Seminar sequel set to 'green up' corporates

Following the 'Going Green - Inspiring People' seminar in June, international events company MotivAction is staging a follow-up at The Window in Islington from 2pm on Wednesday 17 October.

Hertfordshire-based MotivAction is looking to increase environmental awareness among some of the UK's leading businesses, and are offering all seminar attendees a free hour of consultancy to 'green up' their corporate events.

An internal transformation has seen MotivAction's own carbon footprint reduced by 30 per cent.

In addition to this, the events agency is hoping other companies will follow in its footsteps and aims to repeat the success of June's seminar.

This event saw 80 clients from businesses including ABN Amro and BP attend The Commonwealth Club in London to find out how going green can environmentally and financially benefit companies.

Over 90 attendees have already registered for October's event - including representatives from Virgin Media, JP Morgan, Royal Mail and UBS.

Environmental expert speakers will feature at the heart of the seminar; addressing climate change from scientific, financial and social angles.

These speakers include climate scientist Dr Paul Williams, accountant Anthony Day, environmentalist Donnachadh McCarthy and Edward Hanrahan, chief operating officer of carbon offset organisation Climate Care.

Anthony Day, author of Will Climate Change Your Life?, is optimistic about the seminars' impact: "Not a day goes past without more news about climate change, global warming and threats to the planet.

"Even so, polls prove that most people are concerned about the issues but just don't know what to do; the seminar shows how MotivAction, by building the green theme into mainstream training products and events, develops essential new knowledge as well as new opportunities".

The seminar will be as environmentally friendly as possible, with all associated materials printed on 100 per cent recycled paper, jugs of water replacing plastic bottles and low-energy lighting products.

Organic drinks and canapes made from locally produced ingredients will be provided by Moving Venue caterers, and the seminar's estimated carbon footprint will be calculated and offset with Climate Care.

Guests are encouraged to travel to the venue using public transport, and MotivAction will be working with The Nice Car Company to provide free electric car transfers from Angel underground station to The Window in one of the company's MEGA City cars.

There will also be an electric van - the MultiTruck II - exhibited at the venue.

The 'Going Green - Inspiring People' seminars complement new green services that MotivAction now offers.

These include three team building events aimed at creating climate change awareness, engagement and action, a host of new 'greener incentive travel awards' and the option for events to be 'carbon neutral' using a carbon offset service.

The instigator of these services and champion of the Going Green seminars is Tim Waygood, MotivAction's managing director.

He highlights his vision for the future: "This is a first step in educating companies that we all need to change the way we run businesses.

"We're not living a sustainable way of life and the sooner we can influence others to alter the way they use resources, the sooner we can try to turn things around.

"MotivAction is committed to using the events industry as a means to communicate this".

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