From academic institutions and regulatory bodies, to service providers across the technical, facilities management, and food and drink sectors, this new cohort of IEMA Corporate Partners is testament to the growing recognition that successful organisations need to weave green competences throughout their workforce - much in the way that way digital skills spread across businesses over previous decades.

Sodexo Limited:

Global leader in sustainable food and workplace experiences, Sodexo Limited, employs over 30,000 people in the UK and Ireland. Offering a wide range of services from food and hospitality to security and technical services, the business partners with clients across many sectors including schools, universities, sports and leisure, energy and resources, government, health and care, and justice and defence. The partnership with IEMA will help to support its Green Skill strategy and further develop its employees with the skills and training required to foster a culture of environmental responsibility within its workforce and workspaces.

Claire Atkins Morris, Sustainability Director at Sodexo UK & Ireland, said: “According to the Climate Action Tracker, 90% of the world’s GDP is now covered by a net-zero commitment.

“However, there are not enough people with the right skills to achieve what needs to be done to meet net zero. Sodexo, alongside our clients and supply partners, have embarked on a green skills strategy to ensure we have the resilience and future-proofing to meet climate and nature goals, recognising that to do this, every role will require some form of green skill.

“Our green skills training programme is about more than just fulfilling our own commitments – it is about empowering our people and our partners, both client and supply, to make a meaningful impact. As we progress toward our net zero target, we know that the workforce plays a crucial role in transforming how we operate. By investing in training and upskilling, we are not only future proofing our businesses but also helping create a sustainable future for the communities in which we work and serve.”

University College Birmingham:

University College Birmingham offers career-focused education and training for over ten thousand students from around 90 countries. Specialising in vocational courses in both the higher and further education sectors, the education facility is steps to improve its operational sustainability and deliver specific modules that focus on sustainable development and green skills.

Ashlea Mallett, Sustainability Manager at University College Birmingham, said: “We are thrilled to embark on our sustainability journey to create a greener environment with IEMA. At University College Birmingham, we are dedicated to reaching Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2041, and our Sustainability Steering Board is developing a strategy to ensure we meet our vision of a holistic sustainable community.

“Our Partnership with IEMA will give us the resources, tools and knowledge to fulfil some of our key goals, which include clear transparency about our sustainability efforts, reaching Net Zero, and becoming a plastic-free community on campus, along with ensuring that our courses deliver green skills education across multiple industries and sectors.”

Hartpury University and Hartpury College:

Hartpury University and Hartpury College have become Corporate Partners of IEMA, marking a significant step in its determination to focus on sustainability. Earlier this year, the Hartpury 2030 Strategy prioritised sustainability as one of its three underpinning themes. The institution is committed to aligning with relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and embedding sustainability throughout its teaching, research, governance, facilities, and day-to-day operations. A net zero strategy is under development adopting circular principles and ensuring financial sustainability.

IEMA will support Hartpury University and College through the accreditation of several degrees, ensuring that students gain the real-world skills that employers are looking for, and allowing them to graduate with GradIEMA status.

Jackie Jobes, Sustainability Director at Hartpury University and College, said: “Our corporate partnership with IEMA strengthens our commitment to reducing our environmental impact, increasing the awareness and expertise of our academic and professional staff, whilst enabling our students to develop the essential green skills and knowledge that industry is seeking through our education programmes. This partnership signifies Hartpury’s dedication to fostering a greener world and pursuing a better society for all.”

The Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA):

The Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) is an independent authority created in 2018 to oversee and regulate the world-class free zones in Qatar, offering outstanding opportunities and benefits for businesses seeking to expand their global operations. QFZA develops and regulates the Qatar Free Zones, delivering long-term solutions for businesses while supporting Qatar’s continued growth and economic diversification.

The IEMA Corporate Partnership will support the QFZA’s commitment to developing their sustainability expertise in Qatar, under the leadership of IEMA Fellow Ahmed Elidrisy.

Ahmed Elidrisy,  at the Qatar Free Zones Authority, said: “Our vision is to become the world’s most sustainable free zone group. Offering modern green infrastructure for our investors, QFZ is committed to sustainability in every aspect of our operations.

“Our free zones are designed to be as efficient as possible, making use of the wide range of innovative technologies to deliver on our vision to become the world’s most sustainable free zone group. For example, our infrastructure for drip irrigation is timed and AI-based, and the water used for irrigation is always recycled; the energy used in the free zones is natural gas-generated, which has the lowest carbon footprint out of all the carbon-based fuels; and we have new warehouses being built with roofs consisting of up to 40% solar panels.

“This new Partnership with IEMA will enable us to strengthen their sustainability initiatives and collaborate with industry leaders. By leveraging IEMA’s resources, we aim to enhance our environmental strategies and engage in global conversations to support our commitment to responsible business practices.”

Kinly:

Kinly is a global provider and integrator of audio-visual systems and remote collaboration services. Its role is to enable people in business to work effectively, from anywhere. Everything it provides, whether it be a company-wide workspace transformation or a support service, is made with a single goal in mind: facilitating customer success.

Rhea Horlock, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Kinly, said: “We understand the importance of running a responsible and sustainable business, and across all our global operations we are committed to reducing both our own impacts, and supporting our clients with their sustainability ambitions.

“Our partnership with IEMA helps to ensure that we’re following best practice when it comes to sustainability, that we have the expertise to engage with and advise our clients around the environmental impact of the solutions we deliver for them, and gives us the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from leaders across industries.”

Adecco UK Ltd:

The Adecco Group is a leading recruitment and talent advisory company on a mission to make the future work for everyone. Fuelled by a passion for positive change, Adecco’s UK and Ireland business has joined IEMA with a strong desire to impact wider society via purpose-led initiatives, including sustainability. In the UK and Ireland, Adecco’s green goals are both embedded in the company culture and designed to shape future workforces.   

Samantha Allen, Head of Compliance and ESG UK & Ireland for Adecco UK Ltd, said: “Internally, we see sustainability as a team effort. Board sponsors and active Employee Resource Groups keep us committed to ambitious CO2 reduction targets, and focus on greener travel, renewable energy, and green skills. We’re also proud of our ‘Trees for Life’ Partnership, which has seen over 10,000 trees planted in the Scottish Highlands.

“Externally, we work with clients and candidates to build awareness of the green skills our labour market needs for a successful tomorrow. We lead a robust public affairs strategy, and passionately advocate for a multi-faceted approach that prioritises diversity and inclusion, access to education, apprenticeships, and upskilling and reskilling programmes.

“Joining IEMA will help us accelerate and deliver on all these aims. By working together, we know we can further champion sustainability and drive even more meaningful change.”

IEMA’s Corporate Partnerships allow businesses and individuals to connect and collaborate, to learn vital green skills and embed sustainability in day-to-day operations.

Martin Baxter, IEMA Deputy CEO, said: “We are excited to welcome our new Corporate Partners of IEMA and look forward to supporting them on their sustainability journeys, whether it be helping to green upskill staff, facilitate green skills education, or deliver on specific sustainability projects to reduce the environmental impact of the organisations.

“The future of sustainability is dependent on cross-sector collaboration and commitment, so by working with a wide range of businesses across multiple industries, we can help to ensure that our future workforce has the green skills needed to help organisations and businesses deliver on crucial targets.”