Northumbrian Water Group’s (NWG) annual Innovation Festival is set to take place at Newcastle Racecourse from 7 to 10 July 2025.
Returning for the ninth time, the Innovation Festival will bring together attendees from the worlds of construction, science, technology and more, to solve some huge environmental and societal challenges.
This year, Esh-Stantec and Galliford Try have teamed up with NWG to sponsor the sprint titled ‘Carbon Culture Club: Turning Strategy into Everyday Action’, which will focus on embedding carbon reduction into everyday behaviours, decision-making, and systems across infrastructure delivery.
Building on the momentum of previous sprints and aligned with NWG’s ambition to deliver the lowest carbon AMP8 programme possible, the 2025 sprint shifts focus from strategy to culture—ensuring carbon awareness is not just an objective, but a shared mindset across NWG and its partners.
The sprint will explore how to translate the ambitions of NWG’s Carbon Five Point Plan into relatable, actionable communications and behaviours. Key themes will include practical uses of recycled steel and rebar in construction, carbon decision points in project lifecycles, and co-creation of toolkits and campaigns to drive engagement and behavioural change.
Delegates from NWG’s frameworks, wider supply chain, and key stakeholders will come together to develop a people-first communications and engagement framework that builds carbon literacy and embeds low-carbon practices throughout the AMP8 programme and beyond.
David Pratt, Divisional Director at Esh-Stantec, said: “We’ve seen significant progress over recent years in reducing carbon through innovations in materials and design. But truly sustainable delivery also requires a cultural shift—where carbon reduction is front of mind for everyone, every day. This sprint is about making that shift happen.”
The sprint will follow a structured and collaborative approach, featuring interactive sessions such as carbon journey mapping, message and storytelling labs, and co-design workshops for engagement tools. The aim is to develop a practical roadmap that embeds carbon reduction into NWG’s core operations, communications, and leadership culture.
Ben Gilbert and Donna Rawlinson, NWG’s Project Managers leading the sprint, commented: “This year’s sprint is about accelerating change from within—ensuring our teams and partners feel informed, empowered, and inspired to act on carbon at every level. With AMP8 now underway, this cultural transformation is critical to delivering meaningful, lasting reductions.”
To join the ‘Carbon Culture Club: Turning Strategy into Everyday Action’ sprint, visit:
https://www.innovationfestival.org/the-festival/sprints/esh-stantec-and-galliford-try/
We’ve seen significant progress over recent years in reducing carbon through innovations in materials and design. But truly sustainable delivery also requires a cultural shift—where carbon reduction is front of mind for everyone, every day. This sprint is about making that shift happen.”