Is Environmental Sustainability Training Important for Employees?

Can you say that your employees have enough green knowledge? Are they aware of the main environmental and economic risks and opportunities for your specific industry and organisation? Businesses have a responsibility to manage sustainability within the supply chain and markets they operate. In order to achieve an effective strategy, need to begin with their people, embedding a culture that understands the importance of environmental sustainability and actively works to limit their impacts on the environment.

Develop green champions within your workforce who can advocate good sustainable practice by enrolling them on the one-day IEMA Environmental Sustainability Skills for the Workforce course. 

As environmental professionals, we may think that climate change and plastic contamination is finally getting the news coverage it deserves; assisted by the great success of David Attenborough’s Blue Planet series, perhaps we are assuming the wider population knows everything about the environment. The importance of sustainability in business can't be understated.

What Is the IEMA Environmental Sustainability for the Workforce Course?

As an Environmental Practitioner with over 20 years’ experience, I am witnessing more businesses training their whole workforce in the essentials of environmental sustainability. Regularly I work with companies in all sectors using training from IEMA’s ‘All Jobs Greener’ suite such as the IEMA Environmental Sustainability Skills for the Workforce. This short practical course goes back to basics, and lays the foundation stones for people to take on board in their job.

This course covers:

• Main environmental and economic risks and opportunities
• Compliance obligations and business drivers for change
• Main potential impacts on environment and sustainability
• How to improve environmental performance

Are There Entry Requirements for the Course?

This IEMA Environmental Sustainability Skills for the Workforce one day course is ideal for people working in any job role across all industry sectors. No prior environmental knowledge is required. Some companies use this course as part of their induction programme or to fulfil the training requirement of implementing an environmental management system.

Benefits of the IEMA Environmental Sustainability for the Workforce Course

The course encourages people to think, and talk about their own organisation and how the factors apply to their own workplace. Learning is brought to life with practical activities and case studies of different organisations including Arriva, Interserve and Kingston University. This IEMA course enables people to create a plan for their organisation, and use it in their daily work.

The practical workshops involved in the course promotes a shared understanding of what needs to be done to progress companies towards a sustainable future. Course participants are motivated to make a positive contribution and initiate change at work. Change management is not always about implementing major project change, but engaging people in positive actions, which benefit both the organisation and employees.

Benefits of Becoming a Sustainable Business

The most obvious business benefit is the financial gains of improving energy efficiencies and reducing waste. By implementing sustainable practices across the organisation, it will reduce energy demand and promote the recycling of materials.

Engaging your workforce in promoting a sustainable business will motivate them as the green champions to help deliver change and make a positive difference, creating a degree of self governance.

Position your company as an environmentally sustainable business by enrolling them on to  and this will improve its reputation with all stakeholders, attract investment, and open up to more markets. Sustainability is not a passing trend. It is here to stay so don’t get left behind, and enrol in the IEMA Environmental Sustainability Skills for the Workforce course, below.