Tag: 3BL

As a single mother raising her children, Shelly Kirk needed to find a good paying job to support her family. She had family members who were truck drivers, which inspired her to earn her Commercial Driver’s License and start her own career as a truck driver. Today, Kirk has a successful career with Marathon Petroleum, a consistent work schedule and strong benefits. She knows her children and grandchildren are proud of her. 

In 2007, Shelly Kirk was a single mother struggling to make ends meet. She was making minimum wage at a convenience store trying to support her three children. She tried working at fast food restaurants, and then she was a medical assistant. But those jobs weren’t cutting it.

Her ex-husband was a truck driver. Her brother and uncles drove trucks for a living and made good money doing it. But she had doubts that she could handle a career in truck driving.

“I’d ask myself ‘Can I do this being a woman?’” said Kirk. “I asked my brother Greg for advice, and he told me I absolutely can do whatever I want.”

In 2010, Kirk earned her Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). She started hauling water, then dirt, but she realized that those jobs tended to be seasonal, and she wanted more consistency in her schedule and pay. She asked her brother about his job transporting crude oil to see if it would be a good fit for her.

“The benefit of being a truck driver – you’ll never be out of a job,” said Greg Wilson, a transport driver and trainer for Marathon Petroleum. “You can go anywhere and be a truck driver – no matter what part of the country you decide to live. The benefits of working for a company like Marathon is that when I turn 62 – I have a pension. For me, that’s the biggest thing about working for a big company like this.”

That was enough to convince Kirk to apply for a truck driving job hauling crude oil. With her CDL and driving experience, she landed the job with the same fleet in Roosevelt, Utah, where her brother worked. As her trainer, Wilson gave her a good review, but as her brother, he couldn’t resist teasing her a little.

“She was a good student,” said Wilson, who helped train Kirk to drive a truck with double trailers. “I didn’t kick her out of the truck, so she must have been all right.”

Kirk said she did have to learn how to do some of the work differently, since she doesn’t have the same upper body strength that her male colleagues do. Her brother was there to show her different ways to do things like chain up the tires.

Kirk has made a successful career out of driving trucks. She’s been with the company for more than seven years, and she hopes that other women will consider truck driving as a career that offers consistency, better pay and great benefits.

“I’m 51. My health is good enough that when I retire, I’ll be able to enjoy that stage of life. I’m fortunate that I have a 401(k) that the company has contributed to and a pension. This career definitely changed my outlook on what the future holds.”

Now that her children are grown, she’s proud of what she’s accomplished in the field and so is her family.

“The grandboys think it’s awesome that grandma drives a big truck,” said Kirk. “My oldest son drives a truck now. My daughter drives the pilot truck for oversize loads. That was partially because I drive a truck. I guess it’s in our blood.”

AMD has again been recognized by CDP as a Supplier Engagement Leader (2022) for its actions to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate risks in its global supply chain. This achievement positions AMD in the top 8% of companies who disclosed to the full CDP climate questionnaire in the last reporting year.

The CDP Supplier Engagement Rating (SER) provides a score for how effectively companies are engaging their suppliers on matters related to climate change. CDP assesses performance on supplier engagement using a company’s response to selected questions on governance, targets, scope 3 GHG emissions and value chain engagement in the CDP climate change questionnaire.

“As a fabless semiconductor company, AMD recognizes the importance of working closely with our manufacturing suppliers and the broader industry to advance climate progress in the supply chain. We are honored to again be recognized as a CDP Supplier Engagement Leader and we embrace the continued opportunities ahead to collectively measure and reduce climate risk for our world.”- Susan Moore, vice president of corporate responsibility and international government affairs at AMD.

