3:00pm - 5:00pm, 20 May 2025
(Europe/London)
(Europe/London)
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Event Details
ESG Event
Tuesday 20th May 2025
Registrations and refreshments 2:30pm-3:00pm
Meeting: 3:00pm-5:00pm
Venue: Santander UK HQ, Unity Place, 200 Grafton Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 1UP
Networking drinks from 5pm
Kindly sponsored by
Key Takeaways
- Understand how ESG is reshaping corporate strategies
- An insight into sustainable practices
- Guidance on how to align with emerging ESG trends
- Why sustainability is a strategic imperative, not just a marketing tactic
- How to take that first step rather than striving for perfection from the start
Meeting Agenda
3:00pm Welcome, introduction & APSCo update
3:10pm The rising importance of ESG in today’s corporate world
Wendy Whewell, Head of ESG & Climate Change, Santander
Wendy will lead an insightful discussion on the growing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in today’s corporate landscape. The session will explore Santander’s sustainability strategy, highlighting why sustainability has become essential for long-term business success. Wendy will also cover the various roles within organisations that are most impacted by ESG initiatives and examine where recruitment firms can begin to adapt their practices to align with these evolving sustainability demands.
3:55pm Getting started in ESG
Dr Yi Zheng, Corporate Sustainability & ESG Consultant, Saffery
In today’s business landscape, ESG is a crucial driver of long-term resilience and growth. Yi will explain why that first step and fostering a mindset of continuous improvement rather than waiting for the perfect plan is key to the success of your ESG policy. How to embed sustainability into your business strategy from the outset. How companies can align with stakeholder values, enhance trust, and build a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Sustainability, approached as an ongoing journey, reinforces your business’s commitment to responsible growth and future-readiness. In a highly competitive market, this can make your brand shine brighter than your competitors. Yi will take you through the process of positioning your company to take those steps.
About Unity Place:
Unity Place is more than just a building—it’s a modern landmark in sustainability and innovation. As the Santander UK Headquarters in Milton Keynes, this impressive structure was designed with the future in mind, placing a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility and well-being.
- Sustainability: Unity Place is built to the highest standards of sustainability, featuring advanced energy-efficient systems, green spaces, and materials that minimize environmental impact. It's designed to reduce carbon emissions while creating a healthier workspace for everyone inside.
- Innovative design: The building integrates the latest in smart technology to improve energy use and enhance the experience of its occupants. From state-of-the-art ventilation and lighting to resource management, Unity Place sets the benchmark for eco-conscious design.
Post-event networking:
After the seminar, join us for drinks and nibbles at the Urban Food Market from 17:00 – 18:00, a great opportunity to network with other professionals.
Location: Unity Place is ideally located opposite Milton Keynes Central train station, making it incredibly accessible for both local and visiting professionals. Its prime location allows seamless connections to London, the Midlands, and beyond.
Parking: Available outside the building.
Speakers
Wendy Whewell
Santander, Head ESG & Climate Change, Corporate & Commercial Banking
Wendy has spent her career in Corporate Banking across a number of financial institutions. Her current role is integrating Sustainability into the Corporate and Commercial Bank across all aspects of banking which includes regulation, education, strategy, data and awareness. In her spare time, she is an amateur wildlife photographer and has witnessed the impact of climate change across our planet.
Yi Zheng
Saffery, Corporate Sustainability & ESG Consultant
Yi is a specialist in Sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) at Saffery, where she advises clients on ESG maturity and materiality assessments, ESG strategy, climate transition planning, and sustainability reporting. She has supported clients across both private and public sectors, spanning industries such as construction and real estate, hospitality, consumer goods, manufacturing, local authorities, and professional services.
In the rapidly advancing sustainability field, Yi offers clients expert guidance on greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting aligning with the GHG Protocol and has supported corporate climate disclosures aligned to the recommendations by the Task force on Climate related Financial Disclosure (TCFD). Additionally, she has led assurance engagements, providing limited assurance on ESG metrics in alignment with ISAE3000.
Yi holds a PhD from the Centre for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Surrey, where her research focused on sustainable business impact assessment.
