Warwick Conferences - taking sustainability seriously |
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Business support and business investment But what about the practical , on the ground , immediate action , which can help businesses become more sustainable ?
“ We ’ ve got teams working to support businesses become greener by evaluating their efficiency and equipment in terms of lighting or energy . We ’ ve got experts going out advising businesses , and then helping businesses to get some funding to support their investment ,” explains Williams .
“ For businesses being sustainable is a must now . They are trying to find ways to reduce cost and most of those costs relate to waste streams and use of energy ,” adds Willers .
Another way the council is helping businesses become more sustainable through its Businesses Sustain initiative , which is about “ going into businesses and helping them with their green standards
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and credentials ,” reveals Williams , “ this also helps them become more competitive .”
“ This then positively impacts the wider region , as it attracts more investors , sponsors and partners ,” he adds . Willers echoes William ’ s view , and says “ We are a city of choice . People now want to come to a sustainable city and do business .”
Warwick Conferences Warwick Conferences is a key example of how this sustainable investment from the council has positively impacted the venue and the business it wins .
“ At Warwick Conferences , sustainability has become part of every decision that we make . To name a few of our measures : in the winter months , we look at the thermostats and adjust when the heating comes on or off ; we make sure we have no single use plastic ; we donate our food waste when we can ; we reuse building
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“ Sustainability is about people , places , and business ,”
– Andy Williams
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materials during our refurbishments ,” says Taylor .
Sustainability is also a requirement when talking to its customers . “ We ’ ve got customers that have the target of being carbon neutral by 2030 . So , they are asking us about our credentials , our waste streams , our energy usage . We win conferences because our values align with theirs ,” says Taylor .
This client engagement with sustainability has also seen a real involvement throughout the event planning process .
“ We ’ re not competing with other venues ,” says Taylor . “ We are working with other venues to make ourselves known as a region that takes sustainability seriously . There is a real movement at the moment where venues and hotels are sharing best practice .
“ Moving in this direction will help grow the region ’ s green reputation and ultimately support businesses as a whole .” CN
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