Dive into the North’s dynamic conference programme

The conference at Reset Connect North will unite regional businesses, investors and government bodies with the tools and partnerships needed to lead the green industrial revolution, spotlighting the North's strengths in innovation, clean energy and infrastructure to unlock new opportunities for collaboration, growth and jobs.

This year’s programme features two main stages, two show floor hubs,  VIP Workshops & Roundtables and the Pitch & Invest Programme.

Together, these elements deliver a powerful mix of keynotes and panels, interactive show floor sessions, collaborative workshops and roundtables plus live start-up pitches with real-time investor engagement.

Each designed to inspire action, spark collaboration and accelerate change.

Main stages

Reset Connect North features two headline stages packed with powerful keynotes, panel discussions and real-world case studies, showcasing how businesses and cities are driving the North's green transition.

Transforming Business & Industry Stage 📍Pearl Suite 

Discover strategies to decarbonise operations, future-proof supply chains, and align sustainability with growth. Sessions explore investment trends, digital sustainability and the green skills shaping the region’s economy.

Transforming Cities & Communities Stage 📍 Bury Theatre 

Explore how local authorities and urban leaders are creating future-ready, climate-resilient places through clean transport, retrofit innovation and regional collaboration for system change.

Main stages Reset Connect North

Transforming Cities & Communities Stage

Day 1

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09:00
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    10 mins
10:00
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    60 mins
    This panel will explore how forward-looking organisations are beginning to reframe sustainability, both through the lens of business resilience and as a driver of innovation, growth and competitive ad …
11:00
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    60 mins
    This panel looks at how cities such as Leeds and Manchester are leading the way in sustainable urban development. The discussion will explore green infrastructure, low-carbon transport, energy-efficie …
14:00
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    25 mins
    In this fireside chat, KPMG’s Vice Chair and Head of Energy & Natural Resources, Simon Virley CB, sits down with Paul Addison, Director of Policy & External Affairs at GB Energy, to unpack the organis …
14:30
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    60 mins
    The UK’s shift to electric transport is accelerating across private, commercial and public fleets. This panel explores how innovation, infrastructure and policy are enabling the change, from urban bus …
15:45
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    60 mins
    This panel explores the critical challenges shaping sustainable food systems and supply chains. Panelists will examine how climate change is affecting agricultural productivity and food security, alon …
16:45
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    15 mins
17:00
  1. White Cloth Hall
    120 mins
    Join us for an informal end-of-day sustainability meetup for the Reset Connect North community with just People, Planet, Pint™. at the White Cloth Hall  (27 Crown Street, Leeds, LS2 7DA)

Day 2

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09:00
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    10 mins
09:10
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    15 mins
    Innovation thrives not just on great ideas, but on the ecosystems that enable them. That’s why West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Innovate UK Business Connect have come together to pilot a Net Zero …
10:15
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    20 mins
    This talk will cover the most recent climate trends and global policy after the climate Summit in Belém at the end of last year. It will cover UK progress , the role of the UK Climate Change Committee …
12:15
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    60 mins
    The North of the UK is facing increasingly severe flood risks due to climate change, from heavy rainfall and river surges to rising seas and overwhelmed urban drainage systems. Addressing these challe …
14:00
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    15 mins
    Mandy Ridyard is the Mayor’s Business Advisor, Chair of Space Hub Yorkshire and Financial Director of Produmax . She will explore how leading the transition to low-carbon goods and services can streng …
15:45
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    60 mins
    Northern sports clubs from rugby and football to cricket are embedding sustainability into operations and fan engagement, inspired by initiatives like the RFL’s “More Than A Sport” strategy, demonstra …
16:45
  1. Bury Theatre (Ground Floor)
    15 mins
    A climate emergency demands bold local action, and West Yorkshire has the tools and know-how to lead. Drawing on 25 years of research, Prof Paul Chatterton explores what this might mean in practice wh …

Transforming Business & Industry Stage

Day 1

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09:00
  1. Pearl Suite (First Floor)
    10 mins
11:15
  1. Pearl Suite (First Floor)
    60 mins
    Today’s challenge isn’t just about cutting carbon, it's about gaining a competitive edge.  Join us to hear from businesses leading the charge to net zero and decarbonisation. We'll explore how they’re …
12:30
  1. Pearl Suite (First Floor)
    60 mins
    The North of England is central to the UK’s energy transition, from offshore wind on the Humber to hydrogen innovation in Teesside and smart grid trials in Manchester. Rising demand from electrifying …
17:00
  1. White Cloth Hall
    120 mins
    Join us for an informal end-of-day sustainability meetup for the Reset Connect North community with just People, Planet, Pint™. at the White Cloth Hall  (27 Crown Street, Leeds, LS2 7DA)

