Skills In The Workplace SCI Project Rep

… towards a sustainable future

Improving Sustainability Skills and
Knowledge in the Workplace

Final Project Report

Dr. Joanne Tippett
Lecturer in Spatial Planning
Farnsworth, Dr. Valerie
How, Fraser
Le Roux, Ebenhaezer
Mann, Dr. Pete
Sherriff, Dr. Graeme

July 31, 2009

Improving Sustainability Skills and Knowledge in the Workplace
Research Project Funded by the SCI, University of Manchester
Executive Summary
In 2007, Sir Terry Leahy set the stage for Tesco to become a leader in creating a lowcarbon economy, saying: “We are going to have to re-think the way we live and work”.
This SCI research has developed a new way to understand sustainability, one that has the power to inspire a positive and creative vision for the future. It has explored ways that
Tesco staff at all levels (from the checkout to senior management) can enhance their knowledge about sustainability and develop skills to take positive action.
The continuing aim of this action research is to embed sustainability in the working culture of Tesco, and to gain insights into how this might be achieved in other organisations. This research started with the recognition that current ‘going-green’ measures are not enough.
They slow down environmental damage, but do not provide a positive vision for a change in direction. More scientifically-informed and holistic visions for sustainable communities and organisations are needed, together with the skills to create and realise these visions.
In this nine-month research project, we talked with 105 members of staff in Head Offices and Stores to learn from the success of Tesco, and to explore how staff understand and learn to apply sustainability. A clear commitment to sustainability was found within Tesco, but also a lack of clarity about what constitutes sustainable practice, and Tesco 's role in achieving this. Whilst there was clear interest in sustainability, analysis of staff feedback suggested that implementing sustainable practices poses challenges in

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