A First of Its Kind In The City of Birmingham
Thought leaders
Sustainability Professionals
Education
Community Leaders
Third Sector
Third Sector
ESG
Corporate Social
Large Enterprise
Science
Local Authority
B2B
Thank you for Attending the Midlands First
Sustainability UnConference
We turned the normal conference model on its head, leading with a peer-driven, conversation approach focused on sustainability in business. An event where YOUR voice matters and where you can bring your industry challenges.
We asked you to share your experiences and connect with people actually solving problems.
It's was a less traditional speaker structure and more of an audience-led format encouraging collaborative discussions, rather than passively listening to keynote speeches.
We called it an active discussion setting that put YOU firmly in the driver's seat. We shared, learned, and discovered powerful strategies to tackle our biggest environmental challenges through business innovation. These challenges, our challenges, will cover every problem you would like to bring. We don't have all the answers. But together? We might just change everything
Beate
Founder SustainEvent Agenda
- 10:00 – Coffee, networking, and submission of suggested session themes
- 10:30 – Event opening and scheduling of sessions
- 11:30 – 16:45 – Sessions in parallel workspaces; participants can move freely between sessions
- 13:00 – 14:30 – Lunch will be served
- All day – Warm and cold drinks are available
- 17:00 – End of event
Who Will Be Attending?
We’re bringing together 350 participants
Including corporate leaders, SMEs, local authorities, community initiatives, energy specialists, scientists, and micro-businesses—all united by a shared commitment to sustainability. This dynamic mix of voices ensures a rich exchange of ideas and insights.
How Does It Work?
Our goal is simple: to share and explore the best sustainability practices. While we don’t claim to have all the answers, we believe that by working together, we can uncover innovative solutions. This event creates space for meaningful conversations about the Sustainability challenges that matter most to you:• What issues are keeping you awake at night?
• What topics are you eager to explore with like-minded peers?
• What pressing problems can we solve together?
• What will Sustainability mean for our future careers and industries?
From addressing air pollution and advancing renewable energy to tackling packaging and food waste or building sustainable businesses, no idea is too big—or too small.
Together, we aim to spark fresh ideas and transformative actions.
Let’s tackle the challenges that matter most, together.
About Sustain
At Sustain, we are driven by a sense of urgency to address the critical challenges facing our planet.
Founded in 2024, our mission is to bridge the gap in sustainability recruitment by helping companies find the right talent to advance their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives.
Recognising a lack of dedicated sustainability-focused events in the Midlands, we took the initiative to launch a free event tailored for ESG professionals. Our goal is to collaborate, share knowledge, and support the growth of Sustainability practices in the region.
Key Features of Sustain UnConference:
The why to be involved
1. Peer-to-Peer Knowledge Exchange:
Share your experiences, challenges, and successes with fellow sustainability leaders and communities from other industries.
2. Collaborative Problem-Solving:
Engage in spontaneous, focused discussions on pressing sustainability issues facing the corporate world and the Midlands.
3. Innovation Showcases:
Discover cutting-edge sustainability solutions and technologies that can transform your business practices.
4. Network Expansion:
Build valuable connections with potential partners, suppliers, and collaborators who share your commitment to sustainability.
5. Regional Focus:
Tap into the Midlands' untapped potential for driving sustainable change, while addressing global environmental challenges.
The Future Begins with a Conversation.
Be part of the change. Book your place today and share your expertise.
Join a vibrant hub of decision-makers to explore, discuss, and shape the future of Sustainability.
Welcome to a space where questions ignite transformation, and ideas drive meaningful impact. Engage in conversations that matter, gain fresh insights from diverse industries, and uncover perspectives that could redefine your business and career.
How can we future-proof our businesses?
What will sustainability mean for my job?
Your waste, my value: How one organisation’s by-product can become another’s resource.
This is your opportunity to connect, collaborate, and help shape a sustainable future—together.
What makes this event special?
You do!
The participants drive the agenda for the entire day. No need to wait for the coffee break to talk about what interests you most and to network. Share a problem or a success story, ask questions and learn new things from others. We do not curate the content, only set the code of conduct for the day, and help with the scheduling of the sessions, timekeeping and zone allocations. Broadly summarised, people will want to discuss their involvement in working towards the 17 UN Sustainability Goals. There will be no keynotes and no panels – this event is yours!
Who should attend?
This is an event for people wanting to become better ancestors.
We invite the senior sustainability experts and emerging sustainability professionals in our region. Business leaders who are looking for their organisations to achieve ESG certifications, become NetZero or work more sustainably: this is the learning and networking event for you. Sustainability is a process involving us all. The combined effort is best expressed in alliances across all societal areas - business and non-profit, consulting and education, local authorities and communities.
Sustainability Is A Team Sport
Be A Part of The Journey
Do you always have that team around you when you need it? This UnConference welcomes you in and invites you to shape the conversations on the day and beyond. We look forward to seeing you on the 17th of December 2024 at the University College Birmingham for this great networking event on Sustainability in the Midlands. Spaces are limited to ensure meaningful interactions, so please register early to secure your place.
Sponsorship
Running Sustain is not Free.
We always look for support with the operational costs and to help more people attend. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact us at bea@sustainmidlands.uk
Book your ticket now
Join the conversation with like-minded individuals committed to making a positive impact.
Together, we’ll explore new ways of thinking and develop Sustainable approaches to business and beyond.
It’s time for forward-thinking professionals who are passionate about change, Sustainability, and creating a better world for tomorrow to take part in the Midlands Sustainability UnConference.
The core purpose of the Midlands SUSTAIN UnConference is to provide a day for sharing experiences and learning from those with wisdom and knowledge about the tough choices we all may face. Start forming new alliances, build a network, don’t be afraid to ask questions and, most importantly, inspire the next generation to make positive changes.
You will leave the event knowing you are not alone, but part of a larger team that shares your values.
