Energy Innovation Agency conference focuses on turning sustainability ambition into action
- Wednesday, November 4, 2026
- Posted By The Growth Company
More than 100 delegates from across business, the public sector and the sustainability community came together last week for the Energy Innovation Agency's fifth annual conference, Driving Sustainability: Practical Action, Lower Costs, Improved Efficiency.
Held at Innside Melia Manchester, the conference opened with a keynote address from Sarah Bateman, CEO of Unify Energy, who reflected on her experience working within innovative environments and highlighted the importance of moving from ambition to implementation through incremental, strategic action. Her message set the tone for a day focused on practical delivery. Through presentations, panel discussions and case studies, delegates heard from organisations already demonstrating how sustainability initiatives can reduce costs, improve efficiency and deliver tangible results.
One of the most valuable aspects of this year's conference was the breadth of experience in the room. We brought together organisations facing many of the same challenges but often approaching them in different ways. No single organisation can deliver this agenda alone, and the opportunity to share lessons learned, discuss what works in practice and build new relationships is what makes events like this so valuable.
Bringing together organisations from local government, the NHS, higher education, housing, business and the innovation community, the conference provided a platform for sharing knowledge, showcasing practical solutions and building the partnerships needed to accelerate progress.
Throughout the day, speakers consistently returned to a common theme: successful delivery depends on turning ambition into practical action. While sustainability targets provide direction, meaningful progress comes from implementing projects, securing investment and supporting organisations to take the next step.
Several key messages emerged across the conference programme. Speakers highlighted the importance of measuring energy use and sustainability performance as the foundation for informed decision-making, reinforcing the principle that you can't manage what you don't measure. Delegates were also encouraged to avoid "paralysis by analysis" by taking practical action rather than waiting for perfect information with contributors emphasising that meaningful progress is often achieved through incremental steps, while also recognising that innovation must be supported by clear routes to market. Discussions further highlighted the role of innovation as a driver of productivity and the opportunity for sustainability initiatives to support business growth, competitiveness and long-term resilience.
Sessions explored a range of topics including reducing energy costs, overcoming barriers to technology adoption, financing sustainability projects and accelerating implementation across public and private sector organisations. Delegates heard from experts, practitioners and organisations who shared practical insights, lessons learned and examples of projects already delivering measurable impact.
A particular focus of the event was demonstrating that many solutions already exist and are available today. Discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration, trusted partnerships and knowledge sharing in helping organisations move from planning to implementation with greater confidence.
The conference also examined the role of funding and investment in accelerating progress, with speakers discussing the challenges organisations face when developing business cases for sustainability projects and identifying practical routes to securing support.
Alongside the formal programme, delegates had opportunities to network, exchange experiences and make new connections. As in previous years, the collaborative atmosphere proved to be one of the most valued aspects of the event, bringing together organisations with a shared ambition to deliver meaningful change.
Closing the event, David Schiele reflected on the discussions throughout the day and thanked speakers, partners and delegates for their contribution.
There was a real sense of momentum throughout the day. The discussions weren't centred on future possibilities, but on projects, technologies and approaches that are already delivering results. It was encouraging to see so many organisations openly sharing their experiences and helping others learn from their journey.