First Event Mobilizes 65 Staff for 500-Hour Earth Day Sustainability Drive

Leeds event company launches industry-wide call for 2030 sustainability standards following Carbon Literacy certification

By Sarah Mitchell · Published Fri, 01 May 2026 11:19:51 GMT · Updated Fri, 01 May 2026 11:19:51 GMT

Leeds event company First Event deployed 65 employees for 500 volunteer hours on Earth Day, launching sustainability drive with Carbon Literacy training and industry-wide call for 2030 standards.

Employee-Owned Business Leads by Example

Leeds-based event specialists First Event marked Earth Day on 22nd April by deploying all 65 employees across community volunteer projects, dedicating 500 hours to local sustainability initiatives. The Yeadon-based, employee-owned company used the occasion to launch a broader mission positioning itself as a sustainability leader within the events industry.

Staff participated in diverse community ventures, from street cleaning with Litter Pick Leeds to refreshing Bradford North Food Bank using repurposed paints from Leeds social enterprise Seagulls. Additional activities included bucket collecting for Bradford Neonatal Unit, with all volunteering opportunities focused on carbon reduction and education where possible.

Carbon Literacy Foundation

The volunteer initiative stems from First Event's implementation of mandatory two-day Carbon Literacy Training from The Carbon Literacy Project for all employees. Following this training, the company achieved recognition as a Carbon Literate organisation and has since conducted its own carbon report, revised its ESG policy, and incorporated structured sustainability strategy within business operations.

First Event now incorporates sustainability improvements alongside traditional performance metrics including profit, growth and employee satisfaction.

"Sustainability has to be embedded in how we operate, not added on,"

said Max, Head of Tech & Innovation and ESG Lead at First Event.

"From volunteering in our communities to strengthening our carbon reporting and ESG strategy, we're taking real, measurable action."

Data Partnership for Measurement

The company has partnered with event:decision, a provider of event sustainability and responsibility data, to assess events across environmental responsibility, social value, and governance. This partnership enables First Event to benchmark performance and track progress over time while demonstrating credibility and transparency.

"First Event's engagement shows how agencies can use data and insight to drive better outcomes for clients,"

said Matt Grey at event:decision.

"Responsible events are not about ticking boxes – they're about making informed choices that align delivery with purpose, quality, and long-term value."

Industry-Wide Challenge for 2030

Recognizing that individual company efforts have limitations, First Event is calling on fellow event organisers to adopt similar sustainability strategies as industry standard by 2030. The company acknowledges that current initiatives represent just the beginning, emphasizing the need for continuous refinement and development to minimize the environmental impact of the events sector.

"While Earth Day is just one day each year, we know we need to act each and every day,"

Max added.

"We're proud of the progress so far, but this is bigger than us. We're calling on the events industry to step up, collaborate, and commit to meaningful, measurable change."

Based on reporting by Event Industry News. Read the original article.