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Key figures to gather in York to accelerate sustainable business innovation

Key figures to gather in York to accelerate sustainable business innovation

Posted on 17 October 2024

The University of York will host an event bringing together leaders, innovators, investors, academics, and business owners from York and beyond to explore cutting-edge approaches in sustainability and social responsibility.

The event will take place at the historic Guildhall in York

The forum, at the historic Guildhall in York on 30 October, will feature a series of panel discussions with a focus on building a prosperous and healthy society for all.

Organised by the University’s School for Business and Society in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK Research and Innovation, and the Good Business Charter, the event will feature key figures including representatives from AVIVA, Richer Sounds, NextEnergy Capital, TSB, RePLANET, and Tetra Tec, Jet2, RBC Capital Market, NatPower UK, Bio-D and TechBuyer who will participate as panellists.

The Lord Mayor of York will open the event with a welcome speech and keynote speakers will include Julian Richer, founder of Good Business Charter; James Farrar, Chief Executive of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and Professor Bob Doherty, Dean of the School for Business and Society and Principal Investigator of the FixOurFood programme.

Sustainable future

Professor Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement at the University of York, said: "As a community, we are deeply committed to a sustainable future, making environmental sustainability a cornerstone of our University Strategy.

“This event offers a unique chance to build on strong collaborations with esteemed and like-minded partners, driving our shared ambition to enhance environmental conditions, benefiting people and economies in York and globally.

“While we acknowledge there is still much to be done to achieving our sustainability goals, we embrace this moment as an opportunity. Collectively as leaders, academics, investors, and entrepreneurs, we are committed to sharing insights and exchanging knowledge inorder to drive impactful change in policy and practice.”

Panel discussions

Topics that will be explored in panel discussions at the Sustainable Futures Forum: Building for Good, include:

Responsible Business: This panel will delve into the social dimensions of responsible business practices, emphasising the importance of engaging with key stakeholders for resilience and sustainable development. The discussion will highlight how businesses can navigate challenges and seize opportunities to benefit employees, communities, society, and the wider economy.

Sustainable Supply Chains: Focusing on the integration of sustainability and circular economy into supply chains, this panel will explore how businesses can reduce environmental impacts, conserve natural resources, and ensure ethical labour practices while maintaining economic viability.

Business and Nature: This panel will examine the dependency of businesses on natural ecosystems and the impacts of business activities on the environment. Discussions will cover both negative impacts, such as pollution, and positive contributions, such as ecological restoration and nature-positive investments.

Festival of Social Science

The event is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024 and was made possible thanks to funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The University is also launching a podcast Meaningful Business on 22 October as part of the Festival. Episodes celebrate businesses in York and North Yorkshire that are combining profit and purpose to help deliver a fairer economy and promote the goal of decent work.

For more information about the forum, please visit https://www.york.ac.uk/social-science/esrc-iaa/esrc-festival-social-sciences/events/2024/sustainable-futures-forum-building-for-good/