Sustainable Cities Festival 2026 timetable
Day 1 – Skills for Sustainable Growth
Wednesday 4 March 2026
Location: University of East London, Docklands Campus
| NAME | TIME | Description | FORMAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome & Launch | 09:30 – 11:30 | The official opening of Sustainable Cities Festival 2026, setting the context for the three-day programme and exploring the role of skills, innovation and place in shaping sustainable cities. | Opening session | |
| Developing Inclusive Innovative Talent in East London | 11:30 – 12:15 | A panel exploring how education, employers and local partners can work together to develop inclusive talent pipelines and future-ready skills across East London. | Panel discussion | |
| Unlocking Social Value Through Regeneration | 14:00 – 15:30 | A roundtable discussion focused on how regeneration projects can deliver meaningful social value, inclusive growth and long-term benefits for local communities. | Roundtable | |
| Jobs Fair & Stalls | 14:00 – 16:30 | A jobs and careers fair bringing together employers, training providers and support organisations offering opportunities across green skills, infrastructure, retail, hospitality and construction. | Drop-in | |
| Jobs in East London – Green Skills & Careers | 14:00 – 16:30 | A series of short, accessible talks highlighting green careers, emerging roles and pathways into work across East London’s growing sustainability sectors. | Short talks | |
| All-day RDCS Tours | All day | Explore our open labs including the Sustainable Research Institute and London Renewable Energy Lab, as well as our Communities Clinics including the Business Advice Centre, Health Hub and STEAM Community Support. | Tours and showcases | |
Day focus: Skills, green jobs, inclusive talent, social value, workforce pathways
Day 2 – Sustainable Start-Ups
Thursday 5 March 2026
Location: University of East London, Docklands Campus
| NAME | TIME | Description | FORMAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Business Breakfast Briefing: Inclusive Talent Strategy & Diversity of Thought | 08:30 – 10:30 | A breakfast briefing for local businesses exploring inclusive talent strategies, workforce diversity and the role of different perspectives in driving innovation and growth. | Briefing | |
| Sign Language Session | 10:30 – 11:30 | An accessible and inclusive session delivered in British Sign Language, exploring sustainability, enterprise and community connection through inclusive communication. | Interactive session | |
| Start-up and Scale-up Funding | 10:30 – 12:00 | A practical session outlining funding routes, investment readiness and support available for start-ups and scale-ups working on sustainable solutions. | Workshop | |
| Meet the Founders with Grow London Local | 11:00 – 12:30 | An informal networking session connecting founders and early-stage businesses with Grow London Local and peers across the East London start-up ecosystem. | Networking | |
| How to start your sustainability journey – saving emissions and cutting costs | 11:00 – 12:30 | Join an introduction to sustainability, where you’ll understand the impacts of climate change on your business and how you can reduce emissions while cutting costs. The session covers energy, waste and materials, transport, manufacturing and supply chains. | Workshop | |
| Pitch Session – Terra Dock Members & Partners | 14:00 – 15:00 | A pitch session showcasing Terra Dock members and partners, offering founders the opportunity to present ideas, gain feedback and build connections. | Pitch session | |
| East London Innovation District Roundtable | 14:00 – 15:30 | A roundtable discussion bringing together partners to explore innovation districts, place-based growth and collaboration opportunities across East London. | Roundtable | |
| All-day RDCS Tours | All day | Explore our open labs including the Sustainable Research Institute and London Renewable Energy Lab, as well as our Communities Clinics including the Business Advice Centre, Health Hub and STEAM Community Support Centre. | Tours and showcases | |
Day focus: Start-ups, scale-ups, funding, inclusive talent, networking, innovation districts
Day 3 – Sustainable Communities
Friday 6 March 2026
Location: University of East London & Royal Docks locations
| NAME | TIME | Description | FORMAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grow London Local Coffee Friday | 10:00 – 12:00 | A relaxed community networking session hosted with Grow London Local, creating space for conversations, connections and shared learning. | Informal networking | |
| Community Sessions | 10:30 – 15:45 | A series of hands-on community-led workshops exploring sustainability in everyday life, from local enterprise and repair to creativity and community wealth building. | Workshops | |
| Royal Docks Sustainability in Action – Site Tour: Tipping Point East – Circular Construction Hub | 10:00 – 12:00 | A guided site tour exploring circular construction approaches and sustainable building practices in the Royal Docks. | Guided site tour | |
| Royal Docks Regeneration – Site Tour: RDCS - RAD - Compressor House | 10:00 – 12:00 | A guided tour highlighting community wealth building initiatives and place-based approaches to inclusive regeneration across the Royal Docks. | Guided site tour | |
| Closing Talk | 15:30 – 16:00 | Closing talks. | Closing talks | |
Day focus: Community-led action, place-based change, participation, lived experience