“Our Carbon Neutrality Journey” and FEN’s Christmas Drinks!
5th December 2019
Thursday 5th December saw The Future Economy Network’s final event of 2019. Guests were invited to our new sustainability hub on Gloucester Road, Future Leap. The event saw a maximum-capacity attendance, successfully testing out our new 50-capacity events space!
Katherine Piper, Co-Director of The Future Economy Network, welcomed attendees, taking a different approach to the usual introduction and instead running everyone through our achievements this year.
Here’s a quick run down:
• Development of Future Leap; our carbon-neutral sustainable business hub
• Delivery of events in Bristol, North Somerset, B&NES and South Glos.
• Over 3000 attendances at our events
• 57 events in 2019 (over-achieving against our weekly events target!)
• The launch of our inaugural Festival of Sustainable Business
After an inspiring summary, Alan Bailey, Co-Director of The Future Economy Network, gave a detailed tour highlighting the journey of the building over the last year and the efforts made to achieve sustainability.
Zac Nicholson from Alec French Architects then presented on the building’s refit. He covered the brief history pre-hub, key aspects of the building, the soft strip out aspects, services installation and the internal refit.
Simon Forsyth, Consultant for The Future Economy Network and Director of CarbonLens, then finalised the presentations with an overview on how Future Leap will become carbon neutral in its operations in 2020. He explained the basic principles of “measure, minimise, offset” and related it to the building. The Future Economy Network will be including staff travel and visitor travel into its carbon calculations.
Finally, Katherine opened up an engaging and thought-provoking Q&A and 60 second pitch session. Guests of the event were invited to stay for the Christmas Drinks, which saw the hub alive with activity within minutes of the previous event finishing.
Liga, Café Manager for Future Leap, had a chance to show off the café’s delicious selection of homemade sustainable canapes and support local independent drinks companies. With Christmas music flowing and lights twinkling, environmental issues and cheerful chats were heard all round. With inspiring conversations and positive connections made everywhere, the team were extremely proud to call Future Leap home and cannot wait to launch into 2020 with new vigour.
Tess, products manager for Future Leap, also launched her lifestyle area which received much positive attention. The area did so well, the team have decided to hold a surprise Christmas Market next week!
The Future Economy Network look forward to seeing you at another event soon! Don’t miss our surprise Christmas pop-up market next week if you’d like to grab some sustainable gifts or take another sneak peak in our hub! Hope to see you there, please use Cafe entrance.
The Future Economy Network would like to take the opportunity to wish their members and non-members alike a very Merry Christmas and a massive thank you for your continued support!