Plymouth’s Net Zero Expo: Local Innovation Driving Business Action

Plymouth’s Net Zero Expo is sponsored by BCR Associates.

Plymouth’s business community is coming together this November for the city’s first Net Zero Expo, a one-day business-to-business event designed to help organisations take practical, tangible steps towards reducing carbon emissions and improving operational efficiency.

The Net Zero Expo programme includes:

• 30 exhibitors ranging from energy systems, fleet solutions and low-carbon construction to finance providers
• Four zones: buildings, transport, waste and resources, finance and monitoring
• Six keynotes: from financing net zero to converting your fleet and tackling thorny scope 3 emissions
• Dedicated demo track with 30-minute drill down into available products and services

Organised by Plymouth City Council, under the Climate Connections banner, the Expo responds directly to calls for implementable climate solutions that support both sustainability and growth.

The event brings together over 30 exhibitors from across Plymouth and the South West, showcasing tools, technologies and services that support the transition to net zero.

The Net Zero Expo is sponsored by BCR Associates, a leading business-to-business consultancy specialising in energy management, procurement, and Net Zero strategy. Their work helps organisations control costs, reduce consumption, and meet sustainability goals.

Delivered in partnership with Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (PMG), the group recognised that organisations in their network are looking for locally based solutions for their climate journey. PMG is a well-established network of manufacturing companies across Plymouth and the wider region, representing over 15,000 employees.

Supporting the Expo as Impact Partner, Babcock International Group is a global leader in engineering and support services, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and community impact.

Speaker Programme

Throughout the Expo, attendees will hear from leading organisations on key topics shaping the net zero transition:

Keynote Session One: 10.30am to 11am

• BBRC Impact Investors
  Investment Director, Jari Moate: Financing net zero: unlocking investment for sustainability
  How to ensure your business is investment ready and what it takes to achieve investment for your company or project’s net zero proposition.
• Buro Happold / Amberside
  Associate Director and Energy Engineer for Buro Happold, Benjamin Jones and Associate, Energy Transition for Amberside, Shivali Mathur: Delivering heat networks: infrastructure for low-carbon communities
  Discover how Plymouth’s South Coast and Derriford heat network zones are driving £400m of new investment, aiming to cut carbon by 5% and opening up opportunities for local business – from energy and finance to monitoring, construction and resource recovery.

Keynote Session Two: 2pm to 2.30pm

• Plymouth Citybus
  Engineering Director, Mark Horide: Planning for fleet transition and future mobility
  Learn how Plymouth Citybus transitioned 50% of its fleet to electric in a matter of months.
• Altilium
  Founder, Dr Christian Marston: Battery innovation and circularity in the EV supply chain
  Pioneering circularity in the electric vehicle supply chain. How one Plymouth company is leading the energy transition, driving innovation and closing the loop on electric vehicles batteries.

Keynote Session Three: 2.30pm to 3pm

• Babcock International Group
  Global Climate Lead, David Starley: Understanding and tackling Scope 3 emissions
  With thousands of tier 1 suppliers, scope 3 represents over 95% of Babcock’s carbon footprint. An insight into one manufacturer’s journey with top tips on how to approach supply chain emissions and thorny scope 3s.
• Samworth Brothers / The Cornwall Bakery
  Senior Site Director, Paul Large: Journey to net zero as one of the largest food companies in Cornwall
  Learn how one of the largest food companies in Cornwall is on a mission to achieve net zero across its operations; the journey it has been on and continues to take to make this happen. Paul will provide valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges that the net zero journey presents from reducing energy usage and carbon emissions to tackling food waste through a range of innovative solutions.  Valuable examples of what can be achieved in a busy food production facility.

