Energy Unplugged
Connect with industry professionals and gain practical energy and sustainability cost-saving tips at our exclusive event.
11th June 2026
Have you secured your free place at Energy Unplugged, Inspired’s headline event?
Connect with industry professionals and gain practical energy and sustainability cost-saving tips at our exclusive event.
Date: Thursday 11th June 2026
Location: Albert Hall, Manchester, M2 5QR
Why attend?
- Hear from Tim Peake, renowned British astronaut and keynote speaker, sharing his unique perspective on innovation and resilience.
- Join Ed Gillespie, a veteran environmentalist, activist and futurist, for a fast-paced, thought-provoking session that challenges assumptions and sparks new thinking.
- Uncover new commercial and cost-saving opportunities.
- Stay ahead of emerging regulation and policy changes that will impact your business tomorrow.
- Access practical, sector-specific insights across the energy value chain.
- Connect with Inspired’s experts and peers from across the industry.
Spaces are limited and filling quickly – reserve your complimentary place today. Keep scrolling for the full event programme.
Event Programme
| Timings | Agenda |
|---|---|
| 9:30am | Arrival for a 10.00am start |
| 10:00am | Tune in and turn down the noise Our compere Nathan Parker opens Energy Unplugged by setting the rhythm for the day, cutting through the noise, complexity and competing narratives around energy and sustainability. Nathan frames the challenge facing UK organisations today and talks about moving from overwhelm to clarity, and from intention to action. |
| 10:10am | Soundcheck – Power to change: The UK’s decarbonisation journey Join Ed Gillespie for a fast-paced, thought-provoking session that challenges assumptions and sparks new thinking. With a sharp update on the latest climate context, Ed will explore the UK’s decarbonisation journey and cut through common energy myths. Moving beyond the idea of simply “going green,” he’ll highlight the economic and resilience case for change – showing why reducing energy, cutting costs and lowering carbon is a clear, practical opportunity whatever the climate. |
| 10:40am | Finding the right frequency: Making energy & sustainability decisions pay In an era of ongoing price volatility, tightening budgets and rising sustainability expectations, organisations are under pressure to control energy costs today while still delivering long-term carbon reduction. This session reframes energy and sustainability as interconnected commercial priorities, showing how better consumption management, smarter buying and clearer decision-making can protect budgets and accelerate decarbonisation. Rather than treating cost control and sustainability as competing agendas, the session explores how leading organisations are aligning the two to drive resilience, confidence and measurable results. |
| 11.15am | Exclusive talk from Headline sponsor – EDF Energy |
| 11:30am | From reactive to resilient: What practical energy leadership looks like [panel discussion] With representation from manufacturing, retail, hospitality, education, social housing and healthcare, this panel brings together sector voices to explore how organisations are moving beyond short-term reactions to build long-term resilience. This discussion focuses on what sector specific energy and sustainability challenges, businesses are facing and how practical leadership in today’s energy landscape will help businesses embed energy and sustainability into everyday decisions. |
| 12.15pm | Lunch |
| 1.00pm | Breaking down the drivers of change [rotating seminars] – AI & Emerging Technologies – Energy Risk & Markets – ESG – Decarbonisation |
| 3.00pm | Coffee Break |
| 3.15pm | Tim Peake, British Astronaut A perspective from orbit: Innovation, resilience and the bigger picture Drawing on his extraordinary experiences in space, Tim Peake offers a powerful perspective on innovation and resilience. His keynote challenges audiences to think differently about risk, responsibility and long-term thinking, followed by an audience Q&A. |
| 4.00pm | Encore and next moves Nathan Parker returns to close the day, weaving together key insights, shared challenges and moments of inspiration into a powerful spoken-word summary – leaving delegates with clarity, momentum and a sense of shared purpose. |
| 4.20pm | Unwind Wind down with drinks, canapés and music as the event comes to a close. A time to chat, make connections and enjoy a few final conversations before heading off. |
| 6:00pm | Curfew |
Speakers
Tim Peake CMG, a British astronaut, Keynote Speaker
Drawing on his extraordinary experiences in space, Tim Peake offers a powerful perspective on innovation and resilience.
His keynote challenges audiences to think differently about risk, responsibility and long-term thinking, followed by an audience Q&A.
British astronaut, Keynote Speaker
Professor Sara Walker is an expert on the future of renewables, hydrogen, storage, and decarbonisation, from the perspective of the wider energy system.
As the Director of Hub on Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions (HI-ACT) and Co-Director, Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC), she is highly knowledgeable in her field.
Director: Birmingham Energy Institute
Stephen Phipson CBE has been the Chief Executive of Make UK since joining in 2017.
Before serving in the UK Government Stephen spent 35 years in senior roles in the manufacturing industry including 15 years with Smiths Group plc as President of Smiths Detection where he was awarded a CBE in 2010 for services to the Security industry.
CEO, Make UK
United Learning is a group of independent schools and academies operating in England, and they have committed to having a positive impact on their local communities, on the national education system and on the wider world.
As an educational establishment, they have already taken some important steps to reduce their carbon impact
Energy & Sustainability Manager, United Learning
Lucy is an award-winning clinical leader with a passion to enabling and leading sustainable change in healthcare.
Head of Sustainability, Circle Health Group
Ed Gillespie is a veteran environmentalist, activist and futurist who for almost half his life has spent the last 25 years at the edge of change as a pioneering sustainability consultant, a Director of Greenpeace UK, a facilitator in responsible leadership with the Forward Institute and as a Director, mentor or investor in a dozen or so ethical start-up businesses.
He co-hosts two leading podcasts, circumnavigated the globe without flying, is a writer and poet, and as a self-styled ‘Insultant’ brings playfulness to his provocations.
Environmental Entrepreneur and Author
Register your free place
Expect practical cost-saving insights and quality panels and workshops. It’s free to attend, but places are limited.
If this sounds useful for you or your team, grab a spot by filling in this form.