Business leaders from across the region are being invited to join retail expert Mary Portas at a major Staffordshire climate and sustainability event.
The well-known broadcaster and former government adviser will deliver a keynote interview titled The Business of Change, exploring why the future of business must be values-driven and how this shift is critical in addressing the climate crisis.
Organised by Uttoxeter-based social enterprise The Globe Group CIC, the Midlands Climate Expo will take place on Friday, September 19, from 9:30am to 4pm at the Alton Towers Conference Centre.
More than 500 delegates are expected to attend the one-day event, which brings together professionals from business, local government, academia and industry to explore leadership, innovation and impact in the face of climate change.
Speakers include representatives from the National Trust, Alton Towers and the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals, alongside discussions on topics including sustainable tourism, AI and climate solutions, and measuring meaningful impact. The event will also feature a performance from climate comedian Stuart Goldsmith.
Mary Portas, who co-chairs the Better Business Act campaign, said: “The world is on a knife-edge – socially, culturally, environmentally. People are not just asking more from business, they are demanding it – but we’re still shackled to outdated rules built for a world that no longer exists.
“This is not just an economic crisis – it’s a systemic one. Businesses need to decide: be part of the solution, or be left behind.”
Kate Copeland-Rhodes, managing director of The Globe Group, added: “Mary stands for the kind of leadership we need right now, clear-headed, values-led, and focused on what really matters. She’s shown that business and sustainability can go hand in hand and that doing so isn’t just responsible, it’s smart and future-facing.”
Tickets for the Midlands Climate Expo are free, with a complimentary electric shuttle bus available from Uttoxeter station for those travelling by train. More information and booking is available here.
