Coventry and Warwickshire is going green in an effort to attract event organisers , Louisa Daley finds out more

ustainability is ever more becoming a requirement for event planners , it ’ s no longer a nice-to-have , for many , it ’ s now a must when considering destinations . As Coventry and Warwickshire is a combination of natural beauty and industrial heritage , sustainability is on the minds of local businesses , the event supply chain and government in the region .

From transport to community engagement , Coventry and Warwickshire is working to improve its sustainable credentials and attract conference organisers with a conscience to the destination .

To find out more I spoke to : Andy Williams , director of business , investment and culture , Coventry City Council ; Brett Willers , head of sustainability and climate change , Coventry City Council ; and Andrew Taylor , head of conference centres , Warwick Conferences

For Coventry and Warwickshire , sustainability isn ’ t about one narrow objective . “ Sustainability is about people , places , and business ,” says Williams .

Therefore , it ’ s not just the council that plays a huge role in driving sustainability for the region , “ both the private sector and public

Below : VLR will connect Coventry sustainably

communities need to work together to drive behavioral change . Together , we must address the climate issues which impact health , mental wellbeing , and the economy .

“ The challenge with this , however , lies in the behavioral change . It needs to be driven at an individual level , a taxpayer level and a young people level , if we want to really drive the agenda ,” adds Willers .

Despite this , Coventry City Council is passionate about leading sustainable change and is working hard behind the scenes to do so . “ Our Climate Change Strategy focuses on reducing waste and carbon and improving things like biodiversity in the region . We ’ ve tried to create a resilience plan together , where environmental agencies chair the group and get the right people around the table to

do that . We hope to get this finalized by the end of the year .

“ We are also launching a person-centered group , which is very focused on the community level and will address things like food poverty ,” reveals Williams .

By doing so , the council hopes to reach the places and people that aren ’ t usually reached inside of its communities and businesses , and therefore as Brett puts it , “ gain the much-needed feedback and understanding to make a real difference .”

This green investment is epitomised in Coventry ’ s Very Light Rail ( VLR ) project , which looks to add connectivity in the city by using lightweight materials and battery powered electric vehicles to provide a green transport solution for the city .