EAST MIDLANDS SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP

OUR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) 2026

Why are we here?

The built environment is responsible for 40% global carbon emissions. We want to enable the knowledge exchange of sustainable development practices in the built environment, within the East Midlands Region. In short – we want to inspire each other and work together to implement solutions. Especially given the net zero ambitions of the new mayoral combined county authority (EMMCA). Alongside knowledge exchange there are opportunities for research and cross industry collaborations and networking.

Who are we?

Changemakers. Hopefuls. Activists in office clothes. We’re architects and academics, interior designers and engineers, clients and consumers. We’re united by a desire to collaborate not compete, to set outside our egos and work together to celebrate the diversity of professional disciplines and roles and encourage each to be better.

All are welcome. We are a network of over 200 members with a small core team to provide governance and oversight. This is not a closed group, and we welcome conversations around joining the core team. Please contact a member of the current core team for applications.

What do we do – and why join us?

We aim to host monthly in-person events. These are interactive, participatory events that follow a typical format of a presentation, discussion and/or activities and Q & A. We always aim to have food and drink.

We do welcome sponsorship to help fund the events and to enable them to be free but there are no sales pitches. We are about knowledge exchange and finding solutions, not selling stuff. We aim to provide all information and content as open source (with dedicated website to host information and details of events). We also have a LinkedIn community of over 200. We don’t livestream events or run blended meetings. We believe there is a unique dynamic about being present in a room together trying to figure things out together. But we do recognise there’s no perfect time to meet so do try and vary the times and days we meet.

Events typically attract 30-45 people, and we have a maximum capacity of 64 so please sign up early. We’d love you to come along and help us contribute to this region’s sustainability ambitions.

Our Desired Outcome:

1. Enable knowledge exchange

2. Create space for research and cross industry collaborations (across industry, clients and academics.

3. Provide industry networking opportunities.

What does a Typical Event look like?

· The talk is centred/linked to the topic of the month, which is agreed in advance

· It must be interactive and offer space for reflection and engagement. It should take advantage of the people in the room, recognising the diversity of disciplines and people and the opportunity for problem solving.

· The event must cover the sustainability holistically. The event should be a multi-stakeholder approach, involving different disciplines and the coordination between.

· The knowledge share should advocate for change, be encouraging and offer examples of what can be achieved.

· A presentation for the event should be shared with the core team in advance.

· Be open source.

· Inspire, encourage and share knowledge.