ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
the UK is dipping its toes into (what we are told is) comfortable economic growth, more and more organisations across the spectrum of business and industry are re- alising how maximising on environmental op- portunities is key to growth and a sustainable future. Initiatives like The Rail Industry Sus- tainable Development Principles and the Offi ce of Rail Regulation’s Sus- tainable Development plan getting industry- wide buy-in suggest that this sector is heading in the right direction – but more needs to be done to enable the industry’s workforce to make a dif- ference to keep not only the rail industry but the UK’s economy on track.
The right approach to both training
and
environment & sustainability – a partnership between the two – is key to future business survival. Why? The increasing limitations that environment is placing on organisations worldwide – the changing climate, increased incidents of extreme weather events (remember the ‘orange army’ being called in to repair the main rail line through Dawlish, which was destroyed by the winter storms?), reduced availability and soaring costs of materials, to mention just a few challenges, means the skillset of the world’s workforce needs to adapt
60 | rail technology magazine Jun/Jul 14
Making All Jobs Greener As
in order to survive.
And along with the news that companies who work smarter with their resources (the natural and processed materials they buy, use and re-use) can claim a share of potential global savings of a trillion dollars, there’s a distinct business case for arming as many staff as possible with environmental skills.
Reassuringly, at least some key players in the rail industry are demonstrating
some
truly encouraging behaviour to ensure their staff
are
equipped to make savings, work smarter and appreciate how their work can have a positive
environmental
impact. Leaders of the HS2 project are working with the Institute
of Management & Assessment
(IEMA) to share knowledge and best practice amongst contractors and to explore ways of enhancing the knowledge and understanding of their environmental teams.
Going several steps further to embed a complete and far-reaching strategy to train every single one of its 33,000 staff in environmental sustainability, Network Rail is in the process of adopting a training programme that has deep roots in providing skills for a sustainable economy.
Environmental
Jonathan Nobbs, corporate network and development manager at the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA), discusses the All Jobs Greener training initiative.
To provide some context, IEMA has been calling for all employees – at every level of responsibility, across all areas of business and industry – to be armed with environmental knowledge. As far back as 2009, Martin Baxter, IEMA’s executive director – policy & engagement, offered evidence to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, declaring: “Green jobs and skills will be vital in the transition to a low carbon and resource effi cient economy. This agenda isn’t just about creating new green jobs, important though they are; it is about ensuring that all jobs are being undertaken in a much greener way.”
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