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A commitment to sustainability

Globally

Corporate Social Responsibility has been a core commitment of the GL events Group for many years. It is fully integrated within the company through the four strands of our programmes, deployed on a cross-functional level and through a continuous improvement approach.

Our achievements against these programmes are reported publicly on an annual basis. You can read our latest Group CSR report here.

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Global initiatives

– Diversity
– Inclusion
– Accessibility
– Workplace Safety

– Waste Management
– Emission Monitoring
– Eco-friendly Product
– Sustainable Procurement

– Local Supply Chain
– Value for Local Communities
– Circular Economy

– Anti-corruption
– Business Compliance
– Whistleblowing Policy

Locally

At a local level in the UK, our commitment to Sustainability is set out in our Event Sustainability Policy. This is supported by a management system based around the application of four key principles:

  • Inclusivity
  • Integrity
  • Stewardship
  • Transparency

Over the last five years, GL events UK has begun to use its position as a market leader to support and activity champion the industry by taking up advisory positions with a number of key organisations to drive the importance of sustainability. We also began outreach initiatives, engaging with universities such as University of East London, Queen Margaret’s University, Edinburgh, and most recently University College Birmingham, in an effort to educate, inspire and support the next generation of event professionals.

In addition, we took a leading position on the environment and began to focus on the importance not only of “green” events, but also “good” events, in every sense of the word.

Pay It Forward

Our Pay It Forward programme – an internal initiative – crystalises in tangible terms, our commitments to the future of the events industry, to the sustainability and legacy of events, and the communities in which we work and live. Our positioning is built on three key platforms:

Our passion for sustainability

Both environmental and also nurturing the sustainability of the events industry and ensuring stewardship of the next generation of event professionals

Local community engagement

Within our Midlands community – this involves initiatives as a corporate whole, but more significantly empowering our employees to engage with projects and initiatives which benefit vulnerable groups within this community

Caring for our employees

We actively support the physical and mental health of our employees in a number of ways; offering direct support services to those who need help; providing awareness training to all staff to help them recognise the signs that colleagues may be struggling and know what to do; and working preventatively to ensure that staff are correctly supported before problems arise

A timeline of our commitment to sustainability

OCTOBER 2016

Signed up as first Futures Supporter of National Outdoor Events Association

GL events became the first company to become a NOEA Futures Supporter following an announcement at The Showman’s Show. The agreement saw GL events take an active role in the progression and strategy of NOEA, with the ambition of growing its influence for the industry and providing the very best value to its members.

MARCH 2017

Key driver behind the publishing of the 'future of outdoor events' white paper

Our leadership of the NOEA “Futures” programme, saw us chair a number of focus sessions, where we invited key figures in the events community to share their thoughts on issues affecting the future of the industry. The first session, held in February 2017, resulted in the publishing of a white paper on the future of outdoor events.

JANUARY 2018

'How To Organise An Event' guide published for the benefit of industry professionals

GL events publishes its first “How to” guide aimed at those entering the events industry. It brought together the wisdom of experienced event professionals to provide some help for those starting out.

FEBRUARY 2018

UK event sustainability research project launched in partnership with the Event Production Show

GL events launched a cross-industry research project on sustainability within the UK events industry in partnership with the Event Production Show.  Its aim was to better understand the status of sustainability on event organisers’ agendas, and to ascertain the sources of the pressures and motivations to address sustainability issues.

JULY 2018

Assisted Queen Margaret University in supplying volunteers to European Championships

GL events underlined its position as Official Overlay Supporter to European Championships Glasgow 2018, through the development of a relationship with Queen Margaret University to supply volunteers to the championships. GL events also provided further support to students by offering them exclusive behind the scenes tours of the event venues. Some of the students went on to produce blogs showcasing their experiences.

Awarded 'Best Commitment to Sustainability' award by Major Events International

Also in July 2018, GL events picked up an award from industry body, Major Events International recognising “Best Commitment to Sustainability.”

SEPTEMBER 2018

Partnerships forged with Stand Out and Powerful Thinking focusing on legacy

GL events partnered with Stand Out magazine, and industry think-tank, Powerful thinking, at the Showmans Show, to host a round table discussion on legacy.

FEBRUARY 2019

'Good Events Guide' published focusing on importance of CSR and sustainability

GL events launches publication of its “Good Events Guide, looking at issues surrounding organising a sustainable event, including the relevance of CSR, and the importance of health and wellbeing in the events community today.

AUGUST 2019

Support pledged to Festival Vision:2025 in taking action against climate change

GL events confirmed its support for Festival Vision:2025, the crowdfunding campaign launched by not-for-profit group Powerful thinking, to support the UK live events industry in providing leadership action on climate change.

SEPTEMBER 2019

Charity partnership announced with NSPCC

GL events announces charity partnership with NSPCC, to give employees the opportunity to get involved in charitable fundraising activity in their own local area.

DECEMBER 2019

GL events takes part in the Big Birmingham Sleepout

As part of our Pay It Forward programme, GL events took part in the Big Birmingham Sleepout to raise funds to tackle youth homelessness. GL also donated a number of new temporary structures to the charity to assist with their fundraising activity.

MARCH 2020

Relationship formalised with University College Birmingham

The partnership with UCB, a leading provider of higher education events management degrees, sees senior leadership figures within GL events providing input into the shaping of course content, and sharing knowledge and experience with final year students in the classroom.