AMD is steadfast in its commitments to environmental sustainability and that includes working with its manufacturing suppliers1 to evaluate and continuously improve performance. Following acquisitions of Xilinx and Pensando in 2022, new manufacturing suppliers were integrated into the AMD supply chain responsibility program. The company’s related 2025 goals include 100% of its manufacturing suppliers having social and environmental audits, 100% having public greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals, 80% sourcing renewable energy and 80% (by spend) participating in capacity building activities2 to improve supply chain responsibility performance. The company is on track toward these goals, and additional metrics are tracked and incorporated into supplier business reviews.

AMD also engages with industry peers, civil society organizations and other groups to advance environmental sustainability across the value chain. For example, AMD serves on the Responsible Business Alliance’s Board of Directors and the Senior Environmental Advisory Taskforce to help guide the strategy for the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to corporate social responsibility in global supply chains. In 2022, AMD became a founding member of the newly formed Semiconductor Climate Consortium group formed by 70+ companies across the semiconductor value chain to accelerate the ecosystem’s reduction of GHG emissions. The Consortium’s vision is to drive progress on climate challenges within the industry and support the Paris Agreement and related accords driving toward a 1.5°C pathway.

To learn more about how AMD is advancing environmental sustainability in its supply chain, please visit the company’s website or read the CR Report Summary.

1 Manufacturing suppliers are those suppliers who contribute materials and or services that directly impact and become a part of AMD products. This includes wafer, outsourced assembly and test (OSAT), direct materials (substrates, lids, capacitors, memory) and boards inclusive of components.

2 Capacity building activities aim to bring a continuous improvement culture to AMD manufacturing suppliers by providing resources to gain a deeper understanding of the root causes for non-compliance or to support a beyond compliance goal. Resources can include online modules, multiple 1:1 engagements or training courses.

Originally published on Bloomberg.com

BRUSSELS, March 27, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Bloomberg today announced the expansion of the EU Women in Finance initiative, following a successful first year. Launched in 2022, the initiative aims to open up and demystify the world of financial markets to young women, and inspire and empower them to pursue and advance careers in finance. It is the first pan-European programme offering dedicated training on capital markets and the opportunity to learn from female leaders shaping financial services in Europe. In 2023, the initiative will expand to Ireland, Poland, and Switzerland, bringing the total of participating countries to nine, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain.

In collaboration with Junior Achievement Europe, one of the world’s leading educational NGOs, the initiative offers high-school and college students an introduction to financial markets using a bespoke curriculum developed by Bloomberg. Participants learn from senior leaders in the finance ecosystem, including banking executives, investors, policymakers, central bankers, and regulators. In its first year, the initiative mentored close to 300 students. This year, that number will increase to 450.

Bloomberg’s Chairman Peter T. Grauer said: “Women remain dramatically underrepresented in senior leadership positions across the industry. By offering access to some of the leading voices shaping finance across the EU, the Bloomberg EU Women in Finance initiative will not only encourage more young women to participate in the industry, but to inspire them to be the future finance leaders of tomorrow.”

Mairead McGuinness, European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union, said: “While there has been a welcome increase in the number of women in leadership roles in finance in recent years, much work remains to be done. Finance, particularly at management level, continues to be male dominated. This is not just about women in top jobs; we must do more to encourage women to consider finance as a career and support women at all levels in the sector. I’m delighted to continue my involvement with the EU Women in Finance initiative and help make finance more diverse and inclusive for the ultimate benefit of the sector and the people it serves.

Magdalena Rzeczkowska, Minister of Finance, Poland  said: “The EU Women in Finance Initiative not only inspires other women to reach for their dreams and goals but allows aspirational students to learn from inspirational female leaders shaping the future of financial services in the EU.”Initiatives like EU Women in Finance offer us an opportunity to discuss what is necessary to improve the situation, to level the playing field and increase the number of women in leadership roles in finance. Building diverse teams is just one part of the equation. We also need to create an inclusive culture in which employees, in all their diversity, feel valued and respected, and all employees feel empowered to contribute. Inclusiveness is a leadership skill that must be developed. When we do it right, this is what works best for businesses and communities.”

The initiative aligns with the European Commission’s objectives set out in its Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025. This initiative specifically supports the Commission’s strategy of promoting vocational education and training in order to promote equal opportunity.

