Funded by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Bringing together entrepreneurs and business leaders from the borough of Basingstoke and Deane for an exciting line up of events providing inspiration, motivation and connections.

The funding forms part of the council’s efforts to bring businesses together and support them following the pandemic.

Understand and listen to the experts on how you can implement green and sustainable initiatives in both your business and personal lives.

Hear from our panel of business leaders who have already made realistic environmental changes within their business and have the chance to ask any questions you have on become a more eco-friendly business.

Hear from…

+ Carla Winsey. Co-Owner of Silchester Farm, a luxurious countryside retreat for weddings, events, corporate and stays. Carla has worked alongside her husband of 10 years, Alastair to create and live their dream in the beautiful village of Silchester.

Within one year we have gone from a team of 3 to having over 25 employees on our payroll, with a focus on hiring local people (our closest employee lives within a 5 minute walk). As the business has grown Carla and Al’s eye were opened to the amount of waste that can be produced by events, especially weddings. This realisation and the exposure to a whole new market of young, climate conscious people drove them to implement many green initiatives that have become integral in their current operations and future plans for Silchester Farm.

+ Anthony Bravo, Principal & CEO of Basingstoke College of Technology, Anthony has been a vital part in ensuring BCoT is as sustainable as possible, as well as educating students on sustainability and how important it is for their future

+ Martin Heath, Director at Basingstoke Energy Services, Martin has a deep understanding of renewable’s technology, and work on project’s as diverse as community owned wind farms, major solarPV developments and de-carbonising the UKs heating, electrical and transport systems.

+ Alison Zarecky, Climate Emergency Project Officer at Basingstoke and Deane Council. Alison joined the borough council’s Climate Change team earlier this year, following her success in helping to set up Sustainable Overton in her local area and her contributions to Test Source Community Energy.

And Alison will also talk about the benefits of joining the local North Hampshire Sustainable Business Network to share learning and knowledge with other businesses nearby as well as introducing the upcoming Green Week (Saturday 24 September to Sunday 2 October) and talking about how local businesses can get involved.

+ Jo Colman, Head of Sales and Marketing at Summerdown, Summerdown grows, harvests and distills the rare Black Mitcham peppermint alongside other herbs and crops on their farm based just outside Basingstoke. The peppermint oil they distill is the star ingredient in their range of award-winning chocolates, teas and treats now sold in Ocado, food halls, delis and farm shops up and down the UK and globally.

Jo, who is founder Sir Michael Colman’s grandson, shares the family ethos that the family are merely custodians of the land and are on a mission to leave the land in better condition then when they started farming it. Jo led the B Corp certification application and have being certified earlier this year (only the 2nd UK farm to do so) is now a member of the UK B Corp regenerative agricultural working group,

We send our condolences to the Royal Family after the sad loss of Queen Elizabeth II.

Please note the event will still be taking place.

Book your FREE ticket below and a member of the Evolve team will be in touch with event details in due course!