Day 2

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09:00
  1. Pearl Suite (First Floor)
    10 mins
09:40
  1. Pearl Suite (First Floor)
    20 mins
    It isn’t because people don’t care about the planet — it’s because financial capability in the UK is uniquely poor - most people barely understand saving, pensions, or investing, so concepts like sust …
10:00
  1. Pearl Suite (First Floor)
    60 mins
    Philanthropy and impact investing are playing an increasingly important role in accelerating green development, as donors and investors look for more strategic ways to address environmental challenges …
11:15
  1. Pearl Suite (First Floor)
    60 mins
    The North boasts stunning landscapes, from the ancient woodlands of Otley Chevin to the restored wetlands of Wigan Flashes. These spaces are not just scenic; they are critical natural infrastructure t …
12:30
  1. Pearl Suite (First Floor)
    60 mins
    A healthier planet supports healthier people and healthier patients reduce pressure on healthcare systems. In the North of England, where health inequalities are often greatest, investing in green hea …
14:45
  1. Pearl Suite (First Floor)
    60 mins
    The transition to a low-carbon economy is creating new career paths for young people, from hands-on green skills to high-tech innovation. As global markets invest in climate solutions, Northern cities …

Show floor hubs

Located within the exhibition, the Innovation Hub and Finance & Investment Hub, offer hands-on learning, live demonstrations and networking opportunities focused on the core challenges and opportunities of the green economy.

Innovation Hub 📍 Exhibition Hall 

Discover sector-specific tools and technologies to cut emissions, explore circular economy and sustainable supply chain solutions. Connect with experts driving scalable green business models whilst highlighting talent and training pathways for green jobs.

Finance & Investment Hub 📍 Exhibition Hall 

Sponsored by FUNKLED

Explore how finance is driving the transition to a sustainable economy. Sessions examine impact investing trends, innovative financial instruments and the regulatory changes shaping responsible markets, equipping participants to future-proof portfolios and scale climate-aligned capital.

Innovation Hub Reset Connect North

Innovation Hub

Day 1

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11:00
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    Sustainable and circular features are desirable and sometimes mandated requirements for new developments - whilst initial strategy may be ambitious (we know what we should do), barriers to delivery st …
11:30
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    Join us for an inspiring session as we unveil Sensing Leeds, an innovative digital platform set to transform how we understand and shape our urban environment. Discover how a new, open-access web-port …
12:00
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    How the use of digital tools, smart systems and data-driven insights to reduce energy waste, improve efficiency and lower operating costs. By integrating technologies such as IoT sensors, AI‑powered a …
12:30
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    As climate disclosures become mandatory and auditable, carbon accounting is rapidly increasing in complexity - particularly around scope 3, transparency and data assurance. While the market is crowded …
13:00
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    Most sustainability teams are being asked to do more than ever: Scope 3, supplier engagement, assurance, reporting, governance, Net Zero planning, tenders, and internal change. The problem is not ambi …
13:45
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    Grab your sandwich or salad and join Clare for a lunchtime Innovation Hub session that swaps slides for stories and acronyms for something more human. Opening with a sharp, relatable piece on modern c …
14:30
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    What if your next breakthrough in organisational design didn’t come from a business book—but from a beehive, coral reef, or flock of birds? Nature has been innovating for 3.8 billion years—quietly per …
15:00
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    Too many clean tech teams are held back by websites that aren’t built for scale. Slow to load. Hard to update. It should be driving growth, cutting carbon and scaling with your ambition. In this sessi …
15:30
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    We will discuss how to best protect inventions in the environmental technology space, including software-based inventions. How do you keep associated costs down? The UK offers free acceleration under …
16:00
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    60 mins
    This in-person session provides a practical briefing on The Power of Events Schools Engagement Programme, designed to connect professionals from across the entire events industry with young people in …
17:00
  1. White Cloth Hall
    120 mins
    Join us for an informal end-of-day sustainability meetup for the Reset Connect North community with just People, Planet, Pint™. at the White Cloth Hall (27 Crown Street, Leeds, LS2 7DA)

Day 2

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11:00
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    The global climate finance system is broken. Investors hold significant resources in climate capital, yet emerging markets, where the vast majority of the world's vulnerable people live, receive a fra …
11:30
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    Still wondering how to get through the noise of carbon footprints? This introductory session is perfect for anyone starting out on their sustainability journey and will be equally valuable to those wh …
12:45
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    As Germany leads Europe’s transition toward a low-carbon economy, Saxony has emerged as one of the country’s most dynamic GreenTech regions, driving innovation in hydrogen, clean advanced manufacturin …
13:45
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    The sustainability debate can feel polarized at times. Based on experience working with stakeholders on opposite sides, this session explores how writing can be used as a tool to move people from entr …
15:30
  1. Innovation Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    Energy efficiency has evolved beyond human behaviour change. Today, wireless IoT building control allows equipment to be monitored and optimised at a granular level - without the cost and complexity o …