 The EU Women in Finance initiative forms part of Bloomberg’s global Corporate Philanthropy program working with a network of non-profit partners to ensure more individuals from underserved communities have the relevant skills and experience for employment and entrepreneurship; supporting global efforts to make the world’s economy fairer and more inclusive for all. Find out more here.

Ana Botin, Executive Chair, Santander said: “I long for the day when we no longer need a Women in Finance initiative. We’ve made a lot of progress in helping more women get up and get on in finance, but there’s still much more to do. Inspiring more women to choose a career in finance is critical, as well as supporting better work-life balance, encouraging women back to work after they have had children, and exhorting women to apply for promotions.  These are just some of the things we can still do better at. Until we make further progress, I will do all I can to support initiatives like this.”

Evelyn Bourke, Non-executive director at the Bank of Ireland said: “I’m delighted to join Bloomberg’s EU Women in Finance initiative as an Ambassador for Ireland. The importance of promoting gender diversity, and empowering the next generation of women to advance their careers in finance, is something I strongly believe in. This benefits us all – individuals, firms, and the sector as a whole. It also contributes to building a more inclusive and progressive society.”

Thuy-Tien Glück, Head of Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Continental Europe said:  

“I am very honored and grateful to be an ambassador for Bloomberg’s EU Women in Finance initiative. Women have a decisive role to play in the performance of businesses. It is therefore essential to support the development of young women, to offer them career paths where they can fulfill their full potential and thus take their place at all levels of the company, including and especially in decision-making bodies. Europe needs all these energies and ambitions to move towards a resilient and inclusive economy. The EU Women in Finance initiative is an important lever for supporting this vital momentum.”

Prof. Danuta Hübner, Member of the European Parliament, Poland, said: “Data show quite clearly that the overall number of women in the financial sector has steadily increased over the past few years. Yet, in the top management positions, the financial services industry remain overwhelmingly a male-dominated affair, and the gender pay gap remains significant. Progress, though slow, is happening – and it needs to permeate all levels of society. We need to encourage and prepare the future generation of women to approach the world of finance not as an exclusive club, but as an environment where their work is respected and their worth recognised.”

Magdalena Zmitrowicz, Vice Chair, Bank Pekao S.A. said: “Bloomberg EU Women in Finance initiative is highly important for all women because it keeps inspiring a future generation. For me, it is a privilege to be an Ambassador of this initiative. I am delighted to present an example of how to build a long-term strategy and engage more women to take responsibility for their careers in the financial industry. In my opinion, the companies which have more diversified decision-making positions achieve better results. Women should build confidence in themselves and not be afraid to apply for higher positions.”

Junior Achievement Europe CEO Salvatore Nigro said: “Talent is universal, but opportunities are not. Initiatives such as EU Women in Finance show young girls that there is no limit to their dreams and ambition, that all sectors and positions are accessible to them. Thanks to this initiative with Bloomberg, we are creating a more diverse future of work and a more equitable society”.

The full list of ambassadors include:

Ana Botín, Executive Chairman, Grupo SantanderEvelyn Bourke, Non-executive Director, Bank of IrelandNadia Calviño, First Vice-President of Spain, Minister for Economy and DigitalisationElena Carletti, Professor of Finance, Bocconi University, Member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Internal Control and Risk Committee, Unicredit SpaNatasha Cazenave, Executive Director, ESMAThuy-Tien Glück, Head of Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Continental Europe   Petra Hielkema, Chairperson, EIOPAProf. Danuta Hübner, Member of the European Parliament, PolandKatja Lammert, Member of the Board of Management, MEAGVirginie Maisonneuve, Global CIO Equities, Managing Director, Allianz Global InvestorsDr. Sabine Mauderer, Member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank
Mairead McGuinness, European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets UnionBettina Orlopp, CFO, CommerzbankMagdalena Rzeczkowska, Minister of Finance, Poland Irene Tinagli, Chair, Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, European ParliamentAnneka Treon, Chief Economist, Van Lanschot KempenMagdalena Zmitrowicz, Vice Chair, Bank Pekao S.A

