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ISO14001 was successfully integrated within RLB UK, a major construction-focussed consultancy, over a period of 8 months (BSI certification achieved 2009). The on-site support included a detailed environmental review, establishing a network of champions, drafting programmes and procedures and unlimited out of office support. The company now confidently competes for tenders demanding high environmental credentials and continues to use our services for ongoing activities, for example contributing to Corporate Responsibility reporting and a sustainable procurement strategy.
Our key role in the process has been to help galvanise action and share knowledge so that the business is in a good position to take forward its strategy for environmental change almost entirely by itself and without the need for a full time Environmental Manager. To make this work we have spent time on site getting to know the keen and committed senior level team and being clear about the issues they face. There was a need to demystify the language of 'ISO14001' making it relevant; to share skills; and to ensure that the new system would fit with existing practices. Some practical tasks were to: lead on development of legislation and impact registers; help draft an environmental policy that reflected the culture of the business and priorities; work with procurement staff on how best to respond to tendering questionnaires; guide on development of a carbon monitoring system for business travel; and to support the development of a meaningful green stationery approach. Being there to simply provide reassurance and a friendly prod to keep things on track was equally as important.
A system can only become embedded with the support of staff and we worked with the business to help make sure that this would be the case. There will always difficulties engaging people across businesses, particularly those that have many sites as is the case with RLB, but by building a network of willing volunteers (or 'Champions)' and undertaking a range of activities, it can be done. In this case for example, we helped RLB hold a cross-site competition (reported in Property Week) to encourage staff to come up with innovating ideas (the winning suggestion was implemented and rewarded with a bicycle), promote good practice through the intranet and other media and develop challenging yet achievable ongoing projects. The latter included embarking on programmes beyond RLB's own offices and exploring how the construction-focussed services RLB offers might be enhanced to better protect the environment, building on already good progress in this area.
By better managing environmental concerns, RLB is not only better placed to develop opportunities for more business but is also motivating and retaining high quality staff. This is something RLB knows plenty about having been the Telegraph's Top Employer two years running and also in the Times Top 100 Employers list.
We continue to work closely with RLB, focussing at present, on sustainable procurement.