Finance & Investment Hub

Day 1

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11:00
  1. Finance & Investment Hub (Ground Floor)
    60 mins
    This will be an ‘open to all’ session on the main floor.   We will be aiming to give newcomers to the area a basic introduction – with plenty of time to ask questions This session will be in two parts …
12:00
  1. Finance & Investment Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    Raising investment doesn’t have to feel like guesswork. In this session, Anthony Rose breaks down how to get truly investment-ready, attract the right investors, and run a funding process that builds …
15:30
  1. Finance & Investment Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    How do consumers engage with money topics in the digital, AI world? From trawling search engines, to asking AI, through to wanting to speak to a real person and we delve into how people are, or aren't …
17:00
  1. White Cloth Hall
    120 mins
    Join us for an informal end-of-day sustainability meetup for the Reset Connect North community with just People, Planet, Pint™. at the White Cloth Hall (27 Crown Street, Leeds, LS2 7DA)

Day 2

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11:00
  1. Finance & Investment Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    What is it like to get financial advice? Only 8.4% of UK adults get financial advice. So what are they benefiting from? And how can consumer sustainability views be reflected in the advice they get?
11:30
  1. Finance & Investment Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    A conversation with Julian Parrot, founder of Ethical Futures. For over 20 years Ethical Futures have been investing client money in line with their world views. We delve into the practicalities of pu …
12:30
  1. Finance & Investment Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    How do you tell one investment fund from another? A conversation with Ken Rayner, co-founder of RSMR, a leading Yorkshire based research agency and portfolio manager that supports the work of hundreds …
13:00
  1. Finance & Investment Hub (Ground Floor)
    30 mins
    How does a professional portfolio manager invest other people's money? And how do you take into account the investment aims and goals of different clients? Delve into the world of day to day portfolio …
14:30
  1. Finance & Investment Hub (Ground Floor)
    60 mins
    This will be an ‘open to all’ session on the main floor of the event. Content will be designed to help those new to this area to gain a basic understanding of sustainable investing – with the opportun …

VIP Workshops & Roundtables

Available exclusively to VIP Pass holders, these ten interactive workshops and roundtables run alongside the main stages and show-floor content, offering in-depth, collaborative sessions curated for peer-to-peer learning and problem-solving.

VIP Workshops & Roundtables 📍 Aire / Hotot Suite

Designed to spark open discussion and cross-sector collaboration, the sessions explore essential themes including:

  • Regulatory readiness and compliance
  • Data strategy and digital transformation
  • Local authority collaboration and regional planning
  • Workforce development and green skills

With smaller group formats that encourage meaningful exchange, these VIP-only sessions provide practical insight, partnership-building opportunities and actionable outcomes to help organisations accelerate their sustainability goals.

Secure your VIP Pass now.

VIP Workshops & Roundtables at Reset Connect North

VIP Workshops and Roundtables

Day 1

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10:30
  1. Aire Suite - VIP Only (First Floor)
    60 mins
    Still curious about the benefits of generative AI and how you can leverage it within your business to save time, reduce inefficiencies and get more done? This jargon free, practical session with Micro …
11:30
  1. Aire Suite - VIP Only (First Floor)
    60 mins
    Luciqo is an AI-driven marketing intelligence platform that helps teams do the heavy lifting: track brand sentiment (yours and competitors), turn data into usable personas, and surface buyer intent si …
13:00
  1. Aire Suite - VIP Only (First Floor)
    60 mins
    Ready to take the next step toward an electric fleet? Blink Charging is hosting three hour long workshops together with experts and practitioners to demystify fleet electrification! From vehicle selec …
14:00
  1. Aire Suite - VIP Only (First Floor)
    60 mins
    Ready to take the next step toward an electric fleet? Blink Charging is hosting three hour long workshops together with experts and practitioners to demystify fleet electrification! From vehicle selec …
15:00
  1. Aire Suite - VIP Only (First Floor)
    60 mins
    Ready to take the next step toward an electric fleet? Blink Charging is hosting three hour long workshops together with experts and practitioners to demystify fleet electrification! From vehicle selec …
16:00
  1. Aire Suite - VIP Only (First Floor)
    60 mins
    This is a small, informal closed-door session for people who work in financial services and investment. Please sign up in advance if possible. Attendances will need to be approved by SRI Services and …
17:00
  1. White Cloth Hall
    120 mins
    Join us for an informal end-of-day sustainability meetup for the Reset Connect North community with just People, Planet, Pint™. at the White Cloth Hall (27 Crown Street, Leeds, LS2 7DA)

Day 2

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11:15
  1. Hotot Suite - VIP Only (First Floor)
    75 mins
    This is a small, informal closed-door session for people who work in retail financial services and investment. Please sign up in advance if possible. Attendances will need to be approved by SRI Servic …
13:15
  1. Hotot Suite - VIP Only (First Floor)
    60 mins

    Following our panel on the West Yorkshire success story, this interactive roundtable moves from the 'why' to the 'how.' Most organisations have climate goals, but few have a workforce that feels truly empowered to deliver them. 

