Scaling innovation with low carbon transformation Innovation Zero 2024

Scaling clean technology, financing the transformation, low carbon leadership, investing in green infrastructure, innovative enabling policy, circularity and supply chain were among key themes at this year’s Innovation Zero conference.

The event is the UK’s largest sustainability conference, attracting thousands of professionals from across government and the wider public sector. This year’s conference was held at London Olympia on Tuesday 30 April and Wednesday 1 May.

Colleagues from our Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Home Upgrade Grant teams attended the conference and hosted an exhibitor stand where we met with stakeholders to discuss how our work can support organisations on their journey to net zero.

Innovation Zero provides a meeting place for announcements, partnerships, deal-making, and collaborations for those who develop, produce, deploy, and fund low carbon solutions and provided a fantastic opportunity for Salix colleagues to make their mark and expand their networks.

Helen Clarke Assistant Director of Housing Salix Finance

Innovation Zero conference image 1 — Photo credit: Salix Finance

From left: Ian Pitteway, Sarah Bretherton and Helen Clarke from the Salix Housing team

Those in attendance were also able to hear from senior policymakers across the world as they announced key strategic partnerships, global investment opportunities and the Paris Agreement aligned initiatives which sets objectives to limit temperature increase to well below 2°C.

Helen added: “What a fantastic two days of high-profile guest speakers, break-out events and an opportunity for colleagues from across our London and Manchester offices to collaborate to spread the word on our mission, values and what we can offer in order to support Innovation Zero's mission to accelerate meaningful action towards a low carbon economy and society.”

Innovation Zero conference image 2 — Photo credit: Salix Finance

The Innovation Zero conference at Olympia, London

At our stand, we had the opportunity to meet many stakeholders who were interested in our work and to answer their questions and learn more about how other organisations interact with us. It also allowed the team to showcase many projects that we’ve worked on and discuss how we work to facilitate knowledge sharing amongst organisations working to decarbonise their estates.

It was energising to see so many gather together to try and support each other and navigate the considerable challenges to achieving the goal of net zero.

I left the event not overawed by the enormity of the challenge, but excited for the wider opportunities it can bring through economic improvements and addressing social injustice.

Ian Pitteway Assistant Director of Housing Salix Finance