Corporate leaders representing a combined annual revenue of more than £1.4 trillion – including half of the UK’s ten largest retailers – convened at Kew Gardens this month to accelerate real-world nature action across global business and finance.
Hosted by British biodiversity consultancy Biodiversify in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the event brought together sustainability professionals from 12 sectors, featuring organisations such as Primark, The Co-op Group, BAM UK & Ireland, The Crown Estate, and The Gascoyne Estate.
More than 50 companies took part, underlining the surge in demand for corporate nature expertise within UK business.
The gathering reflected a fundamental shift in corporate priorities: specialised in-house nature roles, virtually non-existent two years ago, have now become essential positions supported by peer networks, shared learning, and collaborative problem-solving.
The day-long workshop, titled ‘Accelerating Corporate Nature Positive Journeys’, represented a significant evolution in the UK’s approach to biodiversity—signalling a move away from abstract policy discussions and compliance frameworks toward tangible implementation and collective action.
Held under the Chatham House Rule to foster open and honest dialogue, the event functioned as a solutions-focused forum where mid- to senior-level practitioners addressed practical challenges and exchanged strategies.
Conversations explored how to embed nature-positive strategies into business decision-making, risk planning, supply chain resilience, and the development of compelling business cases for nature investment at board level.
Dr Samuel Sinclair, Co-Founder and Director at Biodiversify, said: “The UK is emerging as a global hub for nature-positive business leadership, and this event was a manifestation of that.
“We’re seeing the world’s largest companies not just talking about nature but actively coordinating action and unlocking significant investment to transform their operations.
“The appetite for practical, action-oriented guidance has never been stronger. Companies are moving beyond disclosure requirements to ask how nature strategies can drive competitive advantage, secure supply chains, and unlock billions in sustainable investment.
“The UK is uniquely positioned to lead this transition, and gatherings of this calibre demonstrate we’re converting that potential into tangible momentum.”
Philippa Jefferis, Lead Sustainability Controller at BAM UK & Ireland, added: “The event was invaluable for the opportunity to meet across industries, highlighting common themes and potential opportunities for collaboration.
“The focus on collective learning and peer-to-peer support was incredibly beneficial, and I look forward to seeing more events like this in the future.”
