All posts by Bethan Riach

Powerful Thinking to Launch Sustainable Supplier List

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A key factor in the journey to more sustainable events is finding power suppliers who are also committed to finding sustainable solutions.

To help build a community of suppliers and event organisers with aligned values, Powerful Thinking is compiling a list which highlights the many UK suppliers that offer sustainable approaches and equipment.

We intend to host inventory of suppliers as an online resource for event professionals, and also to signpost it from the recently launched online Powerful Thinking Guide 2017.

The supplier list will be shared directly with the 50 plus Vision Festivals, that have pledged to work together to reduce their environmental impacts, and with our wider database of over 2,500 event professionals.

To find out how to be part of the Powerful Thinking Supplier List contact: bethan@powerful-thinking.org.uk

Powerful Thinking Guide Launched at GEI9

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Powerful Thinking launched their latest guide to Smart Energy for Festivals and Outdoor Events at the Green Events and Innovations Conference (GEI9) hosted by A Greener Festival at the ILMC on 7th March.

Chair of Powerful Thinking, Chris Johnson, presented event professionals and delegates at GEI9 with the new Powerful Thinking Guide, an up-to-date knowledge and practical resources to help them manage temporary energy smartly, reducing environmental impacts and fuel bills at events.

Since the first edition of the guide in 2012 a significant shift towards more efficient energy management has taken place in the events industry. Events are typically able to save between 10% and 50% of their fuel consumption and the guide uses case studies of recent events to illustrate how and where this has been achieved to inspire and guide event organisers in achieving similar results. The guide is created from a collection of modular resources, factsheets, case studies and templates, which are also available as standalone resources online.

The guide was co-written by members of the Powerful Thinking steering group with leading European energy consultants, advisers and festival organisers under the direction of lead author Chris Johnson, Chair of Powerful Thinking and Operations Director of Shambala Festival. Key contributors include: Chiara Badiali (Julie’s Bicycle), Paul Schurink (ZAP Concepts), Sid Rogerson (Entersys), Tim Benson (ZAP Concepts UK), Sjoerd Schouten (Watt-Now), Shaun Pearce (Production Services Association) and Liz Warwick (Lansdowne Warwick).

The Powerful Thinking Guide can be downloaded as a PDF from the Powerful Thinking Website: http://www.powerful-thinking.org.uk/resources/powerful-thinking-guide-2017/ ­­­

Standalone resources can be found here: Factsheets and Case studies.

Powerful Thinking Guide will launch at #GEI9

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Powerful Thinking will launch the second edition of the Powerful Thinking Guide at The Green Events and Innovations Conference, hosted by A Greener Festival at the ILMC, on Tues 7th March.

The Powerful Thinking Guide provides event professionals with up-to-date knowledge and practical resources to help manage temporary energy smartly, reducing environmental impacts and fuel bills. It is created from a collection of modular resources, factsheets and case studies that are also available online. This edition is European in focus, reflecting both the progress being made across Europe on this topic, and the partners involved with the guide’s content.

 Since the first edition of the guide in 2012, a significant shift towards more efficient energy management has taken place in the events industry. Events are typically able to save between 10% and 50% of their fuel consumption and there are many examples that illustrate how and where this has been achieved in the new guide.

The new guide has been co-written by a group of leading European energy consultants, advisers and festival organisers under the direction of lead author Chris Johnson, Chair of Powerful Thinking and Operations Director of Shambala Festival. Contributors include: Paul Schurink (ZAP Concepts), Chiara Badiali (Julie’s Bicycle), Sid Rogerson (Entersys), Tim Benson (ZAP Concepts UK), Sjoerd Schouten (Watt-Now), Shaun Pearce (Production Services Association), Liz Warwick (Lansdowne Warwick).

The Powerful Thinking Guide 2017 will be available online on the Powerful Thinking website from 7th March.

40 festivals meet to shape the future of Festival Vision 2025

40 Vision: 2025 Festivals met to shape the future

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40 Festivals and organisations met on the 26th January to shape the future of the Festival Vision: 2025.

