Practical routes to a greener, more resilient economy will be the focus as business leaders, sustainability experts and the next generation of green innovators come together at Unlocking Hampshire’s Green Potential 2026 (UHGP).
The one-day conference and expo, now in its fourth year, is designed to explore how green innovation can drive economic growth, strengthen energy resilience and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future.
Co-ordinated and hosted in Basingstoke by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, this year’s event features 10 speakers, 24 exhibitors, a green innovation panel and a dedicated STEM challenge for local school students.
At the heart of the free-to-attend event is the connection between sustainability, innovation and business competitiveness.
Conference chair Ross McNally, Chief Executive and Executive Chairman of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Energy security and sustainability are critical to future-proofing our region, particularly at this time of geopolitical instability and the rising costs of living and doing business.
“Unlocking Hampshire’s Green Potential is an important part of the conversation around how we achieve that. Moving towards a greener economy must be about practical action as well as ambition. Businesses need support to decarbonise, invest in clean technologies and progress on the long-term pathway to net zero.
“UHGP will offer practical insights into how to embed sustainability into your operations, develop greener products and services and identify greener opportunities across supply chains, skills and emerging technologies.”
Barry Smith, event co-ordinator and Chair Basingstoke for Hampshire Chamber, said: “This year’s event is bigger than ever. It builds on the success of previous UHGP conferences, continuing our focus on helping attendees understand the practical steps they can take to achieve their ESG goals. It’s an opportunity to learn first-hand from leading experts, discover new ideas and explore how to champion greater sustainability and embed green values in everyday business operations.”
The conference programme features contributions from Dr Paul Harvey, Leader of headline sponsor Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council; Dr Wendy Buckley of Carbon Footprint Ltd; Kaia Vincent of Basingstoke Business 4 Good; Mark Sanderson of speaker sponsor Farnborough Airport; James Wilson of Sun-X; Rich Thompson of RJT International; Professor Sarah Marston of the University of Reading; Chris Daniels of AWE; Conrad Young of Q Factorial; Kerry Winter of Apex Training; and Tim Scrace of Scrace Architects.
A green innovation panel will bring together representatives from STEM sponsor Manydown, Farnborough Airport, the University of Reading, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, and Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT).
On the agenda are discussions around the skills Hampshire businesses will need over the next five to ten years, collaboration between education and industry, opportunities through apprenticeships and retraining, and the practical actions businesses and colleges can take to support the green transition.
The dedicated STEM session, hosted by EBP South, AWE and Volker Fitzpatrick, will welcome more than 50 students from north Hampshire schools Bishop Challoner, Dove House Academy, Chiltern Way Academy and Robert May’s. They will take part in a challenge to write an article for publication about sustainable communities and future green careers.
UHGP attendees will be able to use NetWorKing, an AI-powered networking platform that helps identify relevant contacts, suggests conversation starters, enables contact sharing and voice notes, and provides a personalised post-event report to support follow-up.
Unlocking Hampshire’s Green Potential 2026 takes place on Tuesday 10 November, 9am–1pm, at the Apollo Hotel, Basingstoke, RG24 9NU. For more information, contact events@hampshirechamber.co.uk or visit the events page at here.
About Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is the independent voice of local business across the county and one of the largest regional business networks in the UK. With a strategic vision to ‘unlock Hampshire’s potential’, Hampshire Chamber brings together the combined influence, strength and expertise of the county’s three former major chambers. It works with over 2,000 individual firms spanning all sectors and sizes of business. Member services include training, advice, international trade documentation, events, networking opportunities and lobbying to policymakers on issues affecting business. Hampshire Chamber’s business network is designed to help any employer to grow and thrive irrespective of their stage on the enterprise journey.