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 | 10am – 6pm
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 | Exclusive talk from Headline sponsor – EDF Energy What’s really driving your energy costs – and why non-commodity charges matter more than ever In this session, we will help you understand what’s really driving your costs. We’ll break down the key policy changes and reforms shaping the market, what makes up non-commodity charges, and why they are becoming a bigger and less predictable part of your bill. As the energy landscape evolves, so does the challenge of staying in control of your spend. We’ll share practical insight into how you can better understand these changes and work more effectively with your supplier or consultant to plan ahead. |
| 10:55am | 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. |
| 11:30am | 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 |
| POLITE NOTICE |
|---|
| Please note that this event is intended exclusively for Inspired clients and invited contacts who are responsible for energy and sustainability decisions within their organisations. As places are limited, registration alone does not confirm attendance. A diary invitation will be issued to confirmed attendees following registration, and we kindly ask that only those who have received this invitation attend the event. To ensure the event remains focused and valuable for attendees, it is not open to other consultancies, non-sponsoring suppliers or other service providers. |
Sponsors
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
Rashid has worked at Anchor Hanover Group for 9 years, solely in the procurement team and moved to the senior role last July.
His background is financial services, within the banking and insurance sector specifically.
Senior Procurement Category Manager, Anchor Housing
Paul Lockwood is Head of Procurement and Net Zero at OurCoop, with more than 25 years’ experience across the private, public and co-operative sectors.
A specialist in procurement transformation, sustainability and supplier management, he has led major change programmes delivering significant cost savings and operational improvements.
Paul also heads up the ISM Energy and Procurement Consortium, which includes the largest regional retail co-ops in the UK, achieving around £30 million in annual savings for Independent Society Member (ISM) co-operatives over the past three years.
Head of Procurement & Net Zero, OurCoop
Raghav joined EDF in 2008 following four years at HSBC Investment Bank. At EDF, Raghav has fulfilled roles in Sales Planning & Analysis, Strategy & Proposition Development and Low Carbon Energy trading.
Raghav was appointed Senior Manager of Large Business in 2018 and is now Business Supply Director, with overall responsibility for EDF’s major industrial and commercial customers and public sector frameworks, both directly and through channel partners.
Raghav is excited to be chairing this event.
Business Supply Director, EDF Business & Wholesale
Your Route to the Main Stage
Venue details:
Albert Hall, 27 Peter Street, Manchester, M2 5QR
Here’s how to get there…
By car
There is no on-site parking, but ample parking is available nearby.
The nearest option is NCP Manchester Great Northern Warehouse, a 24-hour secure car park directly opposite the venue, accessible via Watson Street.
By train
Manchester Oxford Road Rail Station or Deansgate Rail Station are both the nearest train stations, approx a 10-min walk away.
Manchester Piccadilly Rail Station and Manchester Victoria Rail Stations are approx a 20-min walk away.
By tram
St Peter’s Square tram stop is approximately a 5‑min walk from the venue.
Deansgate and Exchange Square tram stops are both around a 10‑min walk away.
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.
As places are limited, registration alone does not confirm attendance. A diary invitation will be issued to confirmed attendees following registration, and we kindly ask that only those who have received this invitation attend the event.