Hosted by Chris Johnson (Shambala Festival/Powerful Thinking) and Julie’s Bicycle founder and CEO Alison Tickell, the day included presentations from Richard Gilles, former Sustainability Director at M&S and Director of Festival On The Wall, ZAP Concepts event sustainability consultants Rob Scully and Paul Schurink, Programme Manager Laura Pando from Julie’s Bicycle and Victoria Chapman, Sustainability Coordinator at Festival Republic.

Topics included cup deposit systems, changing the supply chain, energy efficiency and water management. Workshops on managing and monitoring energy effectively and understanding travel and waste data gave delegates the chance to share experiences, get advice, and gain practical knowledge to help with meeting the shared vision for a sustainable future for the UK festival industry.

Outcomes from the day include a call for clearly defined standards and reporting on waste across the events industry; the development of affordable energy monitoring equipment accessible by all Festival Vision:2025 events, and exploration of a purchasing consortium.

Find out more about Festival Vision: 2025 and join the 56 festivals who have already pledged to work together for a more sustainable festival industry  at www.festivalvision2025.net

Industry Green Survey Results are in!

Industry Green Survey: The results are in!

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Thank you to all the festivals that took the Powerful Thinking 2016 Industry Green Survey. The results allow us (the industry) to chart progress and identify shifts in industry practices, which will help to shape our resources and research to meet current needs within the festival industry.

The headlines:

  • 71 UK festivals were represented, a 50% increase compared to 2015.
  • Around half of festivals taking the survey are now using LED festoon lighting.
  • Around half are also measuring energy and fuel consumption, significantly more than 2015.
  • One in five festival have introduced a role in their organisation focused on sustainability within the last year.
  • Over 50 festivals have signed the Festival Vision:2025 pledge, 9 out of 10 whom say, “they have been inspired or encouraged to take action,” as a result of being part of the initiative.
  • The survey data from this year shows a real focus (and frustration) amongst event organisers about best practice guidance in sustainable waste management, and the options available in the supply chain.

In future, information from Vision:2025 events will be analysed (anonymously) to gain a greater understanding of trends in emissions, energy efficiency and waste management, using data generated by using online tools such as the Julie’s Bicycle Creative IG Tool. To participate in Powerful Thinking’s research and vision for a more sustainable future for festivals visit: www.festivalvision2025.net

Photo credit: Lousie Roberts courtesy of Shambala Festival

Who is attending the meeting to shape FestivalVision:2025

Find out who’s shaping Festival Vision:2025 at the Festival Supplier Awards

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Over 40 Vision Festivals will meet to shape the future of Festival Vision: 2025 – Powerful Thinking’s call to action to bring festivals together to work towards a sustainable festival industry. The meeting is followed by The Festival Supplier Awards 2017 dinner and awards ceremony — free to Vision Festivals — at The Hurlingham Club, London on the 26th Jan.

Representatives from over 40 Vision Festivals will meet for day of workshops and networking opportunities as well as the chance to share experiences and help shape the direction of future research and resources for Festival Vision: 2025. Download the full programme here.

Representatives from the following festivals & production companies will be attending:

Festival Republic (Reading, Leeds, Latitude, Electric Picnic, Download, EDC, V-Festival, T in the Park, Creamfields, Wireless)
Sunday Best (Bestival, Camp Bestival)
Ground Control (Parklife, Festival No.6, Kendall Calling)
Northern Festivals Network: (Underneath The Stars, Bluedot, Cloudspotting, Kendal Calling, Just So, Festival Number 6, Ramsbottom Festival)
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Bristol Harbour Festival
Kew the Music
Port Eliot
BBC Events
Towersey Festival
Cambridge Folk Festival
Kambe Events (Shambala Festival, Starry Skies, Swingamajig)
Hay Festival
Festival On The Wall
Glastonbury Festival
Noz-Stock The Hidden Valley
Linisfarne Festival
The Green Gathering
Lambeth Country Show
RedFest
Dartford Festival
Always The Sun
Somerfest
Secret Garden Party
Boomtown Fair
Liverpool Loves
Wheels and Fins
ZAP concepts
Association of Independent Festivals
Association of Festival Organisers
A Greener Festival

Festivals that have taken the Festival Vision: 2025 pledge are invited to join the meeting. If you would like to enquire about tickets please contact: bethan@powerful-thinking.org.uk.