Demonstrations & Workshops

A programme of live demos and interactive workshops will run throughout the day, offering hands-on insight into the latest innovations. Participating organisations include:

• BCR Associates
  Discover how BCR Associates helps businesses reduce energy costs and improve sustainability through real-time energy visibility – from shop floor to boardroom.
• Skentel Energy
  Skentel Energy will present a live demo of their remote energy monitoring kit, featuring LoRaWAN sensors, real-time data dashboards and example devices for smart asset management.
• ZLC Energy
  ZLC Energy will share real-world case studies showcasing how businesses are decarbonising through renewable energy solutions.
• Thorlux Lighting
  Discover how SmartScan technology can optimise LED lighting efficiency and deliver measurable energy savings through live demo and data insights.
• Peterwarm
  Coaction Training & WARM will explore practical strategies for delivering low-energy buildings, tackling the performance gap, airtightness, embodied energy, and sustainable design for cost-effective outcomes.
• Babcock International Group
  Babcock International Group will host a Q&A on Scope 3 emissions, offering insights into measuring and managing indirect impacts across the supply chain – also the focus of keynote speaker David Starley’s talk.
• Sungift Solar
  Sungift Solar will present how businesses can future-proof operations and cut carbon through onsite solar PV and battery storage, with insights into costs, regulations and the latest tech.

The Net Zero Expo is designed to be a catalyst for action. Whether you’re a business leader, sustainability professional, fleet manager or part of an operational team, this event offers direct access to local suppliers and service providers and expert-led talks, real-world case studies and a chance to leave with at least one implementable action. You’ll also get the opportunity to network with peers, innovators and decision-makers, over a complimentary low-carbon lunch.

Find out more about the Plymouth Net Zero Expo and sign up as an attendee: www.climateconnectionsplymouth.co.uk/event/plymouths-net-zero-expo/

Speaker Biographies

David Starley, Group Climate Lead
Babcock International Group
David Starley is the Group Climate Lead at Babcock International Group, where he leads carbon accounting, delivery of net-zero and climate risk across the entire FTSE100 organisation. With deep expertise in calculating Scope 3 emissions and supply chain decarbonisation, David plays a pivotal role in shaping Babcock’s climate strategy and ensuring robust, transparent reporting across global operations.

Mark Horide, Engineering Director
Go South West
As Engineering Director for Go South West, Mark oversees the operation of 350 buses and coaches from 13 locations across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall. With four decades of experience in the transport industry, Mark has seen first hand how technological innovation has influenced the direction of travel and its continued evolution to cleaner, more environmentally friendly transport fleet operations.

Jari Moate, Investment Director
BBRC Impact Investors
As Investment Director, Jari oversees BBRC’s impact growth funds. He manages Bristol’s £10m City Funds and leverages market intelligence to create new funds at regional scale. Jari’s role is to ensure that BBRC has the finance tools to help businesses with solid impact and revenue plans access the investment they need. Jari is also a writer and has published three books, while founding and chairing the Bristol Festival of Literature from 2010 to 2020.

Benjamin Jones, Associate Director Energy Engineer
Buro Happold
Ben is an Associate Director Energy Engineer and leads the Buro Happold Manchester Energy team. With a mechanical engineering background, Ben has worked in the buildings and infrastructure design industry for over 15 years, across building services, sustainability and energy disciplines leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver complex projects with a keen focus on low energy sustainable design.

Shivali Mathur, Associate for Energy Transition
Amberside Advisors
Shivali Mathur is an Associate for Energy Transition at Amberside Advisors, with over 20 years of experience in energy markets and infrastructure. Shivali has led high-impact initiatives at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, including supporting delivery of the Energy Price Guarantee, and held senior roles at Daikin UK. Shivali’s expertise spans policy, programme delivery, and business development, working closely with government, regulators, and industry to drive innovation in the energy transition.

Dr Christian Marston, Chief Operating Officer
Atilium
Dr Christian Marston is COO and co-founder of UK-based clean technology group Altilium. Christian previously spent 13 years at global trading and investment company Sumitomo Corporation, where he managed several businesses units, including energy products trading. He has been based in Singapore and was responsible for energy trading in APAC for several commodity traders. Altilium’s business is focused on building a sustainable domestic supply chain of low carbon battery raw materials from recycling existing waste streams, including old EV batteries and production scrap.

About Climate Connections

Funded by Plymouth City Council, Climate Connections is the city’s central hub for climate action. It brings together residents, businesses, schools and community groups to share resources, stories and inspiration for building a healthier, more sustainable Plymouth.

Visit: www.climateconnectionsplymouth.co.uk