Blue Earth Summit returns to Bristol at newest cultural hotspot Propyard

Blue Earth Summit returns to Bristol for a second year in October, with an expanded 3-day programme for up to 5000 guests at Propyard. 

The summit will take place from 11-13 October, bringing together a community of business professionals looking to make a positive impact and affect change at their place of work.

A breakthrough business event with a difference, Blue Earth Summit harnesses the power of the outdoors to inspire sustainable mindsets and foster meaningful connections. Day 3 of the event is hosted at The Wave, enabling attendees to get outdoors and get active.

When deciding on a home city for the Summit, Bristol stood out as the obvious choice having been the first British city to be named European Green Capital in 2015 in recognition of what its citizens have already achieved in making the city a healthier, happier place to live in. 

With the event growing and set to welcome five times as many attendees in 2022 compared with year one, Propyard was selected thanks to its credentials around sustainability, and putting environmental and social issues at the heart of its business model. The massive exhibition space which has already brought world class art to Bristol, with the likes of Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, and this will take over the venue ahead of its Christmas celebrations in 2022. 

With collaboration at the forefront of what they do, Propyard is the home to an array of multicultural events for the entire community. Hosting free arts and craft sessions for families and children with their Summer Art Series, immersive yoga in the 360-degree immersive exhibition, and providing a platform for local artists to showcase their talent to a wider audience with their live music courtyard sessions.

The Blue Earth Summit programme features over 70 speakers and 20 workshop sessions to provide a platform for knowledge sharing and actionable insight on core themes ranging from purpose-led business to health and wellbeing; energy transition to diversity, youth and inclusion.

Bristol's arts and culture scenes will be represented with sessions looking at how large scale events and festivals can operate more sustainably and how venues can move towards carbon net zero, with wider issues tackled including how city centre transportation can be transformed to combat air quality.

The Pitch Tent returns to include Adventure & Impact projects alongside Business, which has been so successful for the winning companies who pitched to leading investment firms last year in terms of increased visibility and crucial funding.

Richard Walker, MD at Iceland, will be a headline speaker at the event in October, having already publicly committed the company to bold sustainability goals. He comments: “If you and your business are passionate about our planet and the people who work for you, Blue Earth Summit is for you. I am very much looking forward to this year’s Summit as we all need to discover and celebrate how we create businesses that do good."

"The Summit is a celebration of the outdoors, encouraging people to walk around their local parks or spending time at the beach. We know it benefits people’s mental and physical health. They are shared goals.”

Propyard co-founder, Sam Watts, said: “We are incredibly proud to be hosting this massive return of the Blue Earth Summit as sustainability and social issues are something that we have put at the heart of Propyard. Knowing that Bristol has such a longstanding commitment to making greener choices was one of the core reasons we decided to create this new venue here, and hosting this pivotel event enables us to bring sustainable innovation to the fore for the city.”

New speakers this year joining Richard include ocean racer Pip Hare and activist Poppy Stowell-Evans, alongside leading brands such as Rab and Aqua Libre.

Returning headline speakers including Sir Tim Smit - Eden Project,  Hugo Tagholm - Surfers Against Sewage, and Kresse Wesling CBE - Elvis & Kresse, alongside brands such as Trek, BUFF and pioneering sports venue The Wave. 

Bringing together makers, mavericks, founders, futurists, adventurers and investors creates a unique opportunity to meet with like-minded attendees who are putting sustainability at the forefront of business. 

After a packed schedule of content at Propyard, attendees will head to The Wave, where they can surf, swim, run, cycle and climb with these newly made connections. The event provides a vibrant platform to spark natural connection between business and industry. Blue Earth Summit is designed to be a place of positive action and can-do attitude inspired by the great outdoors. 

Will Hayler, Blue Earth Summit co-founder, said: “Networking can often be seen as a cynical exchange of business cards but the exchange of mutually beneficial ideas at last year’s summit was extraordinary. It was the first time so many people with shared visions and values had been able to connect in a business context. The energy and ideas both in the room and out in the open were amazing.”

Book tickets here to secure early access to workshop sessions and Day 3 activities. The complete programme can be viewed here.