Programme released: Shaping Festival Vision:2025

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The programme for the Festival Vision:2025 meeting at the Festival Supplier Awards on January 26th at The Hurlingham Club is now out. 40 Vision Festivals will meet to shape the 10-year initiative, share experiences, discuss opportunities, take part in professional skills workshops to help in their onward journey towards sustainability and join the Festival Supplier Awards evening dinner and award ceremony free as a further chance to network with other Vision festivals. Full programme details below:

 Festival Vision:2025 Meeting
Shaping the Future
26th January, 14:00 – 17:30
followed by drinks and awards at The Festival Supplier Awards, 19:00 – 02:00
Venue: The Hurlingham Club, Ranelagh Gardens
London, SW6 3PR

Programme

14:00              Arrivals & welcome

14:30              Setting the scene — Alison Tickell (Founder & CEO Julie’s Bicycle): The value of festivals and the arts in cultural leadership and climate change.

14:40              Festivals stepping up — Chris Johnson (Co-founder Shambala Festival & Chair of Powerful Thinking)

  • Festival Vision:2025 project update — 56 festivals and counting
  • Industry Green Survey 2016 — The results
  • A changing industry — Defining the direction

15:00              Richard Gillies (Festival On the Wall, former Head of CSR for M&S): Supply chain change in a public facing industry — comparing notes from the corporate sector.

15:30              What’s possible? Case studies of successful practices and initiatives:

  • How much can I save on energy? – Rob Scully (ZAP Concepts)
  • Deposit systems – Victoria Chapman (Festival Republic)
  • Tools for measuring impacts – Laura Pando (Julie’s Bicycle)

16:00              Tea & coffee break – Challenge & opportunity to share: meet 3 people you don’t know and find out something about what they are dong to make their event sustainable…

16:20              Data = knowledge – Quick-fire sessions (4 sessions of 10 minutes)

  • How to monitor energy effectively (ZAP Concepts)
  • Managing data and using the IG Tool (Julie’s Bicycle)
  • Measuring travel (Lansdowne Associates)
  • Getting the real story from you waste data (Kambe Events)

17:00              Shaping the future: Festival Vision:2025 — What do we want to achieve and how will we do it?

17:30              END

Festival Supplier Evening Dinner and Awards
Dress Code: Black Tie

19:00              Drinks reception

20:00              Dinner

21:30              Awards

02:00              End

Download the programme PDF

Practical Information:

Advance queries: bethan@powerful-thinking.org.uk / 07841558445
Entry to the evening dinner & awards is by guest list – i.e. no ticket required.

Travel:

Nearest tube station – Putney Bridge
Map to venue: www.hurlinghamclub.org.uk/map-directions/

Hotel Suggestions:

Premier Inn – London Putney Bridge – 10 minutes walk form venue with rooms from £58 http://www.premierinn.com
The Lodge Hotel – Putney Bridge – about 10 minute taxi with rooms at around £120 http://www.thelodgehotellondon.com

Contact bethan@powerful-thinking.org.uk for ticket details.

Shaping the future of Festival Vision: 2025 at The Festival Suppliers Awards

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Powerful Thinking and Julie’s Bicycle will hold the first Festival Vision:2025 Meeting at The Festival Suppliers Awards on January 26th 2017 at The Hurlingham Club, London.

The Meeting will bring together 30 plus Vision Festivals, events that have pledged to work together for a more sustainable festival industry, to shape the future of the 10-year Vision, and take part in professional skills workshops for their onward journey to more sustainable events.

The day will include workshops on reducing fuel use and energy costs, waste management, sustainable travel, and accurate measuring and recording of impact data by Julie’s Bicycle, ZAP Concepts, and the sustainability teams from Shambala Festival, Festival Republic and Cambridge Folk Festival.