Bloomberg has partnered with 2023 Nobel Peace Prize nominated NGO Junior Achievement since 1997. In the last four years, over 1,000 Bloomberg employees across nearly 50 cities have dedicating their time and talents to support their work. The EU Women in Finance initiative forms part of Bloomberg’s global Corporate Philanthropy program working with a network of non-profit partners to ensure more individuals from underserved communities have the relevant skills and experience for employment and entrepreneurship; supporting global efforts to make the world’s economy fairer and more inclusive for all.

About Bloomberg

Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, gives influential decision makers a critical edge by connecting them to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. The company’s strength – delivering data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately – is at the core of the Bloomberg Terminal. Bloomberg’s enterprise solutions build on the company’s core strength: leveraging technology to allow customers to access, integrate, distribute and manage data and information across organizations more efficiently and effectively. For more information, visit Bloomberg.com/company

About Junior Achievement Europe

JA Europe is the largest and leading organisation in Europe dedicated to inspire and prepare young people to succeed. For over 100 years, JA Worldwide has delivered hands-on, experiential learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial health. In the last school year, the JA Europe network provided over 6.6 million learning experiences for youth in online, in person and blended formats.

 Media contact:
Oisin O Malley, Bloomberg Communications: oomalley2@bloomberg.net

Across Southern Company, our journey to propel historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) is moving boldly forward. Amplifying, investing in and collaborating with HBCUs allows us to create space and opportunities for students of today to become leaders of tomorrow.

In observance of Black History Month, Mark Berry, senior vice president of research and development for Southern Company Services, moderated a conversation with Bobbie Knight, president of Miles College, and Tony Allen, president of Delaware State University, to offer insight about the impact investments from companies like Southern Company are having on these institutions as well as share how HBCUs are cultivating Black leaders.

Our Ericsson African American Alliance employee resource group (EAAA ERG) kicked-off the first of several informative and educational events to honor Black History Month.

Together in a mental health discussion with Dr. Michael Horne, President and CEO of the Parkland Health Foundation, they addressed the stigma of mental health, explored the impact of racial discrimination, and discussed the need for increased health access to our vulnerable communities.

Check out the photos from the event below, and learn more about Parkland Health Foundation and their dedication to a brighter future for Dallas here: https://istandforparkland.org/

Members of our African American Alliance recently came together to share their perspectives on being black in America, the power of community, and the importance of speaking up.

We hope you enjoy this unscripted podcast and encourage you to share your thoughts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za16iHgS3YU

International Paper values the contributions of businesses that are owned by individuals of diverse backgrounds in order to deliver the best products, with the greatest value, to an increasingly diverse marketplace. At International Paper, supplier diversity extends well beyond our commitment to being a good corporate citizen. We fully understand that a diverse supplier base must be an integral part of our supply chain. Our engagement with value-driven and diverse suppliers creates job opportunities, fosters success in local communities and ensures that our suppliers reflect our customer base and values.

In 2021, we purchased more than $930 million in supplies from more than 3,600 small, minorityowned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses.

We continue to expand our presence and role at industry-related business conferences, opening the door to generate opportunities that are more visible for diverse business owners. We also target partnerships with national, regional and local business development organizations, such as the Mid-South Minority Business Council and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, to help us identify new qualified diverse suppliers, expand our support of customers’ diversity effort, and champion our commitment to serve diverse communities.

The total economic impact of our 2021 purchases from small and diverse suppliers equaled $1.6 billion in contributions to the U.S. economy and more than 9,600 jobs supported, generating $469 million in wages.

For more information on International Paper’s workforce diversity, visit the Index.

