LEADERS who have created more eco-friendly businesses will share their experience in a panel discussion at a free business festival.

Bournemouth’s Green House Hotel will host the Going Green event on Friday, November 19, as part of the BCP Business Festival.

The host will be Olivia O’Sullivan, general manager of the hotel, who will discuss the measures it has taken to retain its spot as the UK’s number one eco-boutique hotel, despite the pressures of the pandemic.

She will be joined by Lizzie McManus, founder of Warrior Agency, an ethical PR agency in Southbourne, which also helps businesses transition to a more sustainable future.

Lizzie McManus said: “This event couldn’t have come at a better time, with the world’s attention on the UK for COP26, we all know that we need to be committing to reducing our carbon output, not just as countries, but as businesses, and at home too.”

Jon Fletcher, chief executive of the Bournemouth-based green energy comparison site Big Clean Switch, will talk about the turbulent energy market. He said: “I’ll be discussing why green energy is essential if we’re going to avoid similar problems in the future, and why switching to using renewable energy can help you control costs and save the planet. I’ll also be answering any questions on energy and switching, as well as talking through the next steps.”

Michael French, founder and projects coordinator of Boscombe-based charity Grounded Community, who teaches people to grow their own food and feeds the community, will discuss the importance of working together as a community.

He said: “Last year, Grounded Community took on the work of Boscombe’s community fridge as they struggled to get funding during lockdown. With an 110 per cent increase in people using foodbanks last year, there are more and more families who need our support now.

“Feed the Community is not a small project; it costs in the region of £15,000 a year just to run and requires a team of 30 volunteers to coordinate pickups from 65 supermarkets every week across the BCP area and then distribute to between 80-100 families in need. Our supporters and donors are mostly local people who understand the importance of growing our own food as it improves our health and wellbeing, as well as reducing our impact on the environment by reducing packaging and food miles.”

Jon Cullum of Sustainable Technology and Solutions Centre, or Sustechs, in Branksome discuss solutions for people’s journey to NetZero.

He said: “We’ve provided more than 4,000 installations saving tens of millions of pounds and hundreds of tons of carbon and I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have on solutions for reducing your carbon at work or at home.”

Funded by BCP Council’s Bounce Back Fund and taking place at venues across the conurbation, the BCP Business Festival will consist of 14 events, under the themes of future and innovation, inspiration and wellbeing.

It begins on Wednesday, November 17, with An Evening with Alastair Humphreys, in which the adventurer and author will speak to an audience at Bournemouth’s Pavilion.

Details can be found here.