Capacity building through training

Wider acceptance of CR issues brings tailored training into the mainstream, says Jason Perks, group director of Two Tomorrows

Whereas training in corporate responsibility used to be aimed solely at specialist CR and sustainability managers and external consultants, there is an increasing need for other department to understand the issues more deeply.

We are seeing a trend towards CR training becoming more mainstream. Factors contributing to this move include:

• the marked increase in supply chain environmental and social diligence requirements
• the wider debate on integrated reporting
• the demand by investors to use environmental, social and governance information to evaluate corporate behaviour.

As a result, we are seeing a broader range of people attending our public courses – perhaps a finance professional looking to integrate sustainability data into financial reporting systems. In addition, we are finding that companies are increasingly looking at tailored, in-house training.

In- house training is a cost-effective and enduring way of building a company's capacity to do business in a sustainable way, and helping build knowledge within wider teams. These training interventions can help staff gain the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to deliver on the organisation’s key sustainability policies.

Of course, the need also exists for a continued understanding by CR professionals of the issues facing them, and the tools and techniques available, such as ISO 26000, as well as latest thinking in areas such as supply chain, stakeholder engagement, materiality and reporting.

Our in-house training solutions include:

• face-to-face courses
• e-learning modules
• from basic sustainability awareness to detailed technical training
• master classes on the latest developments in corporate responsibility
• train-the-trainer programmes for sustainability champions
• executive briefings.

In-house training for senior managers at facilities services provider ISS, one of the largest private employers in the UK, is a key element of the company’s CR strategy. By equipping senior sales and operational staff with a greater knowledge of CR, breaking down the jargon, explaining the business context and highlighting what they could do to drive improvements, the course has created ambassadors who spread the CR message to their teams.

Steve Workman, head of corporate responsibility at ISS, has told us: “One of the greatest challenges in a people business is tapping our staff’s natural desire to help the company do better. Most people want to do their bit and training provides the forum to do that.”

Two Tomorrows in-house training services