Skip to main content

The Complete Sustainable Events Course

6 WEEKS / 6 MODULES / 100% ONLINE / HIGH QUALITY VIDEO LECTURES / LIVE Q&As / CERTIFICATION / +41 NPS

The Complete Sustainable Events Course is a 6-week online course designed to support you on your journey to become an expert in delivering sustainable events. Whether you're an event planner or a supplier to the industry, have already started your sustainability journey or it's completely new to you, the course gives you advanced learning - teaching you how to take a strategic and authentic approach to your efforts, and ultimately, drive change within the meetings and events sector, by putting sustainability at the heart of your planning.

The fifth edition of the course will begin on 31 July 2024. If you want to find out more, check out our brand new website!

FIND OUT MORE            REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

 

cpd

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The course in 40 seconds

Live open day

screenshot

ABOUT THE COURSE

Through a combination of theory, tools and practical knowledge, the course will equip you with the skills to be able to plan, and deliver sustainable events with confidence. You'll learn where to start, how to measure the environmental impact of your events, the opportunities for positive event legacy and much more.

Expect intros, anecdotes and real life examples from Fyre Festival survivor Andy King on his sustainability journey, plus in-depth learning delivered by Anna Abdelnoor from isla, and a host of sustainability experts.

Taking part in the course will also give you a chance to experience TRACE by isla, the definitive carbon measurement platform for sustainable events, empowering you to measure, reduce and report the impact of your events

 

 

  • Pre-recorded modules released each week - available to watch on-demand & lasting 45-60 minutes, plus accompanying readings
  • 2 live Q&As hosted by Anna
  • Option to submit a carbon report at the end of the course and receive actionable feedback from Anna
  • 10 weeks access to the course materials
  • Certificate of completion
andyanna

WHAT ARE THE MODULES?

1: Events for good

Vision, purpose, goals & stakeholder engagement

As event professionals, we create events that look spectacular but carry a large carbon and waste footprint.

In this module, you'll learn how to take charge and make a positive change, starting with the brief. Taking an action-focused approach, we'll focus on the goals and KPIs we should strive to achieve from the outset of a project.

Expert: Jonathan Wise, Co-founder, Purpose Disruptors

2: Supply chains & stakeholders

Venues, sourcing, food, equality & circular economy

This module delves into sustainability priorities and how to define these. Encouraging collaboration across your supply chain, the aim is to engage suppliers and clients collectively to support your sustainability ambitions. We’ll also identify the roadblocks within your supply chain and where you may require buy-in from suppliers, venues and clients.

Expert: Guy Bigwood, Managing Director, Global Destination Sustainability Movement

3: Destination known...

Destinations, travel, offsetting & short supply chains

One of the biggest contributors to an event's footprint is travel and transport emissions.

In this module, we'll look at defining carbon terminology and demystifying offsetting, so you can focus your energy on measuring your supply chain emissions in order to target and reduce impact.

Expert: Helen Hodgkinson, Co-founder, CACTUS

4: Eating green, eating clean...

Smart menu designs, F&B impact

Agriculture for food accounts for over 26% of global emissions, with almost 1/3 of food produced going straight in the bin! Menus are a great way to create positive impact - from food sourcing to waste, we’ll look at the importance of designing nutritious, conscious menus that champion local ingredients, benefiting your audience and the planet.

Experts: Dr Vincent Walsh, Founder, HERBLABISM and James Buckley, Director of Culinary, Levy UK 

5: It’s all about the doughnut...

Circular economy in practice for production & consumables

In this module, we'll put people and the planet on the table. Introducing the concept of “circularity”, we'll look at economic models that have sustainability at their core and how throughout the designing and planning of our events, we should aim to create as few problems as possible for both people and the planet.

Expert: Thomas Leech, Co-founder, Department 22

6: It’s a learning curve...

Creating a carbon report & understanding reduction opportunities

Building upon the knowledge you've acquired, we'll give you the tools to assess your event on sustainability merits and identify potential impact areas to set carbon reduction and improvement targets. You'll be able to analyse and audit your emissions post-event and confidently report on your environmental performance to your stakeholders.

Expert: Andy King, Co-founder, Inward Point

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When does the course start? 

The course runs annually each January and July. Our next course starts on 31 July.

How long does it run for? 

The course runs for 6 weeks. You will have access to the course materials for approximately 10 weeks. 

How do I access the course? 

The course will be hosted on our virtual platform, and you can watch the lectures wherever you are in the world as they're all pre-recorded. Joining instructions will be provided. 

Is the course accredited?

Yes, the course is accredited by the Continuous Professional Development Standards Office. 

You will receive a certificate of completion after finishing the course, regardless of whether you choose to submit the optional report.

How much does it cost?

£695 + VAT per student. If you'd like to discuss group bookings, please contact Ross Barker:  rbarker@ntmllc.com.

Can I ask questions? 

There will be two live Q&As that happen during the course. You'll be able to submit any questions you have about the course before and during these sessions.

 

Who is the course for? 

