The Sustainability Accelerator

The food industry needs future leaders equipped to tackle critical climate challenges. Our Sustainability Accelerator provides the foundational knowledge, confidence and networks to transform sustainability into a competitive advantage and drive long-term growth.

The system is changing - will your business keep up? 

72% of Future Food Movement’s network believe the pace of change is outstripping business capability. 

The climate clock is ticking, regulatory pressure is mounting, and ESG isn’t what it used to be. For food leaders, the real challenge is navigating complexity – profit vs purpose, resilience vs efficiency, climate vs comfort. 

Future Food Movement’s Sustainability Accelerator helps teams move faster, together. It builds climate confidence, sharpens practical leadership skills and connects changemakers through a peer-powered network that supports momentum long after the programme ends.

And it works: 96% of participants say they feel more confident to devise and deliver climate projects in their role.

Join us for a 30-minute Virtual Open Day to find out how it works and why it’s helping leaders across retail, out of home, agrifood and brands drive meaningful progress – and what’s changing for the people who take part.

“This programme helped us move from ambition to action, giving our team the language, leadership and practical ideas to take sustainability deeper into the business.”

— Sustainability Lead, The Billington Group

What’s in it For You?

Become the changemaker your business didn’t know it needed. 

Join the Open Day to:

  • Understand the landscape: The state of play in climate, food and business 

  • Explore the programme: What’s covered, who it’s for and how it works 

  • Hear real stories: A coach deep-dives on one key topic, and a recent participant shares how they used the learning to lead change 

  • Ask us anything: Live Q&A with the Future Food Movement team 

Wednesday 30 July  | 11:00–11:30 am BST | Online (Teams) Free to attend 

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Why Join the Accelerator? 

Gain Practical Knowledge Across Five Areas: 

  • Next Gen Climate Leadership 

  • Climate Risk and Finance 

  • Net Zero Strategy 

  • Human Rights

  • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

  • Regenerative Agriculture. 

What You’ll Walk Away With:

  • A stronger voice in the sustainability conversation 

  • A toolkit for climate communication and leadership 

  • Clarity on how to translate learning into action 

  • Peer support and momentum that lasts beyond the programme. 

Your Bonus: 3 Months Free Membership 

Every participant also receives 3 months free access to the Future Food Movement Network: 

  • Exclusive member events 

  • Access to our insight tools and content library 

  • A community of food leaders driving transformation 

  • Continued support and inspiration after the Accelerator ends

Meet the Experts Behind the Programme 

Kate Cawley

  • Kate Cawley is the founder of Veris Strategies, an award-winning sustainability consultancy, and Future Food Movement. Working with leaders across the food value chain - from retailers to manufacturers - Kate drives action on climate, health, and sustainability, aiming to make food a force for positive change in a world that’s on fire. She strives to address the need for industry-wide upskilling, bridging capability gaps from boardroom to shop floor with a team of experts in nutrition, public health, regenerative agriculture, and climate, empowering the entire food industry to drive meaningful action. 

Becca Hesketh

  • Rebecca is a pioneer in sustainable farming, managing a conservation-grazing farm on the Isle of Wight with native breed cows and sheep to enrich local habitats. With deep experience in agriculture and food supply chains, she is a key member of the Cool Farm Alliance. Previously, Rebecca served as Programme Manager for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Food Initiative and as Ethics and Sustainability Manager at Waitrose. 

Louise Nicholls

  • Formerly Corporate Head of Human Rights, Food Sustainability, and Packaging at Marks & Spencer, Louise now advises manufacturers, retailers, startups, and investors on sustainability and human rights. She drives awareness from boardroom to shop floor, shaping strategy and impactful collaborations. Louise is Executive Lead of the Food Network for Ethical Trade (FNET), a tutor with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership, Chair of IEMA, and a Trustee of IDH and SFACT, championing industry-wide change. 

Katie Allen

  • Katie Allen is a DEI consultant, Executive Coach, and TEDx speaker with over 15 years’ experience in people, culture, and leadership. She helps organisations align their cultural goals with strategic, inclusive practices to achieve business success. Committed to transforming workplaces, Katie fosters inclusive cultures that empower diverse voices to drive sustainable change, showing that inclusion is key to maximising impact and performance. 

Stephanie Gnissios

  • Stephanie focuses on integrating social, environmental, and climate impact into strategic decisions and risk management for global projects. With an engineering background, entrepreneurial experience, and an Executive MBA from Saïd Business School, she co-founded Climate Risk Services, specialising in climate risk advisory. She also mentors startups via Oxford University Innovation and teaches sustainability, climate, and impact strategy, blending real-world insight with responsible entrepreneurship.

William Clare

  • Will Clare helps the food industry to reach Net Zero by providing expert advice on reducing product impact, setting science-based targets, and delivering practical climate training. He guides site teams on cutting energy use and creating clear paths to Net Zero. Through engaging workshops and talks, Will shares hands-on strategies for a sustainable future with organisations 
    across many fields. 

The Sustainability Accelerator Programme is designed to build practical sustainability capability across roles and functions, equipping professionals with the knowledge and tools to drive meaningful environmental and social impact within their organisations.

It is aimed at sustainability leads, ESG managers and responsible business professionals who want to deepen their understanding of systems thinking, science-based targets and emerging regulations, while embedding sustainable practices aligned to their sector and strategic priorities.

Additionally, commercial, procurement and supply chain teams will gain actionable insight into how sustainability can unlock innovation, resilience and long-term value. Senior leaders and C-suite executives will benefit from strategic frameworks to integrate sustainability into core decision-making, governance and growth planning—positioning their business to thrive in a rapidly evolving operating environment.

This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 22 hours of learning. Note: should students wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon them. Future Food Movement accepts no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.

Is this programme for you?

Programme details

Develop climate-first leadership to position your business at the forefront of sustainability and resilience.

What will you learn?

  • Meet your cohort, understand the landscape, issues and disruptions in the food industry and why leadership climate upskilling and collaboration is so important.

  • Get under the skin of what Net Zero means and explore climate from the top down to identify root causes and solutions before diving into the context of the food sector to learn the actions needed to deliver transformative change and a Net Zero future.

  • Climate change is a global financial risk and the context of the business landscape is changing how banks finance companies.

    Learn an understanding of Climate Risk, Regulatory Standards & Disclosure Trends, Strategies & Approaches to Building a Climate Risk Management Strategy.

  • A focus on food industry specific issues where a healthy planet supports healthy people. Explores how businesses can strengthen their management of Human Rights issues and what best practice looks like to help accelerate a fair and just net zero food system transformation.

  • Helps you to confidently navigate inclusion conversations within your business and understand the integral role that ED&I and workplace culture plays in strategic sustainability.

  • How we produce and source food matters, learn why and how you can play a role in scaling regenerative agriculture.

Be inspired