Navigating Sustainability: short programme for mid-level leaders

The programme is designed to help support and unlock the potential of mid-level managers to drive change for more sustainable outcomes in the built environment. ESG, Sustainability, Net Zero can all feel like an add onto already very busy commerical and business priorities. ‘Navigating change’ is a joint partnership offering between UKGBC and UCEM for their members, and affiliates, but also open to anyone outside their networks.

The industry is facing unprecedented levels of change in relation to sustainability, with demands on businesses to lead efforts on net zero, biodiversity and social value amongst others. For many of those who are new to sustainability this can feel overwhelming – they can feel on the back foot and don’t easily see their agency.

The aim of this programme is to create a supportive environment to unpack the fast changing world of sustainability in the built environment and to help delegates to reflect on their own role to unlock change within their organisations.

*Note: the programme has been adjusted to fit into one day following feedback that across 2 days took up too much time

Outcomes

- Awareness of, and engagement with, the climate and ecological emergency, and the action that needs to be taken in the built environment

- Awareness of their position and influence in their organisation, and a connection with others building a collaborative approach to driving change.

- Build confidence in what they can do to navigate the change and how they can successfully be part of it.

- Cross-business sharing / learning amogst peers

Structure

This programme is designed to take up 1.5 days of learning time in total

The below provides an outline of the flow:

Introduction/pre-reading/kick off call

One day course

AM grounding, foundation knowledge of sustainability in the built environment (practioner led), leadership activation/action: what you can do in your role?

PM: personal leadership and driving change

Post workshop, small group peer learning sessions – to help delegates embed what they’ve learnt and work through practical business challenges, with online close-out call – ‘where are you at?’

Cost

The fees for the programme are £175 (+VAT) for Members and £285 (+VAT) for non-members. Discounted places for more than one delegate per firm.

In addition to the facilitated programme, delegates will have access to UKGBC’s learning library in order to upskill on particular topics. The programme will be facilitated by UKGBC and UCEM senior leaders.

Recent feedback from our programmes show the benefit of multiple delegates from one firm joining a multi-disciplinary cohort, 25% discounted places provided for those putting forward multiple participants.

This programme is designed for mid-level leaders who don’t have sustainability in their core role. It’s for professionals who less confident on the topic of sustainability, those who are skeptical, or on the back foot about the changes that are coming their way. It seeks to engage people from a broad spectrum of organisations, helping them see their place it making change happen and getting targets delivered

As the Harvard Business Review says, “[middle managers] are the engine of the business, the cogs that make things work, the glue that keeps companies together. Especially as remote and hybrid work takes over — and the distance between employees increases — middle managers are more important than ever.” These folk can translate the targets and strategy of the tops, and convert it into workpackages and action. Delivery of net zero targets may well be getting stuck at this layer, so activating them is key in organisations delivering change.

Host or Publisher UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)