Practical advice on sustainable procurement was on the agenda as more than 150 decision makers converged on Basingstoke for the south’s biggest business conference and expo devoted entirely to green growth.

The third annual Unlocking Hampshire's Green Potential (UHGP) attracted representatives of companies and organisations from a range of sectors.

Held at the Apollo Hotel in Basingstoke, UHGP 2025 was staged by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce in partnership with headline sponsors Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council and business support network Barclays Eagle Labs.

Conference presentations featured expert advice on how to access green finance under ESG (environmental, social and governance) goals coupled with practical insight from innovators who have already built green investments into their operations and supply chains.

Alongside was an exhibition of products and services for companies looking to be greener including energy saving solutions for commercial buildings, asset finance options and sustainable interior design ideas.

Ross McNally, Hampshire Chamber’s Chief Executive and Executive Chair, said:

“We had a conference full of keen and enthusiastic businesses who have taken a dedicated approach to sustainability and ESG values. They came to share and explore how to build green strategies throughout their operations and encourage and champion others to do the same including supply chain partners.”

The keynote speaker was Dr Wendy Buckley, Client Director at Basingstoke-based climate change solution business Carbon Footprint Ltd and Chair of the North Hampshire Sustainability Business Network.

Wendy told the audience that procurement was a key area for action on sustainability, and urged delegates to understand and manage their supply chain emissions.

She said suppliers’ performance can be assessed through metrics such as CFP, or Supplier Carbon Footprint, which shows the total ‘cradle to grave’ emissions associated with the materials, products and services they provide.

She also highlighted Sustrax Lite, a free carbon calculator designed specifically for micro-businesses, saying it “provides the robust, credible starting point you need to understand your impact and begin your sustainability journey”.

Wendy added:

“In today's market, your brand’s integrity is defined by the full lifecycle of your products. Your biggest risks and your greatest opportunities lie outside your direct control, in your supply chain. We need to demolish the myth that sustainability must cost more. By integrating sustainability as a vital ESG principle, you can achieve a ‘win-win-win-win’ that enhances your brand, builds deep customer trust, strengthens your supplier ecosystem, and prepares you for the inevitable future of reporting.”

Fellow presenters included: Councillor Paul Harvey, Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council; event co-ordinator Barry Smith, Chair Basingstoke for Hampshire Chamber; Robert Morgan, Head of Climate Tech at Barclays Eagle Labs; and Mark Sanderson, Group Corporate Responsibility Manager for speaker sponsor Farnborough Airport, the first business aviation airport in the UK to achieve carbon neutrality.

The conference culminated in an expert panel discussion on sustainable supply chains chaired by Ross McNally.

Panellists included Mark Sanderson, Antonia Berridge, Green team leader at Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council, Mark Sherwood, Chief Executive of carbon reduction consultancy Auditel, and Steve Gilder, Head of Construction of Basingstoke College of Technology.