Despite one of our busiest years ever in the Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC), our commitment to sustainability hasn’t wavered so we thought it was about time we shared a wee update!
Awards
In 2023, we were shortlisted for not one, but two Sustainability awards! Back in the summer, we were thrilled to be one of the regional finalists for the Climate Action Award at the Scottish Thistle Awards and had a great night attending the ceremony in September last year. It was a super night surrounded by inspiring events, hospitality and tourism businesses in the West of Scotland and we were delighted for our friends at Glasgow Life who took home the Climate Action Award on the night. Working closely with the team at Glasgow Convention Bureau, it was great to see how our dedication to sustainability in our own venue has contributed to Team Glasgow’s overall approach to sustainability with Glasgow being named as the 8th most sustainable conference venue in the world, wow!
Our Sustainability Team Lead, Lesley Turan, along with our Sustainability Team was also shortlisted for the Excellence in Environmental Sustainability at the inaugural Academic Venue Solutions Awards back in December. Our lovely friends at the University of St Andrews gleaned the award on the night with a sterling entry; we were just delighted to be recognised amongst some impressive academic venues who are leading the way with their green actions.
Out and about!
In November, Lesley also had a trip to the big smoke where she attended the Sustainability Events Show in the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in London, alongside colleagues from Academic Venue Solutions and Keele University where they shared best practice and met with like-minded businesses.
Sustainable events
Back in September, the Guidelines International Network joined us for their annual conference and selected our venue based on our green credentials. Elaine Harrow, CEO said: “Our starting point for our 2023 conference was to look to the Global Destination Sustainability index of sustainable tourism and conference cities and we selected several locations from the top 20. We then looked at venues that could deliver a fully hybrid event within those locations and full proposals were developed for 5 venues. The locations were narrowed down to three and in 2022 our board selected the Technology and Innovation Centre at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.’ It was such a pleasure to welcome the team!
Health and Wellbeing
As well as focusing on our green practices, the team has also turned their attention to how they can help improve the health and wellbeing of our staff, clients and delegates; one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. July saw us welcome 200 delegates for the 5th International Sexuality and Social Work Conference which focused on “Everyday gender and sexuality: justice, rights and activism in social work and helping professions”. To kick-start proceedings, the organising committee collaborated with LEAP Sports Scotland (Leadership, Equality and Active Participation in Sports for LGBTI people in Scotland) to provide walking tours for delegates.
Feeling inspired by our delegates, our Business Development team undertook the Autumn Paths For All Step Count Challenge and enjoyed it so much that they’ve just signed up for the next challenge in May; hopefully the weather will be kind!
The team has also been busy collaborating with our colleagues at Strathclyde Sport to offer health and wellbeing initiatives to conference delegates visiting Strathclyde to enhance their experience on campus. This has extended to the brilliant OVO Bikes in Glasgow City Centre for which the team has bought vouchers for a number of lucky delegates to use during their stay to enjoy a spot of sight-seeing!
Get in touch!
So, it’s all systems go on the sustainability front! Later this year, we’ll be introducing a new carbon calculator which allows us to identify total carbon emissions (based on energy and catering emissions) per event and per person attending, giving us the opportunity to recommend how a client can offset these. If you’d like to find out more and are looking for ideas to make your event greener, then please do get in touch, we’d love to chat!