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Budget 2021: Green highlights
How can Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget help the green economy and impact jobs in the sustainability and environment sectors? Will it help generate green jobs and kickstart recruitment? Green Finance City of London the hub for high quality voluntary carbon offsets Aim to position the UK and the City of London as the “leading global market for high quality voluntary carbon offsets”. Environmental remit for the Bank of England The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England’s remit has been updated to reflect the “importance of environmental sustainability and the transition to net zero”. First sovereign green bond The government will issue its first sovereign “green bond” over the summer and later in 2021. New infrastructure bank The planned UK infrastructure bank, based in Leeds, will begin operating in an interim form “later in spring 2021”. Deploying £12bn of equity and debt capital and issuing up to £10bn of guarantees. Environmental taxes frozen The government will freeze the Aggregates Levy rate for 2021/22 and will maintain the freeze on Carbon Price Support rates at £18 per tonne of carbon dioxide in 2022/23. Green retail savings product A “green” retail savings product through National Savings and Investment will be launched in the summer of 2021. Giving UK savers the opportunity to “take part in the collective effort to tackle climate change. Some good news for green finance, encouraging investment and highlighting the UKs commitment to net zero. Jobs wise, this could be good news for those working in ESG or SRI roles or those wanting to shift their current financial roles into something more purpose-driven. Renewable Energy Offshore Wind £20m to fund a UK-wide competition to develop floating offshore wind demonstrators. This will meet the aim of generating enough electricity from offshore wind to power every home by 2030. Energy Storage £68m to fund a UK-wide competition to deliver first-of-a-kind long-duration energy storage prototypes. Designed to reduce the cost of net zero through storing excess low carbon energy over longer periods. Biomass £4m of funding for a biomass feedstocks programme in the UK. The money will be used to identify ways to increase the production of green energy crops and forest products that can be turned into energy. Investment in Renewable Energy should also see growth in jobs across the different sectors. Whether through design and development or infrastructure and engineering, moving from ‘dirty’ to clean energy sources should see both movement in the jobs market for transferable skills and new openings for the new technologies. Positive news for sustainability and energy recruitment, and the green agenda, but still a lot of work to be done if the 2050 net zero goals are to be met. If you're looking to hire or looking for your next green job, get in touch at: info@allen-york.com today. Sources: www.endsreport.com/article/1708940/budget-2021-key-environmental-measures-glance https://www.edie.net/news/11/Budget-2021--Sunak-announces-freeports-to-spur-low-carbon-investment/
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5 reasons to change your job in 2021
As spring is approaching you may be feeling like you need a change or new challenge at work but you’re just not sure if it’s the right time to be changing your job. If you’re struggling to make that decision, here are five good reasons to transform your career in 2021. Boredom The no.1 motivation killer. If the thought of going to work fills you with dread, it’s time to move. New projects, new people and new purpose could mean a newly motivated you. Work / Life Balance Struggling to stop thinking about work? Losing sleep over it? Time to put yourself first. Self care is important and you need a job and employer that understands your needs. Time for a change. You want / need more money It’s nothing to be embarrassed of. Situations change. You might want to buy a house, start a family or just deserve more money for the work you do. If you want to increase your income faster than waiting in your current role for an inflation type pay increase, it’s time to start looking for that new role. You need a challenge You’ve learnt your trade. You can do your job standing on your head. If your skills are now to honed to perfection in your current role, it might be time to make a change. Choose a new career that aligns with your aspirations for the future. Company culture Does everyone in your workplace behave with courtesy and have shared values? Does your boss check up your wellbeing and is genuinely interested in you and your career? If there are personality clashes, inconsiderate co-workers or a toxic atmosphere then a move should definitely be on the cards. If you’re thinking of moving jobs, have a look at our job search page: www.allen-york.com/jobs alternatively, we are working many other roles with purposeful companies looking for great people, contact us on 01202 888986 to see how we can find you a new challenge that meets your experience, skills and aspirations.