About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global supplier of renewable fiber-based products. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce, and pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal care products that promote health and wellness. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 38,000 colleagues globally. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2021 were $19.4 billion. See how we’re building a better future for people, the planet, and our company at internationalpaper.com/Vision-2030.

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The security situation in Eastern Niger is still volatile and unpredictable. The region of Diffa, bordering Northern Nigeria remains in a state of emergency. The situation which significantly deteriorated over the years is characterized by an increase in criminal acts, and incursions by non-state armed groups with kidnappings of civilians. There were 26 major incidents reported in the region within the past two months. Intra-communal conflicts, kidnappings, juvenile delinquency, improvised explosive device attacks, and attacks on security force positions are very common in the region.

Despite the complexity of the security context, KAMRA and Rise Against Hunger (RAH) continue to support Kirker Foundation/Niger in providing much needed assistance to the school system in the region. Through the RAH-sponsored school feeding program, hundreds of primary school students, including those at the Barbara Kirker Second Chance School and several rural schools in the district of Maine Soroa and the region of Zinder are supported.

It’s June and the first rains are still to fall. The lean season is negatively affecting the resilience, as well as the food and nutritional security of households in Eastern Niger. With temperature reaching 108 degrees in this period of the year, students at the Barbara school have never been that dedicated to pursuing the educational journey. They have a strong incentive to wake up every day and hit the road to go to class. The daily meal provided at the school has been critical in maintaining good attendance. The enrollment increased by 40% in some cases in school where the meal is being served daily.

Ousmane Adamou, a student at the Barbara Kirker Second Chance School left his village of Nguel Beyli, located at about 60 miles to come to Maine Soroa, and enroll into the Barbara Kirker Second Chance School. His parents did not enroll him to first grade in the regular school system when he was seven years old. Had it not been for the opportunity provided by the Barbara Kirker Second Chance School, Ousmane would never get the chance to get a formal education. The Barbara school gives to children like Ousmane, who had missed out on being enrolled in Niger’s mainstream educational system by the age of seven, a “second chance” to become educated. The school is fully accredited by the Niger Ministry of Education and provides an opportunity for children nine to fourteen years of age to attend school.

Motivated by his desire to learn, he convinced his parents to bring him to Maine Soroa and enroll his into the Second Chance School established by Mrs. Barbara Kirker in 2007. Now 16, Ousmane is in his final year and will soon graduate to move to secondary school. Both Ousmane and his younger brother have been attending the Second Chance School for a couple of years now. Coming from a rural family of 13 children for whom life in the village is extremely hard, Ousmane is pleased with the support provided by RAH. Commenting on the support, Ousmane declared, “we are very happy with the meals we received at school each day during lunch time. The meal constitutes an incentive for many of us to attend class as we know that we have access to food.”

Mrs. Yani, a mother of two children attending the Barbara School declared, “we are very grateful and satisfied with the food provided to our children at school. We no longer worry about what to give them when they come back from school as they come back well-fed. The daily meals are critical to the children attending school.” 

According to the General Secretary of the Maine-Soroa District, Mr. Hassan Lawan Marouma who officially received the food ration for the month of June on behalf of the Barbara Kirker, the food assistance provided by RAH plays a great role in the security of the region. He declared; “as we all know, the source of extreme violence perpetrated by terrorists is ignorance, and as we all know the Barbara school provide an excellent educational opportunity for youngster to get out of ignorance, including refugee children”. Mrs. Mamadou Ary, the District literacy inspector praised the support provided by RAH and KAMRA and mentioned that thanks to the assistance the children receive at the school, it has the best results in the district to the point that students in the formal system envy their peers at the Second Chance School and want to join them if allowed. She also declared, considering the good achievements made by the Second Chance School, Plan International made an extension of classrooms to accommodate more children, and avoid turning down needy pupils.”

Mr Koukouma Gasso, former Mayor of the Maine Soroa Municipality, and current newly elected Vice President of Kirker Foundation/Niger; during a recent visit at the Barbara School declared; “we are very pleased with the RAH support. The food assistance the school gets is instrumental is providing much needed educational support to families and retaining children in the school system. After the four-year curriculum, hundreds of children were able to graduate and move on with their education in secondary school, which they could not have done, had it not been for the support from KAMRA and its partners.” 

