Sam Rowe is the CEO of Ignition, a Bristol and Indianapolis-based creative agency specialising in exhibitions, events and experiences. She is a champion of sustainability, pioneering a new kind of business model that was founded on the principle of putting people and planet before profit. In 2020, Ignition was awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development.
Sam is also the CEO of multi-award winning Istoria Group, a women-owned collective of creative agencies. The group offers clients complementary skill sets across exhibition & event design (Ignition); spatial design & branding (Phoenix Wharf); and strategic communications (Caroline).
Sam oversees the core strategy of the group and spearheads its continued growth and expansion into new territories and markets. Accreditations include ISO 20121 – Sustainable Event Management, in addition to ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 for Environmental and Quality Management. The group has won numerous awards, amongst them ‘Creative Agency of the Year’, ‘Employer of the Year’ and ‘Best Eco Company’.
Istoria Group is truly entrepreneurial and comprises an incubator hub where promising start-ups get funding, mentoring and office space to give them the best chance to succeed.
Istoria Group works across a wide range of client sectors, from aerospace and defence, engineering, pharmaceutical, healthcare and beauty to higher education, F&B, retail, hospitality and the cultural sector.
Sam began her career with a major aerospace and defence company, working in business strategy and marketing, including the management of major global contracts. Sam attended Swansea University and gained a 1st Class BA in Spanish and Italian, as well as a MSc in Management from University of Bath. Sam is a regular speaker and press commentator.
Visit: istoriagroup.com,
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Nominees three achievements
ONE
When Sam started up events, exhibitions and experiences specialists Ignition, the female-led company was very much against the grain in an industry considered a construction offshoot; male-dominated, wheeler-dealer-oriented and with a terrible build-and-burn record on waste. Ignition’s ethos was completely different from the outset – people, planet and profit. With a ‘Positive Difference’ mission, Sam built a company offering a positive experience for staff, partners and clients, as well as encouraging others in our industry to develop more sustainable practices. Sam provides regular local and national congress keynote talks to educate and engage with stakeholders on sustainable initiatives, encouraging emission- and waste-reducing activities and helping reduce the wider industry’s carbon footprint. Sam’s entrepreneurial spirit is also one of the company’s four core values. The company is dedicated to innovation, entrepreneurship and the local economy. As part of this ethos, we support promising small businesses in their growth and direction by providing funding, mentorship and office space with our ‘Incubator Hub’ programme. Sam advises entrepreneurial students (as part of a panel) at local universities. As a member of the Society of Bristol Business Women, she often gives inspirational talks and share practical tips on anything from how to build and maintain a sustainable business to how to rebrand your organisation.
TWO
Sustainability is at the heart of everything Ignition does. Ignition exceeded its emissions reduction target by 20% in 2018, with a 30% overall decrease in emissions from 2017-2018. The company aim to reduce carbon emissions by 10% annually until it’s completely carbon-negative. One of the key sustainability innovations led by Sam was the design of Ignition’s lightweight, modular exhibition kit, which can be re-purposed and reconfigured and is suitable for all venues, varying exhibit booth sizes and interchangeability between client sub-brands. The company’s portfolio of sustainable kit supports 100% re-use and it sources sustainable and environmentally-friendly products, holding an inventory of all reusable/adaptable components. Ignition’s high standards include an ISO 14001, 20121 and 9001. The company was the first in its industry to achieve ISO 20121, following involvement in the London 2012 Olympics Steering Committee, helping to create new models of sustainable accreditation at the world’s first-ever fully-sustainable event.
THREE
Ignition, under Sam’s leadership, really cares about its people and aims to promote positive mental and physical health in the workplace. Initiatives include paid time-off for free weekly wellness boot camps; a flexible working pattern; annual Employee Opinion Surveys to check employees are happy and motivated, as well as ‘input days’ for continuing education and a paid day each year to engage with a charity of the team member’s choice. In our last survey, 100% agreed/strongly agreed they were happy with the well-being incentives provided. 41% of our staff have been with us 6-10 years, considerably above the national average. We were recently awarded Best Employer at the EN Elite awards and named one of the ‘UK’s Best Workplaces’ in the SME category, whilst in January our US office was named an ‘MM&M Best Place to Work.
