As autumn sets in events professionals are cycling across Britain to raise awareness for the vital role that our industry plays, in both our culture and economy.  We dedicate this jam-packed issue (every issue in fact) to the vital role our industry can also play for the environment, with two guest blogs; one on delivering sustainable events in a covid landscape and the second on applying the theory of adaption to the event industry, plus our monthly Q&A with Hay Festival Sustainability Coordinator Andy Fryers, and our picks of the month.

From the Vision: 2025 team this month comes the launch of an autumn webinar series and the new Vision: 2025 Green Supplier Directory to support #GreenRecovery + Powerful Thinking's monthly blog from Tim Benson.

Happy reading, and get in touch if you'd like to write a blog, have news to share, or want to join the growing community taking action on climate change.

SAVE THE DATES: This November, Vision: 2025 presents the #WeMakeEvents Autumn Webinar series. Based on three core themes for transformation: Net Zero Emissions, Circular Economy, and Speaking Up and Out to Lead Change - these webinars will bring outdoor event industry professionals together to explore, learn from each other, and get inspired.

Usually, we'd bring the Vision: 2025 community together at The Showman's Show - but as we all know, this year had other plans, so we're creating other ways to check in. Guest speakers to be announced shortly.

REGISTER:

• 11 Nov, 14:00 - 15:00: Net Zero and the Outdoor Events Industry:  HERE
• 25 Nov, 14:00 - 15:00: Circular Economy & the Outdoor Events Industry: HERE
• 9 Dec, 14:00 - 15:00: Speaking Up, Speaking Out, Leading Change - HERE

More info on session themes HERE. 

Vision: 2025 talked to Paula Birtwistle, Green Champion of Culture Weston, about running sustainable events in Weston this summer against the backdrop of COVID-19.

In her guest blog Paula gives us the lowdown on the trials and triumphs of running both events solely on solar power and how she and the team worked to keep all other environmental impacts minimal. Read the blog HERE. 

This month we're delighted to be joined by Andy Fryers to answer our 20 Industry Leader Questions. Andy joined Hay Festival as Sustainability Director in 2007 and has helped them become pioneering in their sustainability practices. Read his Q&A HERE.

In September, Abena Poku-Awuah, Founder of sustainable events agency Legacy, took the 20 questions - you can read her answers HERE.

In this guest blog Megan Best, from sustainable event solutions company Native Events, explores the theory of the adaptive resilience cycle and how it can be applied to the future of the festival industry. She explains how we can use this concept to find a pathway through uncertainty and collapse, and discovers hope, purpose and resilience for the festival community. Read the blog HERE.

Vision: 2025 has launched our new Green Supplier Directory to promote and celebrate sustainable innovations by outdoor event suppliers to support a green recovery. The new directory aims to make connections between outdoor event organisers and suppliers sharing our vision: the common goal of 50% carbon reduction in event emissions by 2025.

As an industry we are living in incredibly tough times with COVID shutdowns happening across the UK. In recognition of this collective hardship, we are offering all new members 18 months on the website (until March 2022) for half the cost of one year's membership fees – with no payment expected until March 2021.

If you are a supplier who’d like to be part of our community, please get in touch. If you are an organiser striving to reduce your carbon impact - contact the pioneering champions on the Green Supplier Directory: HERE

Photo credit: Fineline Lighting - one of the companies listed on Vision: 2025 Green Supplier Directory - lights up the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury for #WeMakeEvents.

The Institute for Sustainable Events have launched two new online, self-paced courses which are now ready for enrolment: Sustainability Fundamentals and Strategy Events with Purpose.

The two new courses join the existing trainings: Towards Zero Waste Events and Implementing ISO 20121. Check them out HERE.

Season for Change is set to announce their latest programme of free online events, Season for Ex-Change, for artists, arts organisations or cultural practitioners who want to learn about, and share knowledge on embedding climate action and climate justice in their work. 

From 26 October – 13 November, Season for Ex-Change will bring together a host of groundbreaking artists and environmental professionals for panel discussions, workshops, in-conversations and social media takeovers spread over three weeks, including five practical workshops responding to each of the Season for Change Toolkit‘s sections. Stay tuned for the forthcoming announcement HERE. 

This year, Julie's Bicycle has introduced two new categories to their Creative Green Awards, now open for nominations, and free to enter. Winners of the two public awards, Best Creative Programming Award & Best Campaign Award, will receive the value of a day’s personalised programme of support, negotiated according to needs, and delivered from across Julie's Bicycle's expert team of consultants.

Deadline for submissions: Friday 30th October 2020 at 12pm BST.  More info and apply HERE.

Here's what the Vision: 2025 team are watching, listening to, and reading this month:

Access All Areas cover the #wemakeevents global day of action on Sept 30th as event professionals gathered to call on governments to extend significant financial support for the industry HERE.

Start-up business Ember launches new 100% electric coach route between Edinburgh and Dundee: HERE.

Festivals have an important role to play in re-normalising human connection, essential to tackling the climate crisis - latest blog from industry consultant Chris Johnson HERE

A Greener Festival secures professional body recognition meaning they are entitled to accredit UK University courses which focus on sustainability in the event and festival industry HERE.

Charity ecolibrium waive supplier membership fees for 2021 to help Showman's Show Digital exhibitors and visitors tackle environmental impacts from travel HERE. 

FutureFest will run 7-8 Nov with a digital programme that imagines our world as carbon neutral; exploring and celebrating the solutions that will shape our future HERE.

New reusable cup scheme announced by McDonald’s and TerraCycle's circular packaging service, Loop, to test a new reusable cup model for hot beverages HERE.

The Goods podcast series featuring Jonathon Porrit, Hugo Tagholm (Surfers Against Sewage) and other inspiring change-makers, produced by Enviral, the team that brought you the Vision: 2025 video featuring Melvin Benn at the UK Festival Awards 2019. Find it on spotify HERE.

Following the latest announcement from the Prime Minister that wind power will provide enough energy for all UK homes by 2030 -  Tim Benson, Chair of Powerful Thinking, explores the possibility of events using this clean energy source as a viable option too, and looks at new tech for harnessing wind for temporary power needs - including the Gem Tower (pictured). Read the blog HERE.