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Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) themes to look out for this year
A shining light on the horizon as we tentatively head out of lockdown is Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing which has seen growth in these unprecedented times. ESG funds have traditionally been seen in those companies deemed ‘quality’ like healthcare and technology. The ones with strong cashflows leading to greater profitability rather than the ‘dirtier’ sectors such as oil and airlines. Picking investments based on principles as well as profits seems to have paid off if you look at the sectors that have seen either a boom or bust in the pandemic. Investing in responsible companies, who typically have more sustainable business models, and who are more likely to be ready to adapt to long-term challenges (such as climate change) would seem to be the way forward. And that’s something we’re really excited about. Looking forward, where might we see the biggest growth in ESG for 2021? Cybersecurity A one-place of work policy went out of the window in 2020. We were all told to ‘Stay at home’ and that message continues (at least until June 2021). Working remotely – at home, in the spare room or the garden shed opens up risk of cyber-attacks when you’re off the company network. It wasn’t’ just working that went to the web – online sales increased 46%, socialising moved from coffee shops and the pub to Zoom, cash ceased to be king. With all of this extra online activity, the threat of criminal behaviour becomes ever more sophisticated. Investment in Cybersecurity is required to provide continued protection for all of us. Cloud Continuing on from the cybersecurity issue. If we’re all online more, where are we storing all the data that we’re producing? For many the cloud is this mystical space that people might not really understand but can see the value off. If individuals and organisations are producing more data, harnessing the cloud for data storage, access to apps and other software, then growth is almost certain. One prediction is that cloud usage is going to grow 17.5% annually to 2025. With the reduced energy consumption, waste and carbon emissions from cloud storage and a commitment to further energy efficiency (e.g. like Amazon powering their data centres by wind and solar energy) it’s another hot topic for ESG. Clean energy With the UK aiming to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, there should be a renewed focus on renewable energy like wind and solar and interest in newer technologies (e.g. hydrogen); as costs decline and public support increases. This shift already seems to be happening as there is more focus on being a Sustainable business and with consumers shifting their spending to more ethical and environmentally friendly organisations. You only have to look at the growth of B Corp companies to see this in action, edie report that these organisations grow 28 times faster than the national average. Electric Vehicles With the announcement that the UK will ban sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2030 in a bid to achieve zero emissions, there has been much interest in their electric vehicle (EV) alternatives. So much so, Elon Musk of Tesla, beat Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to become the world’s richest person for a short time in 2020. It’s not just the vehicles themselves that will see investment, the whole supply chain from robotics, artificial intelligence and energy storage to the infrastructure required to serve EV should see growth. Biotechs If we didn’t know it before the coronavirus pandemic, biotechs really will play a huge part in keeping the economy and the people in it moving. Alongside their work in providing vaccines for zoonotic diseases, they are also hugely innovative in the field of genetics and working on solving the world’s health problems. Hopefully more investment in biotechs will avoid another global pandemic any time soon. Why are we so excited about the growth of ESG investing? Well, we’ve been working in the field of environment and sustainability recruitment since 1993 so it’s our core market. More investment, as organisations try to resolve environmental challenges, means more jobs across the sector. It’s a ‘win win; for the environment and people looking to work in purpose-driven companies. And we’re here to match the two. www.allen-york.com Allen & York – providing Sustainable Recruitment Solutions since 1993. Source: https://www.whatinvestment.co.uk/five-esg-themes-for-2021-as-those-who-doubted-the-cause-take-interest-2619012/
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Will COVID-19 save the planet?
With lockdown 3.0, rising unemployment, a shrinking economy and the devastating loss of life, it’s difficult to see any positives coming out of the current coronavirus pandemic. However, could there be one chink of light in the darkness COVID-19 has delivered? Larry Fink, Chief Executive of Blackrock, one of the most influential financial firms in the world, thinks there may be. He states: "I believe that the pandemic has presented such an existential crisis - such a stark reminder of our fragility - that it has driven us to confront the global threat of climate change more forcefully and to consider how, like the pandemic, it will alter our lives.” How do we make it happen? Sustainable investment is the starting point. Pre-pandemic, whilst it was talked about and perhaps comms were ‘greenwashed’ to say it was happening, the reality was that it wasn’t anywhere near the level it should have been. Fast forward 12 months, and yes, the economy has shrunk but there has been a marked increase in investment in more environmentally sustainable business. In fact, investors delivered $288bn globally into sustainable assets, a whopping 96% increase from 2019. What about the return? Whilst it’s great to be purposeful, purpose needs to deliver profit. The good news is, that the returns can be just as lucrative when you’re aiming to improve the planet. Companies with better environmental, social and governance policies are growing faster than their less ‘ethical’ competitors. Is it just greenwashing? If an organization is spending more time and money on marketing themselves as environmentally friendly than really making every