Dear Readers,
Whenever asked to write an update for this newsletter, I love to look back at the preceding month to jog my memory as to what we have been up to. I then try to establish a theme to best summarise the month and this month a very obvious theme presented itself; that of innovation! Not only did we host the Innovation Inspired by Nature event but also events on innovative Green Investments, advances in built environment innovations, namely Passivhaus , insights into thinking innovatively around Behaviour Change techniques within your business, to name a few. And of course, the facilitation of these networking events online has meant some innovative thinking from our wonderful Events Team who have quickly gotten up to speed on platforms such as Zoom and Remo!
I was also asked this month to speak about some of the innovative products are services within our carbon neutral sustainable business hub, Future Leap at the UKGBC Innovations in Circular Economy event. Originally, this event was due to take place at the Future Leap Hub in Bristol where attendees could have directly interacted with the products. Nonetheless, a virtual tour ensured that attendees got a feel for the space, witnessing carpet made from ghost fishing nets, chairs 3D printed from crisp wrappers, lamps made from used pens and tables made from re-cycled toothbrushes. Once open in July, all are very welcome to come and see these circular economy designs, alongside other sustainability-related products (air source heat pumps, electric car charging units, LED lighting, ground source heat pumps etc.) in person!
I was also very happy to be asked to be interviewed for a podcast by The Mindful Collective discussing the innovative nature of The Future Economy Network and Future Leap business models, the importance of collaboration and the urgency of the climate emergency. And then a couple of days later, to think innovatively about the climate emergency in my capacity as board member on the One City Environmental Sustainability Board.
And finally, the team and I had to innovate for our 'Away Day' this month, given the lockdown stipulations. Instead of a countryside walk with some pub stops for strategic planning, we were treated to a virtual jog around Bradford-on-Avon countryside by our wonderful Sustainability Consultant, Simon Forsyth who was fit enough to not only jog the whole route, but also to give us a history of the local area; both innovative and impressive! That was followed by some personality and learning styles questionnaires and fruitful discussions to continue to grow professionally and as a team.
So, that has been 12 mentions of innovation in one month's update! Time for a bank holiday rest and now back to it with our Business Re-imagined event this morning!
Keep well everyone and we look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon
Katherine Piper
Director