ACTIVATE Learning has launched its online sustainability programme with an event in Reading.
Around 30 key leaders from across Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Surrey joined the launch event at The Roseate Hotel last week, to take part in a showcase of the new service.
The Sustainability by Activate Learning online programmes, which are designed to help leaders, managers and businesses to be more sustainable.
They include an Introduction to Sustainability, Induction Training in Sustainability, a Skills Bootcamp in Sustainability and a Sustainability Programme for Leaders and Managers.
Each of the courses have been developed in partnership with Bioregional, Oxfordshire Greentech, Blenheim Palac,e and Siemens Healthineers.
Paul Emberlin, group director for Online Faculty at Activate Learning, welcomed everyone to the event before handing over to Alison Webster, CEO of Berkshire LEP, who spoke about how they drive economic growth in Berkshire.
This was followed by speeches from the first of the three sector-leading speakers: Stephanie Schlipper, Associate Director of Sustainable Business at Bioregional, who spoke about working with Activate Learning to create a suite of courses; Hannah Scott, Chief Executive Officer at Oxfordshire Greentech; and Gareth Dinnage, Managing Director at Seacourt, who explored acase study about how they have become net carbon negative.
attendees had the opportunity to network and enjoy drinks and canapés served by The Roseate Hotel.
Paul Emberlin, Group Director for Online Faculty, Activate Learning, said: “It’s always brilliant to see education, industry and local authorities come together.
“It’s hugely important that the public and private sector collaborate on things such as sustainability. It’s increasingly important, the younger generations see it as fundamental to their consumer choices, their buying and their work life.
“The turnout has been fantastic, it’s been great to see that the local community across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey really value this and really see it as important.
“Thank you to all the speakers who have been incredible and represent a local economy and industry and the fact that they were able to talk not just about what is going to happen with all the work locally that has already been undertaken to improve the economy, the environment for current and future generations. It’s a really positive sign across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey. They showed their depth of knowledge across the Thames Valley.
“The work that we’re doing with local industry partners demonstrates our commitment to sustainability.”
Alison Webster, CEO, Berkshire LEP, said: “I was delighted to be here to support Activate Learning, who we have worked with to support our ambition to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth, certainly within Berkshire LEP, but also the six local authority partners we work with.
“Whilst we are currently the second most productive economic part of the UK, we have ambitions to become more productive but in doing so we really want to support good growth, and that means growth that is inclusive but also sustainable, being mindful of the needs of the planet.”
Stephanie Schlipper, Associate Director of Sustainable Business at Bioregional, said: “It was inspiring to take part in this event because the range of speakers showed the importance of sustainability and the change that is being achieved through sustainability action.
“I really enjoyed working with my team to create the content for Activate Learning. It made us reflect on how to get the message of sustainability over in a clear but compelling way so that it resonates with all stakeholders in a business, no matter what department or level they work in.
“It was a great process to distil all our sustainability knowledge into something that’s digestible for people who don’t have a background in sustainability.
“I’m really impressed with Activate Learning’s ambition in the area of sustainability and that they’re putting their action against their commitments which is so important given the access that they have to so many people and the impact that education can have on contributing to achieving sustainability transformation.”
Nigel Horton-Baker, Chief Executive of Reading Economic and Destination Agency, said: “It was very encouraging to attend this event, we’ve been working with Activate Learning since I heard about the skills bootcamps which I was very enthusiastic about because I have a vision of creating a green town centre and business improvement district.
“One of the key things that we want to do is to provide a way of learning about carbon literacy so that organisations across Reading town centre can become more sustainable and this provision that they’ve developed with their industry partners fits the bill that we want to achieve to take forward the green credentials of Reading town centre.
“We want to give as many businesses and their employees as possible this type of training to understand the fundamentals of zero carbon and sustainability.
“This is something that we think employees at all levels should understand, so that they can impact the development of their businesses for their part of the role that they play in their business to become more sustainable.”
