13 Partner Content
GREEN BEAM
Sustainability has reached an exciting turning point within the UK events industry , says beam ’ s ESG director Louisa Watson ccording to Louisa Watson , ESG director , beam , the focus of sustainability has shifted . “ Originally , it was solely about green issues . Now it has a more holistic meaning that goes beyond the environment and reducing carbon footprints . It covers economic issues , diversity , equity and inclusion ( DEI ), health and well-being , reward , and recognition . There is also a greater emphasis on ESG , which is a measured assessment of sustainability using benchmarks and metrics .”
Watson believes event organisations will increasingly create ESG roles and teams . “ I see no reason why our industry won ’ t follow others . It ’ s exciting – it opens a new talent field . The role itself is already changing for those organisations with a head of sustainability . It ’ s becoming more of a liaison role , working with various teams across a business to ensure all aspects of ESG are fulfilled .”
Key priorities Accreditation , measurement , and
“ Originally , sustainability was solely about green issues . Now it has a more holistic meaning that goes beyond the environment and reducing carbon footprints .” – Louisa Watson
Louisa Watson offsetting were the biggest talking points to emerge from beam ’ s recent Sustainability Forum . Watson explains : “ One of the key takeaways was that there is so much noise around ESG that many organisations do not know where to start on their journey . The overwhelming response to this barrier ? Accreditation . It doesn ’ t matter if your business is on the lowest rung of accreditation because the process will get you started and help identify which areas need attention .”
“ The sooner everyone gets started on their journey , the better , especially as the forum identified that sustainability measurement of events has become standard at blue-chip companies . Measuring events in their entirety will only become more commonplace ,” continues Watson . “ Offsetting is a major interest area too , particularly on the rules , regulations , and different approaches being used .”
Since the forum , one-to-one support for members on sustainability is being provided by beam ’ s ESG action group , which is led by Watson , also director of marketing at Wyboston Lakes Resort , with the help of Justine Meek , agency relationships manager at Warwick Conferences ; Dana Moore , sustainability lead at Agiito ; Laura Dudley , head of account management at ArrangeMy ; Pauline Beattie , sales director , Conference Care and Callie Richards , head of partnerships and strategic projects at Inntel , with new action group members soon to join .
Over the next 12 months , the group will be working on new initiatives , such as an ESG Toolkit and a Sustainable Suppliers List , which will include exclusive agreements with some of those on the list . The first one is an exclusive partnership with Trees4Events , which provides members with preferential rates when off-setting .
Looking ahead , Meek concludes : “ We want to be the go-to group that can support and help all beam members , whether they are at the start of their ESG journey or are already making headway , to ensure the industry is collectively and collaboratively working towards a more sustainable future .” CN www . conference-news . co . uk