On Monday, 10th February, the Concilio team successfully delivered the Battery and Future Fuels Symposium at Huntingdonshire District Council, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to shape the future of clean energy and battery technology in the region. 

In collaboration with Endurance Estates, AVL, and officers from Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), Concilio coordinated and managed the event, fostering discussions around proposals for a transformative UK Battery and Future Fuels Research and Development Centre (UKBRDC).  

 The symposium attracted over 100 attendees, featuring keynote addresses from Dr Nik Johnson (Mayor, CPCA), Michelle Sacks (CEO, HDC), and a special foreword from Baroness Gustafsson, Government Minister for Investment. Throughout the day, panels and speeches led by industry innovators and businesses from across Cambridgeshire explored the UKBRDC’s regional and international significance. 

The proposal for the UKBRDC comes at a pivotal moment in the green transition, as the UK risks falling behind other nations unless it invests in greater battery testing, research, and sustainable fuel development. The project represents a major opportunity to secure vital international investment from AVL, an Austrian mobility research and engineering leader, positioning Huntingdonshire as a hub for state-of-the-art innovation. 

In her remarks, Michelle Sacks urged action from all attendees to seize the incredible opportunity the UKBRDC offers to make Huntingdonshire an internationally significant hub for investment and growth which can benefit the whole nation. 

Speakers highlighted the cross-sector opportunities presented by the proposed UKBRDC, emphasising its potential to improve international competitiveness in advanced testing and manufacturing. With the region’s unique access to academia and commercial hubs, the UKBRDC could drive significant advancements in mobility, defence, and aerospace, creating new skills development pathways and boosting local economic growth in Huntingdonshire. 

Concilio provided full event planning, logistical coordination, and communications support, working closely with the local authority and Endurance Estates. Additionally Concilio's in-house design agency, Studio Sustancia designed digital and print materials, including brochures, banners, and promotional content, creating a excellent content for the event and future engagement on the project.