Countdown begins to sustainability expo and awards

Running a more environmentally responsible company is key to your bounce back plan.

So says The Southern Sustainability Partnership.

The Dorset-based company is organising the Big Sustainability Expo at its new venue, St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, on Thursday October 28, 9.30am to 4pm.

Regarded as one of the UK’s leading exhibitions dedicated to the support of corporate sustainability, and the drive to net-zero carbon, it attracts a national audience and is on the doorstep for Dorset-based businesses.

The event will host more than 100 different exhibition stands for practical solutions, an influential keynote speaker theatre, hot topic workshops, an eco coffee lounge run by Dorset’s 918 Coffee, and an electric vehicle showcase.

Headline sponsor is technology company, AyMa IoT.

Lynda Daniels, Director, The Southern Sustainability Partnership, pictured left, said: “With all that our businesses have had to face over the past 18 months they require highly robust strategies from which to become stronger again.

“Those businesses that have already embarked on a step-by-step corporate sustainability strategy will tell you that, besides helping the planet, it represents one of the most sensible and effective ways to future-proof your business today.

“Resilience is paramount and running a more environmentally responsible business creates an infrastructure that is more fully in tune with every element of how it is managed and what it buys, uses, and wastes in order to dramatically cut costs.

“It’s a proven fact you will streamline your processes, reduce your running costs, safeguard your position within the supply chain and attract new customers.”

The evening will see the Big Sustainability Awards 2021 for the third year.

The Ambassador for the evening is Gosport-based GHS Group and the event will be hosted by yachtswoman, Dee Caffari MBE.

She has sailed around the world six times and is the first woman to sail single-handed and non-stop in both directions.

Dee is now an advocate for the removal of plastics in the ocean having seen, first-hand, the deterioration of our seas.

Tickets for the Gala Dinner and Awards are available by clicking here.

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Sharon joins ourHRpeople as Director of Bournemouth

Partnership-based franchise company ourHRpeople has announced that Sharon Barton, MCIPD, BSc (Hons) has joined as Director of Bournemouth.

She will provide HR consultancy services to businesses, charities and the public sector across all BH postcodes.

ourHRpeople is run by Stephen Wright and Alix Passey-Brown who each built up their own successful, longstanding and profitable HR businesses.

They created the franchise business to enable others to make the transition from corporate employee to building their own successful HR consultancy business as part of a wider team.

Sharon, pictured left, has held senior HR leadership roles in a variety of sectors including pharmaceutical consultancy, life sciences and aerospace.

Most recently she held a senior HR role within the NHS.

Sharon who, outside work, enjoys spending time at her beach hut with her husband and two children, said: “I can’t wait to have the freedom to design my working life around what’s important to me.

“This is the first time I’ve had the flexibility to work when and where I like.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own business, mainly for the freedom and flexibility it can offer, but also work with a variety of clients, rather than working for the same employer, will be much more interesting and potentially challenging.”

• ourhrpeople.co.uk/bournemouth

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All Fired Up celebrates Poole’s ceramics heritage

Poole MP Sir Robert Syms attended a celebration of Poole’s ceramics heritage as part of the town’s High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ).

He met ceramics artist Freya Gabie whose project ‘All Fired Up!’ has given local people the chance to create new pottery inspired by Poole’s ceramics heritage.

Local groups including the Blind Association, Carers First, and Bournemouth and Poole College took part.

The project closed with a public exhibition of 25 new pieces of work.

‘All Fired Up!’ is part of the Poole High Street Heritage Action Zone, a partnership between Historic England and BCP Council to invest £1.5m in the regeneration of the historic town centre.

Over the next three years, the HSHAZ will support businesses to bring vacant properties and upper floors back into use, redevelop Scaplen’s Court as part of the Rediscovering Poole’s Maritime Heritage project, and see improvements to public spaces.

Alongside this, a programme of cultural activities will celebrate Poole and attract new audiences and visitors.

Ross Simmonds, Acting Regional Director at Historic England, said: “We were delighted to introduce Sir Robert to the exciting work we are doing with BCP Council to regenerate Poole by tapping into its unique selling point – its cultural heritage.

“The HSHAZ will bring its distinctive buildings back into use and celebrate Poole’s stories.”

Sir Robert said: “The buildings and histories of our town centre make Poole unique and have huge potential to give it a competitive edge.

“I’m delighted that Historic England and BCP Council are making such a major investment in our town and I look forward to seeing progress over the coming years.”

Cllr Steve Baron, Lead Member for Ecology, Biodiversity and Poole Regeneration, BCP Council, said: “It was great to share our plans for Poole’s regeneration with Sir Robert.

“We have big ambitions for the HSHAZ – we want to turn dilapidated buildings into new homes, shops, businesses and community spaces.

“We’re confident that by giving the High Street a new lease of life and celebrating our cultural heritage, we will kickstart economic recovery.”

To find out more about the Poole High Street Heritage Action Zone please click here.

The ‘All Fired Up!’ project blog is available here.