Destination Basingstoke co-hosts going green event

Organised by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Destination Basingstoke, and sponsored by NatWest and EM3 Growth Hub, the event – featuring a Green Expo of 30 stands, five speaker sessions, and a green finance panel – showcased how businesses can become more green, help to combat the climate crisis, and save money.

More than 150 people registered for the milestone and free-to-attend event, which took place at the Apollo Hotel, in Basingstoke on Wednesday, November 8 – and the organisers were delighted that it demonstrated to many companies, particularly small and medium-size enterprises, how going green is good for people and businesses.

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Among the highlights was the keynote speech by Dr Wendy Buckley, chair of the Sustainable Business Network and co-founder of Carbon Footprint Limited. Ken MacIsaac, UK Business Leader at leading Basingstoke-based Lavazza Professional, and Polly Buckland, managing director of the green award-winning The Typeface Group, were also among the speakers who gave the audience plenty of green food for thought.

Ross McNally, chief executive of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Allowing our PEER Network to access the practical, expert, and achievable steps towards greater sustainability has been an ambition of the chamber for some time, as has been bringing our seasonal signature events to the north of the county. We couldn’t be more pleased with how both were realised through ‘Unlocking Hampshire’s Green Potential’.

“In bringing together such a diverse range of contributors, led by our partners, speakers, and sponsors, we were able to offer the real world support and insight that will be the foundation of much positive change. Increasingly, we know that people and planet matter just as much as profit for many business owners. The considerable positive engagement with this forum was testament to this as members look to innovate, grow, and thrive.”

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Jonathan Pender, chair of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Promoting the Green agenda is one of the core values of our not-for-profit organisation as we firmly believe that implementing green measures is good for the residents, businesses and community organisations in Basingstoke and Deane.

“We are delighted to have played a key role in helping to organise and promote this significant event, and we are particularly grateful to the event sponsors, speakers and panellists who gave the support and commitment that ensured this was a must-attend event for so many people.

“This is just the start of the green journey, and Destination Basingstoke looks forward to working with like-minded green-focused partners as we all build on the foundations laid by the ‘Unlocking Hampshire’s Green Potential’ event.”