attempt to minimise their environmental impact then it’s right to be cautious. Good research, and an understanding of the markets mean that investors are already shunning shares due to a lack of sustainability impetus. Can we build back better? Promises from government to "build back better" and “build back greener” will only come to fruition through policy and perhaps incentives to do so. There seems to be a definite desire to do so which hopefully will have a massive impact on the sector and be great news for jobs growth across the environmental sector. Fink says “even if only 5% of investors opt for sustainable strategies, it will still produce "massive shifts". With a sustainable economic approach, investment in education and skills to promote a rise in jobs, we’ll see a more sustainable planet for future generations. If you’re hiring in sustainable finance, looking for ESG or ESI focussed professionals, get in touch to see how we can help you help the environment, contact: info@allen-york.com Allen & York - providing sustainable recruitment solutions since 1993. Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51111727 & https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55811332
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Carbon offsetting in Education
We all know burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas are causing on-going damage to the planet by causing climate change (and its associated problems like droughts, flooding and storm damage). Therefore we all, as individuals, have a part to play in reversing the trend to mitigate climate change and stop global warming but we need to work alongside organisations to do the same. After all, we’re in this together, there is no Planet B. Educational change In an attempt to lead by example, further and higher educational institutions are working together to ‘offset’ their efforts in order to reach net-zero emissions. Whether that be through off-setting flights, setting up collaborative strategies to permanently bury carbon emissions or creating learning opportunities for staff and students with progressive case studies. Recommendations have been developed by climate experts at six UK universities, all designed to make a difference to emissions and ultimately carbon offsetting. It’s an ambitious move, with a network of over 55 UK universities and research institutions working together to hopefully deliver significant outcomes at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November 2021. Leading by example Bastions of educational progression, it’s not surprising that universities should be at the forefront of leading the move to a ‘net-zero future’. If they can ensure carbon emissions are offset by removing carbon from the atmosphere through different methods, e.g. nature-based solutions like planting trees or by technological solutions, like using renewable energy (solar or wind for example) then these initiatives should be a priority for us all to follow. How do they do it? The recommendation for universities and colleges considering offsetting their emissions is to maximise the chance of high-quality offsetting and not to have any negative social or environmental impacts. Professor Paul Lickiss, Imperial’s Academic Leader in Sustainability, said: “As part of the College Sustainability Strategy, Imperial will be developing a travel policy by 2022 and this offsetting report provides useful guidance to consider as we develop that policy. With some research funders now requiring that the emissions from flights are offset, I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with other UK universities and colleges to ensure that our use of offsetting meets the highest possible standards.” 7 points to consider The plan of how education is thinking about carbon offsetting includes: Reducing emissions - the priority even before considering offsetting as part of a net-zero strategy Establishing robust principles - being able to justify which emissions can and can’t be offset Offset schemes - their impact on the local people and environment ensuring they are aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Prioritising ‘carbon removal’ offsets – projects designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, such as by growing trees prioritised over ‘emission reduction’ offsets Forming a coalition in the further and higher education sector to support high-integrity offsetting Reporting on travel emissions, including student flights, consistently Reporting across further and higher education institutions and tracking progress towards a net-zero emissions sector. As an example of organisations working together for a common goal, this is a great start. We hope these institutions widen their net to include others and also advertise this activity within their own colleges/universities. More traction will be gained through education across the educational landscape and across the student base. This can then be taken into the world of work, bringing the whole issue of net carbon to a wider audience and to the fore of industry, which can only be a good thing. If you have a passion for sustainable practices and are recruiting sustainability professionals, Allen & York have been working in the environmental sector since we were founded in 1993. Get in touch if you need help reducing your time to hire, contact: info@allen-york.com or visit www.allen-york.com Allen & York - providing sustainable recruitment solutions since 1993. Source: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/213913/climate-experts-challenge-uk-institutions-over/
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Recruiting in a climate emergency