Alison Tickell, CEO of Julie’s Bicycle, will host a discussion on the future of the Vision as well as giving attendees a broader perspective of the opportunity in the arts and cultural sector for climate leadership.

Guest speakers will include Richard Gilles, former Sustainability Director for The Kingfisher Group and Marks & Spencer, and CEO of Festival On The Wall, who brings insight into influencing the supply chain change in a client facing business.

There will also be space to network and share experiences as well as explore opportunities for collaboration and influencing the supply chain through collective purchasing.

The event is free for Vision:2025 Festivals who will also receive a free place to The Festival Suppliers Awards (normally £280), who are generously hosting the event, including the drinks reception, evening dinner and awards ceremony, where Powerful Thinking Steering group member Victoria Chapman, Sustainability Coordinator for Festival Republic, will present the Green Supplier Award on behalf of Powerful Thinking.

There are still a few places available for the event. All UK Music Festivals are welcome to reserve a ticket providing they have taken the Festival Vision: 2025 pledge to aim for a more sustainable event. For more details contact bethan@powerful-thinking.org.uk.

Take the Festival Vision: 2025 Pledge.  
More details on The Festival Suppliers Awards.

#shapeFV2025   #FSAwards17   #FestivalVision2025

Powerful Thinking to Judge Green Award at Festival Suppliers Award

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Powerful Thinking are proud to have assembled the judging panel for the 2017 Festival Supplier Awards at the Hurlingham Club, London on the 26 January.

The judges are Chris Johnson, Chair of Powerful Thinking and Shambala Festival, Victoria Chapman, Sustainability Co-ordinator for Festival Republic, Andy Fryers from Hay Festival and Richard Gilles Former Sustainability Director of Kingfisher Plc and Marks & Spencer and Director of Festival on the Wall. Victoria Chapman will present the Award on behalf of the panel.

Nominees for the Green Supplier Award 2017 are:

As part of the Festival Supplier Awards Powerful Thinking will be holding a the first #FestivalVision2025 meeting to shape the future of the Vision. The meeting includes a day of networking, inspiring talks and practical workshops for 30 of the Festivals who have taken the pledge to work towards as sustainable future for the UK Festival Industry.

Vision Festivals will have the chance to meet to discuss and shape Festival Vision: 2025 together, share experiences from 2016 and network with other festival organisers, and attend workshops to gain insights into tools to measure environmental performance easily and effectively, before heading to the dinner and awards ceremony in the evening. More details here.

Learn more about Festival Vision: 2025 

Festival Vision: 2025 at the Festival Suppliers Awards

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Powerful Thinking are working with the Festival Suppliers Awards to create a networking event for 40 Vision Festivals. The Festival Suppliers Awards will host the event as part of their Awards ceremony and evening celebrations on 26th January 2017 at The Hurlingham Club, London.

Vision Festivals are being offered a free place at the event, which normally costs £280. They will have the chance to meet to discuss and shape Festival Vision: 2025 together, explore a significant opportunity to develop a funded project, share experiences from 2016 and network with other festival organisers, and gain insights into tools to measure environmental performance easily and effectively through workshop style meetings, before heading to the dinner and awards ceremony in the evening.

Event Details:
26th January at The Hurlingham Club, London
Festival Vision: 2025 networking session: 4 – 6pm (t.b.c)
Awards ceremony and dinner: 7:00pm – 2am

More details about The Festival Supplier Awards:

The Festival Supplier Awards were launched to recognise the achievements and hard work of outdoor event suppliers. With the festival sector diversifying rapidly in the last few years, meaning it’s so much more than ‘rock ‘n’ roll’, they wanted to provide a platform to celebrate the ‘behind-the-scenes’ teams that are the lifeblood of any successful festival.

Many outdoor event suppliers have indicated that the festival sector represents a significantly increasing proportion of their business. Festivals offer a good benchmark for the way live events are transitioning e.g. through RFID technology and experiential marketing and with over 60% of music tourism delivered from festival-goers, they felt the timing was right to launch a dedicated awards evening to highlight the creativity and innovation that festival suppliers deliver on every occasion.

festivalsupplierawards.com