At Allen & York, we spend every day talking to businesses and candidates who are shaping the future of the green economy. One theme that has come up again and again recently is how companies communicate their sustainability commitments and why it matters for attracting and retaining the right people.
An important shift has been reported recently where the sector is facing political pushback, legal risk, and stakeholder pressure, leading executives to move away from the term “ESG”. In its place, we’re seeing language focused on resilience, risk management, long-term value, and business conduct or more broadly, a move back to sustainability.
Today, employers are being more specific about what sustainability looks like in practice, and that makes it far easier to engage both investors and talent.
Why This Matters for Recruitment
The words you choose shape the story you tell and the story you tell directly impacts who wants to join your organisation. Candidates in this space are discerning. They want clarity, not buzzwords. They want to see how their role contributes to resilience, risk reduction, or long-term value creation. Companies that can articulate this clearly will stand out in an increasingly competitive hiring landscape.
We’re also seeing demand for a broader skill set. As sustainability embeds itself across functions, organisations are hiring not just sustainability specialists but professionals in governance, supply chain, risk, and data.
The Takeaway for Employers
If you want to secure the best sustainability and risk talent, think carefully about how you frame your commitments. Move beyond the acronyms. Make your language concrete, commercial, and actionable. Show candidates the real impact of their work.
At Allen & York, we know that recruitment in this space is about more than filling vacancies - it’s about telling the right story to the right people. And right now, the companies that get their sustainability narrative right will be the ones who win the race for top talent.