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ASM Global sets ambitious sustainability target

ASM Global has announced an aggressive plan to convert its venue portfolio into the most sustainable collection in the world.

Through its corporate social responsibility platform, ASM Global Acts – and in partnership with Honeycomb Strategies – the company says it will dedicate its full resources to achieving measurable results using a comprehensive tracking system, “intended to reflect that scale and create substantial collective impact on every continent it operates”.

ASM already boasts the largest collection of certified green venues with more than 40 throughout the portfolio, and the firm’s global president and CEO Ron Bension says it is “now raising the bar even higher”.

“This entire program will be integrated into all of the relationships with our existing and future clients as part of our intrinsic ASM Global DNA,” says Bension. “As we stated when we first partnered with Honeycomb Strategies last summer, demand from our established and newer clients for state-of-the-art sustainability innovations has been consistently increasing. We are now in a position to work with them and lead the industry in this incredibly important space.”

ASM has committed to reduce energy consumption by 25% for all its venues, as well as achieving 20% of all energy consumed through renewable energy sources by 2025. It has also set the targets of being carbon neutral by 2050, diverting over 50% of waste overall by 2025 and eliminating single-use plastic in front of house, also by 2025, and reducing water consumption by 25% by 2030.

“The project has already begun. We’ve selected a group of pilot venues across size, type and continents that have begun reporting against the goals”

In addition, it will award 50% of its reportable spend to suppliers adhering to its environmental purchasing policy by 2030, and is bidding to increase plant-based menu options by 35% by 2024 within its Savor food division venues and decrease food waste by 75% by 2026 in those venues.

“The project has already begun,” adds Lindsay Arell, one of Honeycomb Strategies’ two principals. “We’ve selected a group of pilot venues across size, type and continents that have begun reporting against the goals. The aim is to add additional venues at a fast pace to obtain important baseline information for 2023.”

ASM has partnered with WeTrack, a SaaS company that provides planning, sustainability goals and operations solutions. The WeTrack system has been developed to help customers track progress on sustainability, ESG and CSR initiatives.

ASM Global venue ambassadors will each have a system set up for them with common indicators that ASM Global wants to track along with venue goals specific to the community in which they operate.

 


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ASM Global and Nordoff Robbins ink partnership

ASM Global has announced a new three-year partnership with Nordoff and Robbins, the UK’s largest music therapy charity.

The partnership will roll out across ASM Global’s portfolio of venues in the UK, which includes AO Arena, first direct Arena, Utilita Arena Newcastle, Olympia London, OVO Arena Wembley, York Barbican, Bonus Arena and more.

According to a release, visitors to the venue and venue teams will be engaged in driving fundraising initiatives and activations as well as in opportunities to educate themselves.

ASM Global and Nordoff and Robbins will join forces to raise funds to expand the charity’s services to more children and adults across the UK, and protect current and future funding for music therapy delivery, education and research.

This partnership is supported by ASM Global’s corporate social responsibility platform, ASM Global Acts, which launched in October 2021 to protect the environment, invest in people and strengthen communities around the globe.

Nordoff and Robbins’ trained music therapists “use the power of music to break through the barriers caused by life-limiting illness, disability and social isolation, creating space for people to express themselves and find connection in society”.​

“We have always admired the exceptional work of Nordoff and Robbins”

The charity reaches thousands of vulnerable people annually through their bases across the UK, and by working in partnership with organisations including care homes, schools and hospitals. Its work can be transformative, from an adult with dementia reconnecting with family, to a child with autism finding their voice.

“We have always admired the exceptional work of Nordoff and Robbins,” says Chris Bray, EVP of Europe at ASM Global. “As a live entertainment experiences business, we are committed to making music accessible and through this new partnership we have the opportunity to work alongside a leading, ground-breaking charity to deliver just that.”

“On behalf of all at ASM Global, we are very much looking forward to getting started in what we hope to be a long and successful partnership with Nordoff and Robbins, bringing music therapy and all of its lifechanging benefits to people around the UK who need it the most.”

Sandra Schembri, CEO, Nordoff and Robbins, adds: “We are truly delighted and grateful to be partnering with ASM Global for the next three years. Having the support of their network of amazing venue teams to help amplify Nordoff and Robbins’ mission to millions of visitors nationwide, will be an enormous boost to our fundraising activity. We look forward to working with ASM Global on a whole host of exciting initiatives and activations throughout this extensive partnership, with all money raised going directly towards making music therapy accessible to even more people across society.”

ASM Global and Nordoff and Robbins formally announced their partnership on Tuesday 28 February at ILMC. A team of Nordoff and Robbins’ music therapists attended to deliver a music therapy workshop to ASM Global teams, offering a chance to see first-hand, the work that they do with such outstanding results.

 


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ASM announces inaugural Global Month of Giving

ASM Global has announced its first worldwide “Global Month of Giving”.

Launched this week, the scheme will provide opportunities for team members internationally to dedicate their time, talent and “treasure” through volunteering, giving back and engaging in local community initiatives.

It marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of the venue giant’s corporate social responsibility platform ASM Global Acts, which is centred on three commitments: protect the environment, invest in people and strengthen communities around the globe.

