Utilise Plus Event Report: Business Networking Breakfast at Wiston House

Forty-five delegates from a variety of industries gathered at the stunning Wiston House, home of Wilton Park, for a Sustainable Business Breakfast.

Amanda Bates, Corporate Services & Compliance Manager at Wilton Park, shared the range of projects that her team have implemented to reduce environmental impact and costs.

Around 80% of lighting has been upgraded to LEDs, with sensor controls in suitable areas. Replacing bottled mineral water for guests with filtered tap water has saved £5,000 per year. The kitchen sources Fair Trade ingredients to use alongside fresh produce from the walled garden.

An executive agency of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Wilton Park follow Government Buying Standards for sustainable procurement. Mandatory for central government departments, they are also a useful tool for businesses.

Wilton Park are showing no signs of slowing down, with a food digester, electric charger ports and a move towards being a ‘paper-low’ office planned for investigation in 2017/18.

Delegates also heard from renewable heat experts Derrick Pope and Neil Champion of Pope Consulting about air and ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers.

Pope Consulting designed and managed the installation of the 150 kW wood chip-fed system at Wiston House in 2007. The boiler was delivered pre-housed in a shipping container which sits in the grounds of the house, meaning that no serious alterations to the Grade 1 listed property were required.

Download the presentations.

Following delegate questions and round-the-room introductions, attendees were able to continue networking in the beautiful 16th century building.

 

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Sustainable Business Network events are supported by the European Regional Development Fund.