon busting), Simon Roberts, Chief Executive, Centre for Sustainable Energy

13:55 - Refreshment Break and Networking

14:10 - Panel Discussion 1/ Businesses taking action to reduce emissions

Chair - James Durie, Executive Director, Business West

Matt Crossman, Stewardship Director, Rathbones Brothers PLC

James Wogan, Director of Wogan Coffee

Stewart Davidson, Head of Marketing Communications Edwards Vacuum

Simon Powell, Programme Executive, Rolls Royce Solutions UK

14:30  - Panel Discussion 2/ National, regional and local initiatives that will impact on businesses

Chair - Richard Bonner, Chief Operating Officer, Arcadis. Chair of the LEP

Ann Cousins, Associate, ARUP

Stephen Peacock, Executive Director - Growth and Regeneration, Bristol City Council

Jon Rattenbury, SW Energy Hub Programme Manager

Additional speaker to be confirmed

14:55 - Refreshment Break and Networking

15:10 - Panel Discussion 3/ Net Zero Business Opportunities

Chair - Katherine Piper, Director of Partnerships, Future Leap Network

Sara Sloman, Head of Future Mobility Partnerships, Elmtronics Ltd

Mukti Mitchell, Founding Director, Mitchell and Dickinson

Steve Reece, Branch Manager, Mitsubishi Electric Living Environmental Systems

Stephanie Housty, Marketing Manager, Ecosurety

15:40 - Support Offers  Networks and offers to support businesses reduce emissions

From Business West, Business in the Community, Better Bristol Businesses, Bristol Green Capital Partnership, Future Leap Network, SevernNet, Action Net Zero, SusCom, City Funds, YTKO and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA)

16:00  - Refreshment Break and Networking

16:10 - Online breakout rooms and offline to breakout tables

Topics include: Circular Economy, Switching to EV, Financing Net Zero, Creating a Net Zero Action Plan, Sustainable Commuting, Becoming a Bcorp, Just Transition to Net Zero, Export and innovation solutions, Carbon footprinting, Incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals, Grants for businesses, Carbon offsetting and tree planting, Decarbonising IT and Digital and more.

16:55 - Event Round up, reflections on the event

17:00 - Networking       

18:00 - Doors close

COP26 is taking place in Glasgow between the 31st October and 12th November and will bringing together in the UK heads of state, climate experts and campaigners from across the world. The Roadshow is the official fringe for COP26 and offers a space for businesses to come together to talk about commitments and solutions to address the climate crisis.

This event is being curated by Bristol City Council, Bristol One City Office, West of England Combined Authority, the Future Leap Network and Business West in partnership with Business in the Community, SevernNet and Action Net Zero. The event will be bringing together businesses, trade groups from across the city region. It is being supported by HM Government’s #TogetherForOurPlanet campaign and the South West Energy Hub.  The SW Energy Hub works across the region to increase the number, quality and scale of local energy projects being delivered as we work together towards net zero.

We take your data very seriously and are committed to the privacy and security of it. Personal data will be processed in accordance with Bristol City Council data protection policies and our privacy policy explains the types of personal data we may collect about you and how we’ll store and handle that data and keep it safe.  

This is a joint event, and you may opt into your data being shared with Business West for the purpose of follow up after the event.