“Our Global Month of Giving represents our shared intention to make a difference in the lives of others around the world”

“ASM Global operates hundreds of stadiums, convention centres and arenas around the globe, which boost local economies, employ area residents and provide meaningful opportunities for the communities we call home,” says Ron Bension, president and CEO of ASM Global. “Our Global Month of Giving represents our shared intention to make a difference in the lives of others around the world.

“Building strong, vibrant communities requires commitments that extend beyond the walls of our venues. We bring that to life by giving back and investing in organisations that are making both the world and our local communities a better place to live, work and play.”

ASM Global Month of Giving is an extension of the firm’s longstanding commitments to creating a better workplace, a more diverse workforce, serving the communities where it operates, and contributing to a healthier environment and planet.

“This partnership between ASM Global, Savor and Wicked Kitchen is an integral part of ASM Global’s commitment to establishing the most sustainable venues in the world”

Earlier this week, ASM announced a multi-year partnership with plant-based food provider Wicked Kitchen to increase the selection and availability of vegan food options throughout its network of arenas, stadiums, theatres and convention centres.

The announcement establishes Wicked Kitchen, a 100% plant-based, flavour-forward global food brand, as the “Preferred Plant-Based Food Partner” of ASM Global venues and “Exclusive Plant-Based Food Provider” across all catering, suite and concessions managed by Savor, ASM’s chef-driven culinary division.

Wicked Kitchen also becomes an official partner of the ASM Global Acts Foundation.

“This partnership between ASM Global, Savor and Wicked Kitchen is an integral part of ASM Global’s commitment to establishing the most sustainable venues in the world,” adds  Savor SVP Shaun Beard.

ASM Global and the International Live Music Conference (ILMC) recently announced that their partnership to dramatically expand the conference’s Alia Dann Swift Bursary Scheme, which promotes and encourages the next generation of young executive talent, will continue into 2023.

 


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ASM Global supports expanded ILMC bursary scheme

ASM Global and the International Live Music Conference (ILMC) are joining forces to dramatically expand the conference’s Alia Dann Swift Bursary Scheme.

The scheme, which was founded in 2018 and named after ILMC’s late longstanding producer, promotes and encourages the next generation of young executive talent.

The expanded programme, backed by ASM Global’s corporate social responsibility platform ASM Global Acts, will see 30 young executives given a free place at this year’s ILMC.

The invitation-only event, taking place in London from 26–29 April 2022, has been the foremost meeting place for live music professionals worldwide for over 30 years, and welcomes 2,000 top professionals across the week.

In addition to the free place, the selected young executives will have a dedicated industry mentor and additional networking opportunities taking place at ILMC, via the ASM Global family.

“Through ASM Global Acts, we’re able to take action and create real opportunity for the next generation of industry leaders”

Chris Bray, executive vice president, Europe at ASM Global, says: “After a difficult two years for live events, it’s exciting to be looking to the future and supporting young executives as the industry recovers from the pandemic. At ASM Global we are committed to investing in people and strengthening communities all over the world.

“Through the company’s ASM Global Acts platform, we’re able to take action and create real opportunity for the next generation of industry leaders, so we are delighted to be partnering with ILMC on the Alia Dann Swift Bursary Scheme and look forward to meeting with the chosen delegates at this year’s event.”

ILMC head Greg Parmley added: “ASM’s shared passion for supporting and developing the next generation of business leaders allows us to supercharge the bursary scheme this year. At a crucial time for the global live music industry, developing a new and diverse range of executive talent is a vital step in both its recovery and future success.”

To apply to the Alia Dann Swift Bursary Scheme, applicants must already be working in the live music business and not have previously attended an ILMC.

The scheme is open to applicants internationally. The closing date for applications is Friday 1 April 2022. Full details of the bursary scheme and an application form are available here.

 


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ASM launches corporate social responsibility platform

ASM Global is launching a new corporate social responsibility platform called ASM Global Acts, which it says is aligned with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

According to the live entertainment giant, the platform is centred on three commitments: protect the environment, invest in people and strengthen communities around the globe.

The company will establish annual targets that measure impact and progress to achieving the commitments.

Today also marks the launch of the ASM Global Acts Foundation to support philanthropic and community-based endeavours guided by its sustainability and diversity pillars.

“Our ASM Global Acts initiative is inspired by this idea of making a meaningful difference in our communities and beyond”

In addition, the ASM Global Acts Scholarship will focus on serving diverse and under-resourced communities with educational and career development opportunities.

The initiative will immediately launch at ASM’s Pennsylvania Convention Center, Chicago’s McCormick Place, California’s Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, Ontario Convention Center and Toyota Arena.

The company says there are plans to roll it out in other venues in 2022.

“Whether you are a performer on our stages, a technician, hospitality team member or visitor to our venue, we all have the ability to work together and harness our collective action to make the world a better place,” says Ron Bension, president of ASM Global.

“Our ASM Global Acts initiative is inspired by this idea of action and brings to life our dedication to making a meaningful difference in our communities and beyond.”

 


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