The course is designed for event and meeting professionals from agencies, corporates, and associations, and suppliers including hotels, venues, and destinations. 

Are there activities and coursework? 

Yes, there are optional activities that you can participate in if you wish, such as quizzes and questionnaires.

At the end of the 6 weeks, you will have the option of submitting a carbon report, using your learnings from the course and isla's TRACE platform. TRACE helps you measure and minimise carbon at live, hybrid and digital events. Anna will help you create your own event plan and show you how you report on that post-event. Anna and her team will review your report so you'll get helpful feedback and insights for your next event. 

Are the sessions available on-demand? 

Yes, all sessions are pre-recorded and are available on-demand so that you can consume the course at your own pace.

MEET THE PRESENTERS

ANNA ABDELNOOR: CEO & FOUNDER AT ISLA 

Anna is the CEO & Founder of isla, a non-profit organisation focusing on a sustainable future for events. Anna is the driving force behind isla and articulates the sustainability vision with support from members, the board and specialist consultants. Having worked on large-scale events for global clients, Anna knows just how capable the industry is of delivering huge projects under pressure and believes the same collaborative attitude is integral to addressing the climate crisis within the events sector. She is also a member of The Meetings Show's Advisory Board.

ANDY KING: CO-FOUNDER AT INWARD POINT

After the overwhelmingly positive feedback at The Meetings Show's keynote session in 2020 we're beyond excited to have the one and only Andy King joining us to introduce each module and share his stories from his sustainability journey. 

Andy King has built his career as an experienced event producer that has spanned three decades and has helped top brands, foundations, and celebrities execute sustainable large-scale events and experiential campaigns. From catering his first wedding at age 16, he went on to become a sought-after event producer in New York City and was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal as America’s first ‘corporate concierge’ for PepsiCo. Andy then co-founded Inward Point, a zero-waste event company, working with celebrity clients such as Leonardo DiCaprio and The Rolling Stones, and corporations including Disney, Goldman Sachs, Taboola, Victoria’s Secret, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. 

MEET THE EXPERT CONTRIBUTORS

GUY BIGWOOD

MANAGING DIRECTOR
GLOBAL DESTINATION SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT

For the last 17 years, Guy has focused on helping cities, governments, corporations and associations step up, scale up and speed up their sustainability programmes and practices.

He is the MD of Global Destination Sustainability Movement, a collaborative platform that serves to accelerate the transformation from destination marketing at whatever cost, towards destination management and stewardship that offers shared value.

JAMES BUCKLEY

DIRECTOR OF CULINARY AT LEVY UK & IRELAND

Since the start of his career, James has looked at different ways of doing things; to save guests money, make the most out of ingredients and be as efficient in the kitchen as possible.

His outlook is simple: "With the global food system accounting for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, our people always have the environment in mind – even down to everyday details, like using up cauliflower leaves for garnish or carrot peel for our sauces" - so it's easy to see why he's been referred to as the 'Circular Chef'.

HELEN HODGKINSON

CO-FOUNDER
CACTUS

Most of Helen's career has been spent in corporate travel payments, but in 2019, she began to question the lack of meaningful content on conference agendas and in meeting rooms about the impact of her business sector on the planet and environment. So, she founded CACTUS, a voluntary industry collaborative group that has come together to address that very problem. It was formed in response to the growing Climate Emergency and the need for immediate efforts to cut carbon emissions.

THOMAS LEECH

CO-FOUNDER
DEPARTMENT 22

In 2015, Thomas won the Ellen MacArthur scholarship, enabling him to explore a new narrative for how designers can bring about positive change. Having recently graduated with an MA from the Royal College of Art, he emerged with a renewed interest in design and sustainability and a fresh expertise in circular economy thinking.

His company, Department 22, offers consultancy and training for innovation and the circular economy and aims to create a world with resilient food systems that have no waste, restore the environment and keep people healthy.

DR VINCENT WALSH

FOUNDER
HERBLABISM

With over a decade’s experience of working in urban crop production, regenerative agricultural farm design, and circular approaches to resource management – both in the UK and internationally – Vincent now focuses on developing and implementing food systems and products which are both sustainable and commercially viable. 

He is the founder of HERBLABISM, a fast growing plant-based food brand which was on the official menu at COP26 in Glasgow (and more recently was served at this year’s Wimbledon Tennis Championships).

JONATHAN WISE

CO-FOUNDER
PURPOSE DISRUPTORS

With 15 years of experience in major London advertising agencies and a Masters degree in Sustainability & Responsibility, Jonathan has seen first-hand just how much the advertising industry needs to step into the responsibility of helping to address our climate and ecological emergency.

As the co-founder of Purpose Disruptors, a growing network of advertising and marketing professionals, his goal is to create a visible, large scale, bottom up movement to ensure his industry is more purposeful and responsible in the climate crisis.

WHERE DO OUR 270+ ALUMNI COME FROM AND WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO SAY?

course alumni

Advertising Two - FLR Research

FLR1

 

2023 ASSOCIATION PARTNERS



2023 MEDIA PARTNERS

2023 ALLIANCE PARTNERS