We fully recognise that events leave lasting effects, environmentally, sociologically and economically. Our approach towards sustainability, diversity and social value reflects our values as a team, but it also reflects the way we want to create a positive and constantly improving industry and world.
We are committed to constantly improving the diversity and accessibility, not only of our own operation but the events we represent and deliver on behalf of our clients.
We work with leading organisations including Attitude is Everything to look at ways to continually improve the content, production and communication to ensure inclusivity. This includes using BSL interpreters, accessibility areas and ensuring travel to and throughout an event site is considerate and as inclusive as possible. This is all core to our event planning methodology.
Since its formation, REM has had social value at the heart of its approach, supporting education initiatives, ensuring charities have access to our events and good old fashioned volunteering – we are a business that cares about the communities in which we operate.
Team members are encouraged to volunteer their time for industry or community projects – with time committed outside of work matched with working time. Over 20,000 hours have been volunteered for all types of organisations including Young Bristol, Bristol Festivals to joining the NHS Volunteer Responders during the pandemic. As well as donating time to make the 2020 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Flypast happen for the city.
We work alongside the University of the West of England offering paid internships each year, creating a total of 16 places since 2014. These provide mentoring, coaching and access to career development opportunities.
Local economies are incredibly important to our operating procedures, ensuring that our events contribute to local businesses and contribute to the area while impacting minimally on the environment is paramount.
In 2019, the economic impact of events we delivered for clients was in excess of £40 million, with a reach of over 1 billion views across media and digital channels.
As well as giving our time, we use our skills to generate funds for social causes.
In 2017 we supported the Young Bristol ‘Stars in their Eyes’ fundraising dinner, raising over £45,000 for the youth organisation.
We have also delivered 5 Lashings Cricket Days at Downend Cricket Club, raising over £50,000 to support youth sport development.
We deliver a number of charity partnerships for our clients, generating in excess of £250,000 for local causes in the last ten years at events such as the English Riviera Airshow, Weston Air Festival, Bristol Harbour Festival, National Armed Forces Day (Salisbury) and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. We also provide special access to these events for charitable organisations and the under privileged, to contribute to closing the social mobility gap in British cities.
We strive to be as sustainable as possible in both our own practices as well as the events we undertake. Environmental impact is an area that is now central to our planning, whether that’s ensuring food traders are plastic straw-free and use recyclable packaging, selecting greener power suppliers or working with local artists and contractors to reduce travel footprints. We have also pioneered Geneco at our events, processing toilet effluent to ensure it is disposed of with zero impact on the environment.
We take a practical and ever-evolving approach to sustainability alongside our clients, taking pragmatic decisions to continually improve our sustainability best practices.
