Urgent action needed to fill environment sustainability skills gap

clock • 3 min read

Be the catalyst for change – Be at Delivering Sustainability: Culture & Capability

14 July, 11 Cavendish Square, London

The global business community is heading towards a perfect storm of challenges and opportunities. The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment's (IEMA) conference aims to upskill the global workforce to face the threats head-on.

By 2020 the worldwide economy will be facing a supply deficit driven by global mega-trends around population growth, increasing demand for natural resources, soaring costs of energy and escalating impacts of climate change. All are combining to pose significant challenges to the long-term success of business and the global economy.

The transition to a sustainable economy presents significant opportunities that business needs to grasp - and yet, according to IEMA research only 13 per cent of companies are fully confident that they have the skills to successfully compete in the sustainable economy. With the evidence building that a sustainable economy can deliver significant opportunities for business (research has shown that businesses can save between £5,000 to over £1m per year through improved use of resources), businesses cannot afford to delay action on arming their organisations with skills for a sustainable economy.

"In the new business world, environment and sustainability can no longer be a bolt on; it needs to be part of businesses' DNA. IEMA is seeking to shine a light on this issue and catalyse action to address the skills deficit," said Tim Balcon, chief executive of IEMA. "Businesses need to urgently turn what is a growing and prevailing list of challenges into opportunities. The most effective way of grasping this opportunity is by ensuring that all businesses have access to a new set of skills - environment and sustainability - to ensure that UK plc and businesses globally can transition and survive in this new economy."

The opportunity to implement the right skills and capabilities lies not only in the hands of environment and sustainability professionals but also with professionals from across the business; those in sustainability, human resources, recruitment and leadership roles have the right combination of knowledge, foresight and influence that enables them to embed the right skills framework. An upcoming industry-wide conference aims to enthuse and empower all professionals to drive optimal sustainability performance.

Delivering Sustainability: Culture & Capability will demonstrate the latest practical approaches to up-skilling individuals, organisations and value-chains to meet the sustainability challenge. This one-day conference is all about what can be achieved through capable people and the right culture. Delivering a sustainable business is a journey that involves people within, and beyond, the organisation; this conference day will help many to begin that journey by learning from leaders in the field.

With leading edge keynote speakers, a workshop and plenary programme led by the industry's best and invaluable networking opportunities, Delivering Sustainability: Culture & Capability will help delegates to refresh their thinking on sustainability and skills and establish a stimulating link between the two.

Book your place today - while spaces remain - and you'll secure your seat in front of experts including:

Mike Barry, director of sustainable business for Marks and Spencer, leader of the Plan A journey and Guardian Sustainable Business Innovator of the Year 2011.

Jane Davidson, director of award-winning sustainability institute #INSPIRE in University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Tony Juniper, campaigner, writer, sustainability advisor, environmentalist, former executive director of Friends of the Earth, England, Wales and Northern Ireland and current president of the Society for the Environment.

This one day event in July has the potential to completely transform your organisation's skills profile and drive future business resilience and prosperity. Ensure you are there to be the catalyst for change.

Visit http://www.iema.net/bg to find out more and book your place today.

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