Almost two thirds of people around the world now view climate change as a global emergency, according to an opinion poll of over a million people across 50 countries.The poll, called the "People's Climate Vote", was organised by the United Nations Development Programme in conjunction with Oxford University. Findings varied across locations, age and genders, but overall the top four policies to tackle climate change included: Conserve forests and land (54%) Use solar, wind and renewable power (53%) Climate friendly farming techniques (52%) Investing more money in green businesses and jobs (50%). Being in the global recruitment business, we were happy to see that there is majority support in nearly all G20 countries for more investment in green businesses and jobs(led by the United Kingdom (73%), followed by Germany, Australia and Canada (all 68%), South Africa (65%), Italy (64%), Japan (59%), United States (57%), France, (56%), and Argentina, Brazil, and Indonesia (all 51%). How do we make ‘green’ recruiting happen? It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves since Allen & York was founded in 1993. Since that time, we’ve been proud to have contributed to the growth of green business and green jobs, and understand first hand how this support has facilitated positive change in the world of work. There is obviously a desire to make the change post-pandemic, with Boris Johnson’s ‘build back greener” and Joe Biden leading the charge in the US by making climate change a priority in his first week of office. The change starts with policy makers but can – and should - be influenced by us all. The good news is that people want to work for organisations with purpose, with 81% of professionals saying that working somewhere with a strong and positive purpose, aligned to their motivations, is an important factor when looking for a new role. Whether you’re a business in the green economy, or one that is taking it’s first steps into seeing how you can contribute to net zero goals via sustainable supply chains or reviewing your carbon footprint, investment in people with purpose will make it happen for you. Where can you find the right people? It’s not always going to be easy. Purpose is great but we’re in the midst of a global pandemic and candidates are being especially cautious about moving roles. Uncertainty around job security and the cultural impact of integrating into a new role (in all likelihood working remotely for the foreseeable future) means that the best candidates are probably not the ones responding to job adverts. No matter how green your comms are. At Allen & York, our mission is to see more people working to mitigate the effects of the climate emergency on the environment and people. That’s why we specifically recruit across the core sectors of Environment, Energy, Sustainability, Health, Safety & Wellbeing. We’ve a global network of talent to call upon, skilled researchers able to find even the most passive candidates and specialist (not generalist) recruiters who match the right people with the right roles every day. So if you need help or advice on how to recruit greener, we can help. If you want to work with like-minded people, with a common purpose, get in touch. We’re confident we can work with you to make a positive difference to your business and the environment. Allen & York, providing sustainable recruitment solutions since 1993. www.allen-york.com
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How to impress at interview
The jobs market is more competitive than ever, largely due to the impact of coronavirus and its effect on the global economy. With unemployment now estimated at 5%, in the three months to November 2020,and lockdown 3.0 in full swing, making yourself stand out from the crowd will be ever more important. Some people are inherently good at interviews, some not so much. Practice makes perfect – or at least makes better. What do you need to do to have a better chance of succeeding at interview? Here are ten tips to get you started. 1. Be on time Sounds like the most obvious thing right? But you’ll be surprised at how many people are even a couple of minutes late for interviews. When you’re interviewing on Zoom, having commuted to your desk from the living room to the spare room there’s no excuse for lateness. First impressions do count and people’s time is expensive. 2. Have your tech prepared As most interviews are currently online, make sure you know what you’re doing on Zoom/Skype/Teams etc. Not knowing how to unmute your microphone, having half your head cut off on screen or having your washing hung behind you will all give the impression that you’re not prepared and the interview doesn’t mean that much to you. Ask friends or family to do a test run of the tech if you’re unsure of how to use it. It’s a 5-minute bit of practice that will pay dividends. 4. Engage with the interviewer What you say is important, how say it is equally as important. Interviewers want to get a sense of you as a person, how you’ll fit into their culture, how switched on you are – not just the skills and experience you have. Try to demonstrate what a great person you are, be engaged, listen, nod, smile – show you’re enthusiastic and that you really want the job. 4. Do your research If an interviewer asks you what you know about their company, make sure you’ve done your research. Look at their website, check out their online profiles on LinkedIn and Glassdoor. Find out as much as you can about their business. If you say you don’t know much about them they’ll think you’re not that interested in working with them. Finding out more will also give you an opportunity to think of good questions to ask about their business (more on that later). 5. Answer the questions you’re asked Practice is great but you also need to be able to think on your feet. To really stand out from the crowd, listen to questions and giving insightful answers based on your own experiences. Being able to demonstrate that your experience fits their needs through actual examples is what they want to hear. Maybe the answer is one they weren’t expecting, one that might just set you apart from the competition. 6. Be a self-starter What actually is a ‘self-starter’? How do show you are one? Evidence combined with experience that’s how. Demonstrate, through example, how you improved working practices, how you added value to a project? How you made a difference and can make a difference to a new employer. 7. Be an expert At Allen & York we recruit for a number of specialist roles across the Environment, Energy, Sustainability, Health, Safety & Wellbeing sectors and when we speak to candidates we want to hear they have the experience and expertise to do the job. A safe pair of hands, one who can hit the ground running, with the ability to work independently (remotely in all likelihood currently) will be more appealing than someone who will need a lot of hand holding. Know your areas of expertise, know the challenges of the role you’re interviewing for and sell your skills to the interviewer. 