Sustainability advocate, Kevin McCloud, MBE, announced as headline speaker at Yorkshire Sustainability Festival 2024.

Big things are being unveiled for Yorkshire Sustainability Festival 2024 (YSF24) as sustainability guru, Kevin McCloud, will be taking to the speaker stage at The Yorkshire Sustainability Conference later this year, to share his knowledge and passion around sustainable construction and design.

Kate Hutchinson, founder of Yorkshire Sustainability Festival and The Sustainability Conference, said: 

“We are absolutely delighted to have presenter Kevin McCloud joining us on our Future Cities Conference day as part of Yorkshire Sustainability Festival 2024. We’re bringing together leaders from the public, private and third sectors all passionate and committed to building a sustainable future for Yorkshire at YSF24. Kevin’s knowledge and passion for sustainability in the built environment will no doubt inspire our regional leaders to work together with our business community to build a truly sustainable Yorkshire.” 

Kevin McCloud, who has presented an iconic tv series since its launch in 1999, is passionate about and committed to sustainable architecture. In his recent documentary with Mary Portas and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, The Great Climate Fight (aired on channel 4 in late 2023), McCloud and his co-hosts made clear that the UK Govt has a step by step plan to fight climate change, provided by the Climate Change Committee, they’re just simply choosing not to follow it. With bills rising for everyone as the cost-of-living crisis continues to rip through the UK, McCloud advocates for the importance of better standards for new builds which will not only make them more sustainable but will save money on gas and electricity bills for regular people. It’s becoming clear that not only is the transition to a sustainable future vital for the planet but it’s vital for ordinary working people too. 

Alongside his campaigning work, McCloud shares his personal picks of Green Heroes’ every year at a home show event, showcasing the best conceptual and eco-friendly construction and design from small startups to big corporate businesses. Prior to his presenting days, he previously received an MBE for services to sustainable design and energy-saving property refurbishment and is passionate about making his living space planet friendly. This wealth of knowledge and sheer passion for change will no doubt inspire more businesses and attendees of The Sustainability Conference to be heroes in the sustainability sector themselves.

What is the Yorkshire Sustainability Festival?

Building on the success of Yorkshire Sustainability Week in 2023, which was the biggest gathering of sustainability professionals in the North of England, Yorkshire Sustainability Festival has evolved and expanded for 2024. This year the series of events are set to be bigger and better, with events being planned in North, East, South and West Yorkshire, expanding across the region to bring to life the biggest sustainability festival in the UK. With an audience of leaders spanning public, private and third sectors, Yorkshire Sustainability Festival is beginning to become a regional COP. 

The two week festival of events, starting 10th June 2024 will include The Yorkshire Sustainability Conference, on 18th and 19th June, with headline speaker Kevin McCloud attending day two of the event, focusing on Future Cities; including focused panels, keynotes and workshops with leaders in industries such as construction, energy, transport and water. YSF is bringing back this topic for year two as we aim to dig deeper into the conversation around the circular economy in the built environment; how we move from place to place, creating truly regenerative designs, adopting new forms of energy, using ‘waste’ materials, and of course, really importantly, who’s going to do these new jobs of the future, and how organisations can train and upskill their teams for the jobs of the future that we’re collectively building.

Day one of the conference will be focused around a circular economy with tracks including manufacturing, SME support, economy and finance and waste. You can expect in-depth discussions on the doughnut economics model, how AI can help us to bring to life a circular economy, what skills will be needed in a circular economy, how we create new manufacturing methods to turn ‘waste’ into a new product, and what our food system will look like in the circular economy. For now, our headline speaker for Circular Economy is still under wraps but you can stay up to date with all event announcements by signing up to the YSF newsletter.

There’s no doubt that this emerging and successful event will bring together both public and private, SMEs and corporate organisations altogether to create a catalyst for future sustainable growth. Like minded businesses and individuals can get involved in speaker panels, listen to international calibre talks and network with other passionate sustainability professionals like never before. 

How can I attend The Yorkshire Sustainability Conference?

Businesses big and small are being called to get involved and contribute to the knowledge exchange across the festival to develop and achieve sustainable business goals both locally, and nationally.

Yorkshire Sustainability Festival takes place between 10th-21st June and offers a range of events to help organisations reduce their carbon emissions, improve their sustainability, and create new business opportunities in the green economy; from roundtable Sustainability Symposiums to a wide range of fringe events, including The Yorkshire Sustainability Conference on 18th and 19th June.

Can’t wait to see Kevin McCloud? Businesses and individuals can purchase conference tickets HERE.

Discounts are available for start-ups and SME’s.

As well as attending events across the week, businesses are also invited to organise their own fringe events under the Yorkshire Sustainability Festival banner.

Find out more about hosting your own fringe event HERE.