Discussions on IEMA's skills campaign is turning into action.
In the May issue of the environmentalist, you will have seen that IEMA’s “Preparing for the perfect storm” campaign had secured its 40th supporter. Since the campaign was launched, together with our Skills for a sustainable economy report, in October 2014, IEMA’s course of action to bridge the environment and sustainability skills gap in partnership with business has generated much discussion and interest. That talk has now started to evolve into definitive action.
Recently IEMA signed a memorandum with the Building Research Establishment to develop sustainability-focused training programmes to upskill the construction industry workforce. The courses being developed and will be launched in 2016. Several similar partnerships and initiatives, which will have a wide impact, are also in the pipeline.
The next major milestone in the campaign will be IEMA’s conference in London on 14 July. The one-day event, “Delivering sustainability: culture and capability”, will set the scene of the changing nature of business – how climate change impacts, price volatility and resource threats will increasingly affect businesses’ ability to prosper – and outline how the right skills across all professions is the solution.
Delegates will benefit from hearing people who have been innovative and re-imagined their organisation’s approach to sustainability through skills frameworks. Mike Barry, leader of Marks & Spencer’s groundbreaking Plan A journey, will give one of the morning’s keynote addresses, while the plenary and workshop sessions will similarly be led by the best in their fields, including experts from: Network Rail, PwC, Jaguar Land Rover, Skanska and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Members can book their place for just £250 + VAT at iema.net/conferences-2015-skills.
Josh Fothergill is policy and engagement lead at IEMA; [email protected]
