Sustainability Festival
The annual Sustainability Festival is the flagship event of the Transformative Communities project. Organised collaboratively between staff in the Department of Strategy, Enterprise and Sustainability, and students from the Student and Staff Sustainability Group, it brings local community groups, schools, social enterprises, NGOs, sustainable business together with the university community to celebrate and drive sustainability action. Highlights from the 2024 festival can be viewed here.
Sustainability Festival 2025
6th June 2025
The 4th annual SES Sustainability Festival celebrates and promotes transformative action for socio-ecological sustainability within Manchester and beyond. This year’s event focused on nature and food, and creating pathways to a just and regenerative future.
The 2025 Sustainability Festival included an inspiring and interactive programme of exhibits, workshops, performances, artwork, poster presentations and more. Throughout the day, there was a wide range of stalls from sustainable businesses and enterprises, community groups, students and academics and NGOs with multiple opportunities for building new connections and collaborations. Many thanks to everyone who took part for all of your contributions!
Previous Festivals
Beginning in 2022, the Sustainability Festival has welcomed organisations and activists from across Greater Manchester and beyond. Speakers have included the writer and broadcaster Jonathan Porritt; Marion Osieyo, Head of Inclusive Conservation at WWF; and the Manchester Fashion Institute. A highlight every year are the local primary school Eco-Warriers who come to tell us about their outdoor environmental learning projects.
By 2024, the event had grown to over 50 stalls and more than 300 participants, who enjoyed a wide range of activities, exhibits and performances.