Sustainability Award for Venues
Business Design Centre
Based in the heart of Angel Islington, a stone’s throw from both the City of London and Kings Cross, the B Corp Certified Business Design Centre (BDC) hosts more than 100 conferences and exhibitions a year. The venue begins 2025, moving into a fifteen year as a carbon neutral certified business and five years away from the target of becoming net zero in 2030. The journey has by no means an easy one and the further they get, the more challenging it becomes, but in 2024 the BDC has measured a 75% reduction in it’s carbon footprint since their baseline year of 2018. The Company’s people and the planet are two of the key cornerstones of the organisation, as one that’s committed to being a changemaker and force for good.
Glaziers Hall: building sustainability into corporate events
Not wanting its environmental commitment to be a short-term project or a series of quick wins, Glaziers Hall took the time to review, assess and measure its impact before developing a three-year action plan.
Approaching the changes in the same way it would anything, with a clear focus on ensuring the highest standards are maintained at all times, it has delivered a series of significant changes at the business with limited disruption.
Acknowledging its environmental impact does not start or stop at the door to the venue, it monitors downstream and upstream impact to ensure it can deliver meaningful change.
Setting targets, measuring progress and celebrating success, it is on a journey to achieve Net Zero and is taking its suppliers, team, stakeholders and clients with it.
Managing Director, Will Simmonds, comments: “When we set out on this journey, it was one of discovery. Reflecting on all that has been achieved, I’m really proud of how far we have come as a team.
“There is more to do but we are committed to making it happen. With Net Zero in our sights, we hope to become one of the most sustainable venues in the UK.”
Hallam Conference Centre, Environmental Sustainability
For 25 years we have been progressively reducing our environmental footprint. Over the last 12 months we have accelerated our progress.
Hilton London Bankside: Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality with Measurable Impact
Hilton London Bankside is a multi-award-winning hotel and a pioneer in sustainable hospitality, holding GSTC certification, the second hotel in the UK to achieve this globally recognised standard. Through innovative environmental initiatives, the hotel seamlessly integrates luxury and sustainability, ensuring a minimal ecological footprint without compromising guest experience.
In the past 12 months, Hilton London Bankside has achieved a 10% reduction in energy consumption through LED lighting upgrades, PIR motion sensors, and energy-efficient Multilume light fittings, which lower climate impact by 81%. The hotel has also implemented water conservation strategies, including dual-flush toilets, aerated taps, and a refillable water station, and is set to install waterless urinals by April 2025.
With a 99.7% waste diversion rate, the hotel has introduced Zero Waste Banana Bread and Vegetable Off-Cut Tortillas, reuses cardboard boxes with suppliers, and recycles coffee grounds into Bio Bean logs. Meatless Mondays in the staff canteen further reduce carbon emissions.
A proud member of the Southwark Climate Challenge, the hotel is actively reducing freight deliveries to cut transport-related emissions. With carbon-neutral meetings, eco-friendly cleaning practices, and industry-leading sustainability training for staff, Hilton London Bankside is setting the benchmark for sustainable, responsible hospitality.
Hilton London Metropole: Forever Forward
If your first thought is sustainability, your second should be Hilton London Metropole. We think sustainability is about making mindful choices that ensure a brighter future for people and the planet, entwined with the impact that the hospitality industry makes. In fact, did you know the hospitality industry wastes £3.2 billion a year in food waste alone! Crazy right? As the largest Hilton outside of the US we know we play a huge role in championing sustainability within the industry. We’re ready to lead the way, ensuring every aspect of our operations aligns with our commitment to reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions, and always staying ahead.
So, we work hard to minimise the environmental consequences of our actions, ensuring sustainability is at our heart. From carefully selecting supply chains we partner with to using 100% renewable electricity, using zero plastic, and supporting our local community to make a real difference. We’re already seeing results from our initiatives like achieving a total carbon saving of 485,629 kg in 2024 by implementing waste management initiatives, recycling paper and cardboard – saving 556 trees, not to mention planting 6,632 trees with Drip Drop and reducing food waste by 30% in 3 months.
Hylands Estate – Journey towards carbon neutral by 2030
Hylands Estate is a prestigious Grade II* listed public park and events venue, spanning 574 acres of historic parkland. As part of Chelmsford City Council, we are committed to embedding sustainability across our operations. Our initiatives focus on biodiversity conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction, sustainable procurement, and stakeholder engagement.
In the past year, we have achieved Gold accreditation from Green Tourism and Green Meetings, expanded commercial food waste recycling, transitioned to digital-first marketing, and installed LED lighting across 90% of our estate. We have also developed a net-zero carbon report, secured electric vehicle charging points, and introduced carbon literacy training for senior staff.
Our sustainability efforts stand out due to our alignment with Chelmsford City Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan, our commitment to heritage conservation, and our strong volunteer programmes, with over 7,260 hours contributed annually. Additionally, we have addressed key challenges, such as food waste management in a dry hire venue, by creating an accredited caterer system and implementing clear waste segregation measures.
By embedding sustainability in every aspect of our operations and fostering a culture of shared responsibility, Hylands Estate remains a leader in sustainable venue management, ensuring long-term environmental stewardship.
The Venues Collection
The Venues Collection is leading the way in sustainable events, embedding environmental responsibility into every aspect of our operations. As the first UK venue group to introduce carbon labelling on menus as standard and remove dairy from all desserts—cutting 42 tonnes of CO₂ annually—we are setting new industry benchmarks.
Our commitment to sustainability is demonstrated through a zero waste to landfill policy, renewable energy initiatives generating over 1 million kWh annually, and on-site biodiversity projects, including beehives, wildflower meadows, and solar-powered EV charging stations. We take a circular approach to waste, turning food waste into biogas and compost while actively reducing single-use plastics.
Staff engagement is central to our success, with sustainability training embedded in operations, empowering teams to track energy usage and contribute to waste reduction. Our Future First Charter sets clear annual ESG goals, ensuring accountability and continuous progress.
Through education, client partnerships, and supplier collaboration, we are not just reducing our environmental impact—we are leading the industry in transformational sustainability. As part of Compass Group’s Climate Net Zero by 2030 commitment, The Venues Collection is setting the standard for sustainable venues, proving that responsible hospitality and outstanding events go hand in hand.
Wyboston Lakes Resort, Sustainability Without Limits: Doing the Right Thing Together
At Wyboston Lakes Resort, sustainability isn’t a trend or a competitive strategy — it’s a responsibility. We believe that creating real, lasting impact means going beyond individual success and working together as an industry and community to protect the planet and support people.
Our approach to sustainability is embedded across every aspect of our operations, from our zero-to-landfill policy maintained for nine years to our investment in renewable energy, including 3,200 solar panels generating 1.4 MWh of clean power. Initiatives like Room2Grow, pledging 60,000 trees, and Room2Give, supporting local communities, reflect our belief that sustainability extends beyond carbon footprints — it’s about giving back and creating positive change.
We focus on transparency and collaboration, openly sharing our successes and challenges through ESG Impact Reporting and industry knowledge-sharing sessions. Empowering our team and engaging guests through training, signposting, and delegate information ensures everyone plays a role in our journey.
Sustainability without limits means breaking down barriers, removing competition from the equation, and focusing on what truly matters — creating a better, greener future together.
