Leeds events agency celebrates “pivotal role” in COP26 conference

Leeds based creative experiences agency XSEM is celebrating after playing a “pivotal role” in the recent COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow.

The agency was selected ahead of a dozen leading international event management agencies to stage a one-day conference for the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) as part of the organisation’s wider COP26 communications campaign.

Almost 300 delegates representing global manufacturers, research and technology organisations and market disruptors joined academic researchers and government representatives to discuss the challenges and aspirations for sustainable manufacturing.

Dan Bardgett, managing director of XSEM, said: “Delivering unforgettable experiences in a sustainable manner is a key focus for the XSEM team and the events industry as a whole, so the opportunity to work on this event couldn’t have come at a more relevant time.

“We’re extremely proud to have been part of such an important conference, helping to make events more planet friendly with initiatives ranging from Carbon Offset schemes for travel to the recycling and repurposing of event materials.”

Deborah Findlay, NMIS head of communications, said: “The speed with which XSEM responded to the many and varied logistical challenges of creating a stand-out event in such a tight timeframe and in an industrial workshop space was quite remarkable.

“It was a huge ask but the team was more than up for the challenge, delivering an unforgettable experience for delegates and helping raise the profile of sustainable manufacturing across the globe.

XSEM embraced the theme of COP26, using recyclable or reusable graphics, shell schemes, and event structures, encouraging delegates to use public or shared transport, provided water refill stations, partnered with food redistribution companies, energy efficient equipment and implemented ‘power-off policies’ for all equipment when not in use.

The agency’s participation in the event has led to early-stage plans regarding a further conference in 2022.