FedEx shipped these meals on behalf of Rise Against Hunger as a part of the company’s FedEx Cares “Delivering for Good” initiative, in which FedEx lends its global network and unparalleled logistics expertise to organizations with mission-critical needs and helps communities before, during and after crises. Learn more about FedEx Cares Delivering for Good initiative here.

March 27, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Are you responsible for implementing a pipeline safety management system (PSMS) but aren’t sure where to begin? Have you identified gaps in your current PSMS that would benefit from a robust framework? The American Gas Association (AGA) is one of the organizations that strongly recommends that all pipeline organizations implement the American Petroleum Institute’s Recommended Practice 1173 (API RP 1173) as a best practice. The goal of API RP 1173 is to integrate all levels of the pipeline organization in the implementation of a formal PSMS to manage risks associated with operators and pipelines.

Developing and implementing a management system is not a task – it’s a journey. A PSMS defines the actions which should be taken into consideration to plan, implement, and continuously improve pipeline operations. An effective PSMS can have a positive influence on the overall safety culture of the pipeline organization and can be a complement to existing processes. Effective PSMSs are understood and implemented throughout the organization and support the bottom line.

You’re invited to join our API RP 1173 experts for our webinar, Development and Implementation of a Pipeline Safety Management System – An API 1173 Journey on Wednesday, April 12, at 2:00pm EDT to learn more about the foundations of an API 1173 pipeline safety management system and how it can benefit your organization. You’ll hear from an industry leader, Stephanie Farley from South Jersey Industries, about their PSMS journey. Stephanie, along with our experts, will provide insights on getting started along your PSMS journey, as well as implementation considerations once a PSMS has been built.

We hope you’ll join us!

Register Here

AUSTIN, Minn., March 27, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Team members from Hormel Foods Corporation, (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, attended the 2023 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif., to showcase the latest innovations and trends in natural and sustainable food within its broad product portfolio.

The Justin’s and Applegate brand teams highlighted the latest innovations and new products for attendees to enjoy.

The Applegate Naturals® Do Good Dog™, the first retail hot dog made with regenerative agriculture was featured along with Applegate® Organics Uncured Genoa Salami Bites. Justin’s® Super Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup and Super Dark Chocolate Espresso Almond Butter Cup delighted attendees with their amazing taste and quality.

“We were delighted to return to Expo West and the incredible response to our Super Dark Nut Butter Cups,” said Penny Andino, vice president of marketing at Justin’s. “It was clear that buyers and consumers are now seeking brands that can provide real, simple and clean ingredients more than ever. With 5 grams of real sugar per cup, Justin’s® Super Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup stood out for delivering on taste without compromising on quality and they are certificated USDA Organic, Rainforest Alliance Cocoa, and Non-GMO Project Verified.”

Hormel Foods global impact and innovation team members attended the conference’s climate day, where over 50 environmental and sustainability experts presented on topics such as regenerative agriculture, traceable supply chain and sustainable trends in the food industry, as well as the remainder of the event.

Expo West is an opportunity for the food and beverage industry to understand trends within the sustainable and natural space.

“Expo West is an incredibly rich opportunity for us to understand leading edge trends in product and packaging,” said Ashley Krautkramer-Gonya, senior innovation manager at Planters. “It’s also a great opportunity for us to connect with potential partners who can help us capitalize on trends in a way that enriches our business and product portfolio.”

Through its robust 20 By 30 Challenge goals, Hormel Foods and its brands have several initiatives in place to address sustainability and corporate citizenship in the food industry, including:

Investments and implementation in sustainable agricultural production, specifically within regenerative agriculture, soil health and farmer equity.Continue our clean-label initiative and efforts to reduce added sugars and sodium in our products, and increase desirable ingredients to nourish a diverse population.Match 100% of our energy with renewable sourcing.Focus on packaging sustainability efforts through research, innovation, on-package communications and optimizing package weight and shipping efficiencies.