8. Talking of selling your skills… Sometimes it’s difficult to blow your own trumpet but if you really want the jobs, you’ve got to be prepared with your key selling points. What makes you the best candidate for the position? If you have niche technical skills in a particular area, great, talk about them. Perhaps you are the most organised Project Manager on the planet, fab, have an example prepared of where you added value or generated more revenue. Be interested in the role – ask questions that match your skills so you can highlight them. 9. Questions, questions Not having any questions prepared looks like you’re not really committed to the role. Saying “I think you already answered all of my questions” is a bit of a kop out. Having intelligent questions, that demonstrate your knowledge of the company or the role demonstrate you’re serious about the role. In the unlikely event that all of your questions have genuinely been answered, try generic ones like "What does your ideal candidate for this role look like?" or “What’s the best thing about working with XX company?” but really, it’s preferable to have specific questions about the role/company/culture prepared beforehand. 10. A smile and a thank you You’ve had a really good interview, you had chemistry with the interviewer and all of your answers hit the back of the net. You really want the job. Yes, you should thank the interviewer for their time but before that, if you really want the job, ask them how it went and say you would be really interested in the role and are excited by the opportunity. If you’re in the job market, with particular focus on jobs in the Environment, Energy, Sustainability, Health, Safety & Wellbeing – both technical and professional services roles (e.g. marketing, HR, finance) then take a look at www.allen-york.com/job-searchto start your job hunt. If you find something suited to your skills and experience, our recruiters will guide you through the interview process and give you as much help and advice to help you succeed as possible. Best of luck with your job hunting and interviews! www.allen-york.com
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Wellbeing & Royal Mail Group
With wellbeing high on the agenda, it's important ot understand how employees wellbeing adds value to an organisation how this has evolved in recent years. Awareness and understanding could be key to longer term success in this area. Dr Shaun Davis (MA, MBA, MA, MSc, Chartered FIOSH, FIIRSM, Chartered FCIPD, MIoD), Global Director of Safety, Health, Wellbeing and Sustainability, Royal Mail Group, shares with Allen & York what wellbeing means to Royal Mail Group and the importance of wellbeing in the workplace. What does wellbeing mean to Royal Mail Group? At Royal Mail Group we are committed to further improving our employee’ s physical and mental health. We aspire to develop a culture where individuals feel supported and informed to take ownership for their own health and wellbeing so that they can bring the best version of themselves to work, every-day. It’s more than duty of care. We believe by investing in wellbeing we will all feel better, perform better and create a positive working environment that we can all benefit from. Why is having a wellbeing strategy important to Royal Mail Group? Our people are our biggest asset and therefore our aim is to ensure that everyone in the company feels responsible for making sure that we all go home safe and well every day. There are several health challenges facing society; rising obesity levels, mental health conditions, and an ageing workforce. These health challenges are reflected in our own employees within Royal Mail through adverse lifestyle choices; an ageing workforce; physically demanding jobs; and changes to the way we all work through technology and the pace of change. We recognise that some employees face a range of health and wellbeing challenges - either mental, physical or both. The Feeling First Class program alongside a great range of health-related offers and services accessed through our benefits website provide employees with a range of tools to help them optimise their personal health and wellbeing. What advice would you give to organisations looking to improve the wellbeing of their employees? Start with listening to your employees and stakeholders, look at the feedback from engagement surveys or employee forums or similar. Review your absence data and understand the demographics of your organisations. About Shaun Shaun is a Chartered Fellow of The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, a Fellow of The International Institute of Risk and Safety Management, a Chartered Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and a Member of The Institute of Directors. Shaun has a wide portfolio of responsibilities across the Royal Mail Group including safety, health, well-being, and sustainability. Before joining the Royal Mail Group, Shaun worked in the construction, refurbishment, infrastructure, and waste management sectors and led organisations to achieve significant improvements in performance. Shaun has also guided culture change programmes and achieved a variety of awards and accolades for the organisations he has worked for. Shaun holds five Masters Degrees; an MA in Leadership & Culture Change, an MBA, an MA in Marketing & Innovation, an MSc in Workplace Health & Well-being and an MA in Strategic Human Resource Management. He also holds a Doctorate in Coaching and Mentoring with his research having explored the relationship between coaching, well-being, and organisational culture. Shaun is also an honorary Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham School of Medicine. Shaun is a trustee of three charities; The Men’s Health Forum, The Society of Occupational Medicine and The Rowland Hill Fund. He is also a member of the Business in the Community (BITC) Workwell Leadership Team and acts as vice-chairman and director of strategy for the pan-European mental health campaign ‘Target Depression in the Workplace’. A published author in a number of respected journals and practitioner publications, Shaun has also co-authored the men’s mental health book ‘Positive male mind’ and his latest publication ‘Positive mental health’ will be launched in October this year.
