project in the local community or take part in an activity and then donate the items to charity. and leave a lasting legacy. This ties in with a CSR policy, sustainability, while also benefiting the community and providing a team building opportunity. Local suppliers By working with local suppliers, especially caterers or food producers, you are reducing your carbon emissions from food miles and you’re also supporting local businesses. Not to mention the fact that your attendees will be really interested to hear the stories of where their food comes from and the producers behind what they’re eating. Investing in the local economy When bringing attendees to a conference why not consider extending the event or holding the event towards the end of the week so that attendees can stay on for an extra day and experience the local town or city? Why not include an evening at a local restaurant or theatre? Highlight the history of the area, and something it might be famous for. If you are going to bring people together why not celebrate where it is and experience the culture of the area? This could also be part of an incentive for your staff or clients. Especially when we are all focusing very much on trips within the UK this year and not travelling abroad. Social sustainability goes far beyond the community and it’s important to consider diversity and inclusion, health and wellbeing and accessibility as part of this, but community and connection with the surrounding area are important to consider and can certainly help with both the reputation of the event and the longevity of that event in a particular town or city. The more you can connect and give back to the community the more you are going to create good press for the event.
When planning an event consider also how the event could benefit the community.”
an event of this scale can create a large number of employment and volunteering opportunities, but an event of any size can also offer this. With many people wanting to get experience in the events industry, could your event provide this opportunity to local students? Discounts Depending on the type of event, what about inviting local residents at a discounted ticket price? Or if it’s an exhibition, providing a discounted stand to those local businesses, to engage the community? Charity What about not having goody bags after an exhibition or conference, but donating to a local charity? This will reduce both your environmental impact and also give back to the local community. Taking it a step further, you could incorporate a team building activity in the local area, whereby staff can come together as part of their conference to support a
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