Commentary from Marie Cloherty for People Management, published on 23.01.23, original source: Four in five companies would take regulatory penalties to avoid sustainability initiatives, research finds, Author: Arunth Sriganthan

Four in five companies would take regulatory penalties to avoid sustainability initiatives, research finds.

But while the majority recognise their environmental strategy as a priority, experts say economic turbulence has pushed it down the business agenda.

The majority (82 per cent) of companies admit they would accept regulatory penalties to avoid taking on sustainability initiatives, despite most seeing it as a high priority, research has found.

In the global situation report from Software AG, which surveyed more than 2,000 decision-makers from the UK, US, Germany and France, a further 84 per cent admitted to prioritising commercial success over sustainability.

However, 95 per cent of leaders agreed that sustainability was either a top or high priority, while 84 per cent believed that without a clear sustainability strategy they were likely to lose staff.

The data also revealed that technology was acting as a barrier to implementing sustainability strategies, as in a third (32 per cent) of cases the necessary technology was simply not in place – while a third (36 per cent) said they were unable to adequately track the progress of sustainability initiatives to determine their effectiveness.

David W Duffy, chief executive and co-founder of the Corporate Governance Institute, said that despite the economic downturn and widening skills gap, employees “still have a say” in where they work, with ESG and sustainability playing a key part in retention.

“If a company’s environmental strategy isn’t good enough, people will find another job and move,” said Duffy. “This is especially true thanks to working from home, which has opened new geographies up for many workers. Don’t forget, people are also becoming more vocal about climate action; they’re demanding and expecting more.”

Meanwhile, previous People Management reporting found that three in five (58 per cent) employees are considering leaving their jobs in the next 12 months because their employer doesn’t share their values.

The study by Amba revealed that two thirds (62 per cent) were actively looking for an employer that shared their beliefs, while more than two thirds (69 per cent) of the group felt it was important for their workplace to have high ethical standards.

Sarah Williams, head of employment at Taylors Solicitors, said HR managers were key to “driving forward sustainability” but this has become “extremely difficult” in recent years.

“HR professionals [pre-Covid] developed ideas and provided support through training, developing ideas, systems and policies such as a code of conduct, competency frameworks and leadership schemes,” said Williams, adding that while now might not be the right time to engage senior managers in sustainability, “HR professionals must not overlook this subject and should certainly keep it on their long-term to-do list”.

However, Marie Cloherty, executive director of sustainable business at Acre, said the results did not point to sustainability “dropping down the agenda” as businesses were competing to hire from the most “readily informed generation ever”.

“The economic systems we are using were formed well over a hundred years ago,” said Cloherty, who questioned whether such systems were still working for organisations and if there would be a “shift in the number of businesses not needing to take commercial penalties to truly evolve” if they were changed.

With 13 years’ commercial experience spanning business development and team leadership, Marie has placed multiple executive-level positions across multi-stakeholder initiatives, consultancies and industry & now oversees our Sustainability Team. From field to board room, she understands the crucial soft skills that enable purpose-driven professionals working to leverage the power of private finance to ultimately solve some of the world’s greatest modern challenges. Her areas of expertise span executive search, interim, advisory and leadership assessment across the broad sustainability agenda.

About Acre

At Acre, we work with the most aspirational businesses with potential to make real change; from those who are just starting out to those who are well on the journey to crafting a legacy.

Our 18 years’ experience in sustainability recruitment, combined with our extensive global network, enables us to provide talent solutions that are designed to deliver this change.

Through our unique behavioural assessment technology, we understand the types of people, skills and behaviours required to create impact. We can develop these qualities within your existing teams too.

We find talented people and develop their skills to ensure they make a true impact in ambitious, progressive organisations.

Acre. Making companies ready for tomorrow.