Meaningful Business Event: Think Global, Act Local, Be Meaningful

Meaningful Business Event: Think Global, Act Local, Be Meaningful takes place on 8 December 2026. Venue: The Priory Street Centre, York.

Join the Meaningful Business Network and SME Renkei Project Team for an interactive event exploring what UK and Japanese SMEs can learn from each other by sharing practical approaches, real-world experiences and fresh perspectives on building more sustainable and resilient businesses. We'll also be joined by the ReYorkshire team, bringing the conversation firmly back to York and North Yorkshire, and the many opportunities in the region for businesses to collaborate for greater resource resilience. Working in small groups, we will explore circular economy principles, such as reuse and materials sharing, to help businesses reduce waste, make better use of resources and support local community groups. This event is hosted by the Meaningful Business Network , a local movement supporting businesses to be more impactful, while driving sustainable growth and creating real value for employees, customers, communities and the environment. Event details 📅 Date: Tuesday 8th December ⏰ Time: Registrations from 9.30am - Lunch from 1pm 📍 Location: The Priory Street Centre, York 🎟️ Free to attend – registration required About the event SMEs are at the heart of the economies of both the UK and Japan, but the ways businesses respond to sustainability and resilience can be shaped by very different cultural perspectives. In Japan, ideas such as bōsai – disaster preparedness – and mottainai – avoiding waste and recognising the value of resources – offer interesting perspectives on how businesses can think differently about resilience and environmental action. This event brings UK and Japanese perspectives together to ask a practical question: what can we learn from each other, and what could we put into practice locally? You'll hear insights from the SME Renkei project , discover examples from businesses in Japan and Yorkshire, and exchange ideas with other SMEs and regional partners. The project team are inviting small businesses to complete our survey , which you can access through this link . We will be presenting the results at the event and would like to hear your views We'll then turn our attention to acting locally , with a dedicated session from ReYorkshire , exploring how businesses across York and North Yorkshire can put circular economy thinking into practice. What you'll gain By attending, you'll have the opportunity to: 🌏 Gain a fresh international perspective on sustainability and business resilience ♻️ Explore circular economy approaches to reducing waste and making better use of resources 💡 Discover practical ideas you could apply within your own organisation 🇯🇵 Learn from SMEs in Japan and consider how different cultural approaches could inspire action here 📍 Connect global thinking with local action through the work of ReYorkshire in York and North Yorkshire 🤝 Build relationships with like-minded businesses and regional partners 📚 Access practical resources and ideas to help your organisation become more sustainable and resilient Who should attend? This event is for SMEs and business leaders across York and North Yorkshire , Meaningful Business Network members, sustainability practitioners, policymakers and organisations supporting regional businesses. You don't need to be an expert in sustainability, climate action or the circular economy. If you're interested in practical ideas, learning from other businesses and finding realistic ways to make your organisation more resilient, resource-efficient and sustainable, we'd be delighted to welcome you. This event is part of the SME Renkei Project , funded by the York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI) at the University of York through its Knowledge Exchange Fellows scheme. The project brings together researchers and businesses in the UK and Japan to share knowledge, explore environmental challenges and encourage practical approaches to sustainability, resource efficiency and business resilience. Find out more about the project and YESI .