Blue chip firms warn against green skills crisis

A coalition of some of the UK's leading firms have today called on business leaders to improve their understanding of environmental and sustainability issues, after a survey revealed the absence of appropriate leadership skills is widely regarded as the biggest challenge facing the transition to a low carbon economy.

The research from the Business in the Community (BITC) group polled 700 business leaders and found that 70 per cent thought a shortage of sustainable business leadership skills will represent one of the most pressing challenges facing UK firms over the next five years as they attempt to develop new low carbon business models.

The study, entitled Leadership Skills for a Sustainable Economy, also revealed that found 90 per cent thought firms needed to boost their efforts to prepare people for the transition to a sustainable economy, while only 15 per cent think work to develop the skills needed is well or partly established.

As a result of the findings, BITC is today teaming up with a number of its members, including EDF Energy, Marks & Spencer and LloydsTSB, to launch a new taskforce that will work to develop a best practice guide in sustainable leadership for a wide -range of employees including senior managers, middle managers, customer-facing staff and general workforce.

The BITC said that over the next year the group will hold sessions and networking events and set up a resource library to help people learn the skills necessary to support more environmentally sustainable business models. It added that the group would also be supported by the Cambridge Programme for Sustainable Leadership, environmental advisory charity Global Action Plan and think tank Forum for the Future.

Stephen Howard, BITC chief executive, predicted that the work of the taskforce would prove popular, arguing that the survey had revealed the " overwhelming recognition of the need for leadership skills on the issue of su stainability".

Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of EDF Energy, said that green skills would be required right across the economy if firms are to play a full role in the transition to a low carbon economy.

"What is striking is how much UK business wants to make a difference and has the power to make things happen," he said. "To achieve this it is critical that individuals at every level of business have the skills to help their organisation take action on climate change and to prepare for a sustainable economy. Key leadership skills needed include the ability to develop a long term vision of how the organisation will contribute to a sustainable economy, the ability to inspire a broad range of people internally and externally and the ability to work collaboratively with different stakeholders."