September 18, 2023
As PR advisers working in the green economy, we’re as likely to be asked how to communicate an organisation’s sustainability as what it actually means.
For me, sustainability essentially is doing the right thing today, while leaving a better world tomorrow.
This objective is more important than ever, given people’s heightened feelings of fragility – of our systems, our planet, peace itself – they want partners who seek to do good and are in it for the long term.
Sustainability-focused enterprises look to protect nature and conserve natural resources. This enhances an enterprise in the eyes of customers and other stakeholders, making it easier to do business. It also improves the availability of, and lessens the strains on, resources.
Fulfilling people’s needs without compromising future generations requires a balance of targets for economic growth, environmental care and social well-being. In business, little happens without revenue (not for very long anyway), so it’s crucial to keep commercial goals to the fore.
At Sustainability Live in London, I met a mix of entrepreneurs and professionals seeking to advance the sustainability of their own or other people’s organisations, each approaching this goal from a different angle.
Talking to delegates, a big theme I picked up was data. Finding and processing information is how businesses develop and refine their offer and allocate resources. The best excel at gathering, interpreting and acting on facts to meet objectives – whether improving processes, identifying and reducing cost or increasing profits.
Sustainability needs good data. Without adequate, timely information, leaders cannot assess and measure performance. Data is also necessary to engage with and inform external audiences – customers, job applicants, investors and others – whose support is needed for progress.
Among those I talked to at the 6-7 September event were James Butcher, CEO of Supply Pilot, whose teams in the UK and USA use data to help businesses work more effectively with their suppliers – for example, ensuring planned environmental and social initiatives achieve targeted impacts across their supply chains.
Addressing an audience later, James said that while data is essential, ‘don’t let perfection get in the way of better, and ensure data is focused on impact, not just reporting’.
Tom Hicks, an account executive with Ignite Procurement, highlighted the importance of turning standalone data into actionable insights to enable the making of responsible decisions across people, planet and product. Ignite specialises in helping companies understand their supply chain emissions. Tom joined Oslo-based Ignite after a year spent as an NHS volunteer during the pandemic mixed with rock-climbing around Europe.
I also chatted with Jake Carrington, a consultant with Eden Smith Group, a search, recruitment and education company specialising in data and sustainability services. Jake’s infectious enthusiasm and communication ability have made him a great advocate for sustainability, recruitment and people.
David Nesbit, Compliance and Sustainability Manager at Penny Lane Builders, spoke of the Liverpool company’s internal and external sustainability initiatives. Both PLB and its joint venture Avela Home Service encourage and educate their employees, from field operatives and apprentices to office staff, to nurture a culture that brings real change – to deliver sustainable domestic housing projects.
Nina Harrison, Head of Partnerships at Innovation Zero, told how the low-carbon event organiser helps brands increase their market share by collaborating with like-minded groups, and how analysing market trends and data are crucial to driving growth.
My takeaways from engaging with these sustainability leaders:
If you’d like to discuss sustainability, or corporate communications, contact: [email protected] or [email protected]
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March 6, 2024
Attending day 1 of Futurebuild 2024 yesterday I was struck by the large numbers and the buzzy vibe. And the crowd was bigger than it looked – the two or three events happening as I arrived were pretty packed. More here: https://bit.ly/49ZTAIv
January 8, 2024
Solar PV is taking off in the UK, and 2024 is shaping up to be the best year yet for the technology. Let’s look at some of the factors driving the transition.
September 18, 2023
As PR advisers working in the green economy, we’re as likely to be asked how to communicate an organisation’s sustainability as what it actually means.
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November 8, 2022
Allerton Communications is growing. We’re seeking a resourceful Digital Communications Executive to serve our low-carbon economy etc clients.
September 6, 2022
A renewable-energy consultant told me of two engineers working in UK industry some years ago who discussed a tricky technical issue that could be addressed in one of two ways.
March 8, 2021
Life and work are changing, and amid the shifting landscape, effective engagement with stakeholders is vital. The past year shows how much we can achieve away from the office. Now, as the economy starts to open up, customers, investors, staff and partners will be moving about as never before, and ultra-reliant on mobile communication.
February 17, 2021
For any company looking to make a difference in the green economy, it’s vital to think about communication. We would say this – we’ve been helping innovators in energy and sustainability to tell their story for more than 12 years.
December 31, 2020
Miracle on 34th Street is considered a must-see film at this time of year. (‘Christmas’ was omitted from the title for the May 1947 release.) The triple-Oscar winner is a seasonal box of delights that once opened, reveals profound truths about public relations – and they apply today. These address leadership, brand authenticity, mental health, […]
Which type of PR should come first in the life of a business – B2B or B2C? Peter Curtain* reports. Attention growth companies – want to get better known? First, start building a network – then, and only then, start addressing consumers.
April 21, 2020
Earth Day, a calendar date observed worldwide on 22 April to show support for environmental protection, is a great reminder of some of the campaigners who’ve alerted us to the urgent need to care for our planet.
April 16, 2020
The past four weeks look set to alter society for years, with huge impact on the economy. Peter Curtain reflects on these changes and offers some thoughts on communication in the post-coronavirus world 1. We’re all global now. A virus that emerged from live-animal markets in the regional Chinese city of Wuhan became big when […]
January 23, 2020
In this Financial Director article, Peter Curtain of Allerton Communications highlights the huge impact concerns about the environment are starting to have both on investment and the wider business world, and suggests how firms can act.
Regulatory news is a vital tool in investor relations. Also important is generating media interest and coverage. It’s great to excel at these channels – but they’re only part of the picture.
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Allerton Communications, a boutique corporate and financial PR firm specialising in energy, sustainability and growth companies, is expanding.
Allerton's Peter Curtain shares his views on what press regulation proposals mean for PR
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We’ve been catching up with some advisers on a visit to the Northwest of England and one thing is clear – investors are fighting hard for the best deals. As one professional told us: “There’s massive demand for quality assets among private equity investors. They have full-time teams scouting around the country, talking to potential […]
February 3, 2016
Peter Curtain of Allerton is proud to have joined the People & Communities Technical Committee of Watef, the Water Efficiency Network, and looks forward to making a contribution to this great initiative.
February 1, 2016
Energy Matters - read issue 11 of highly informative magazine on renewables, utilities and more from our client CKD Galbraith here.
January 29, 2016
Allerton Communications has been shortlisted along with our client CKD Galbraith in the industry-leading PR Moment Awards for our work producing Energy Matters. This is a great accolade and we're very proud.
November 30, 2015
Allerton Communications is praised in a key case study by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the prestigious professional and training body, for producing the Energy Matters magazine and e-zine for our client CKD Galbraith.
June 26, 2014
They used to say about banks that the best time to start one was 20 years ago – the point being, lenders make so much money, think what you’ve missed in the meantime. In rather the same way, I often advise companies to start effective communications as soon as they can – think what you can achieve when people understand your business.
May 19, 2014
There’s no shortage of advice on communications but here are 10 rules to help you get your message across to both investors and other important targets.
April 7, 2014
People get excited about stock market flotations because they are (or should be) an opportunity to make money – this applies primarily to new investors of course, but management and the original investors may also be out to cash in some of their holdings.