    This '101' taster session pulls back the curtain on the Carbon Literacy process. You’ll experience a high-impact snippet of the training that is currently transforming West Yorkshire workplaces—moving beyond awareness and into practical, role-specific action. Whether you are in HR, Operations, or Senior Leadership, join us to discover how social learning and peer-to-peer engagement can be used as a powerful driver for organisational change. Walk away with a blueprint for your first steps and the confidence to bring your people on the journey

14:30
  1. Hotot Suite - VIP Only (First Floor)
    120 mins
    Join KPMG for an interactive workshop on 4 March, 14:30-16:30, designed for leaders who want to move beyond sustainability as a reporting or compliance exercise and use it to drive tangible enterprise …
16:00
  1. Aire Suite - VIP Only (First Floor)
    60 mins
    Develop practical AI skills and discover how to turn everyday business challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation.

Pitch & Invest Programme

The Pitch & Invest Programme is where innovation meets opportunity.

Designed to connect start-ups, scale-ups and investors, it brings together the brightest entrepreneurial minds with the capital and expertise needed to scale market-ready solutions across the sustainability and net zero landscape.

Pitch & Invest Programme 📍 Barton Suite

Across two days, innovators will pitch their solutions live to a panel of investors, corporate ventures and funding partners, spanning the full spectrum of capital. 

The sessions span a diverse range of sectors, including Tech & AI, Engineering & Manufacturing, Energy, Urban Regeneration, Corporate Sustainability, Retail, Fashion & FMCG, Food & AgriTech and Female Founders.

To pitch, you must exhibit or attend as a VIP.

Explore exhibiting options or secure your VIP Pass.

Pitch & Invest Programme Reset Connect North

Pitch & Invest Programme

Day 1

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11:00
  1. Barton Suite (First Floor)
    55 mins
    Technology is rapidly becoming indispensable for shaping the future across nearly every industry and niche. With such high demand and potential for growth, now is the perfect time to highlight a group …
12:00
  1. Barton Suite (First Floor)
    55 mins
    Engineering and manufacturing incorporate a vast range of industries, all playing a crucial role in global economies while also contributing significantly to carbon emissions. As the push for sustaina …
13:00
  1. Barton Suite (First Floor)
    55 mins
    This session will put the spotlight on groundbreaking start-ups and scale-ups accelerating and scaling clean energy solutions in emerging markets across the globe. If you'd like a glimpse into the fut …
14:45
  1. Barton Suite (First Floor)
    55 mins
    A major hurdle to achieving large-scale decarbonisation can be found at the intersection of people, mobility, and the built environment of the world’s major cities. Combined, the transportation and bu …
15:45
  1. Barton Suite (First Floor)
    55 mins
    As businesses face increasing pressure to align with sustainability targets and frameworks, innovative solutions are key to driving impactful change from the boardroom throughout. This session highlig …
17:00
  1. White Cloth Hall
    120 mins
    Join us for an informal end-of-day sustainability meetup for the Reset Connect North community with just People, Planet, Pint™. at the White Cloth Hall (27 Crown Street, Leeds, LS2 7DA)

Day 2

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11:00
  1. Barton Suite (First Floor)
    55 mins
    Artificial Intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most powerful catalysts for change across industries, redefining how we analyse data, automate processes, and drive decision-making. With its vas …
12:00
  1. Barton Suite (First Floor)
    55 mins
    The Food and AgriTech sector, responsible for around a quarter of global GHG emissions, is rapidly evolving with groundbreaking solutions to enhance sustainability across the supply chain from field t …
13:00
  1. Barton Suite (First Floor)
    55 mins
    Despite growing awareness of the disproportionate access to, and share of venture capital, investment in female founders has remained stagnant. This session highlights pioneering female-led startups i …
14:15
  1. Barton Suite (First Floor)
    90 mins
    After winning their sector heats, eight standout startups will pitch in the Grand Final. The session will showcase a high-energy, Dragon’s Den-style showdown, culminating with the overall winners taki …