Your Green Future - Solihull

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Solihull 4-5 March 2015

Thank you Solihull Council for sponsoring this brochure

Solihull Sustainability Visioning Group Businesses working together for a sustainable Solihull The group offers: Practical business support from industry dedicated organisations Networking with like minded businesses A voice to help shape a sustainable future for Solihull Events and workshops

To find out more or to get involved: tel: 0121 704 6529 email: sustainabilityvisioning@solihull.gov.uk

www.solihullforsuccess.com/solihull-sustainability-visioning

Welcome to

Your Green Future Over the last two years we are proud to have developed the Your Green Future initiative.

We have given thousands of young people the chance to work alongside businesses. Together they have helped solve real business challenges such as; coming up with creative solutions for businesses, real-life, waste issues, and designing sustainable products for leading organisations, including IKEA and Sainsbury’s.

In March 2015 we were pleased to run a Your Green Future event in Solihull for the first time. In this brochure you can find out about what our Solihull students experienced and what they thought

about it. The ‘Proof it works’ section also shows how Your Green Future impacts on schools, and how it gives back to the local businesses who support it.

But we can’t claim all the credit! Your Green Future highlights the importance, and possibilities, that partnership working can bring about. Over the coming year we hope to be able to give more of today’s young people the chance to participate in the Your Green Future initiative. But we need your help to make this happen! To find out how to get involved please turn to the end of this brochure.

Your Green Future is a project by Severn Wye Energy Agency, an independent charity and not-for profit company which aims to promote sustainable energy and affordable warmth through partnership, awareness-raising, innovation and strategic action. www.severnwye.org.uk

Contacts

Rachel Brain Head of Education & Training rachelb@severnwye.org.uk 01452 835069

Cecily Etherington Project Manager cecilye@severnwye.org.uk 01452 835076

Core Sponsor:

Hosted by:

100% of students learnt new things at The Event

Your Green Future What’s it all about?

Your Green Future is an interactive event which engages school students with a low carbon economy, and their potential role in creating this through their career choices.

Each event sees hundreds of 12 to 18 year olds work with businesses in a series of creative activities which investigate the changing face of business, from local sustainable business models to cutting edge technologies.

Overall, Your Green Future will support the local community becoming a sustainable environment in which businesses flourish, communities thrive and individuals have the opportunity to reach their potential.

The project emerges from the background challenges of youth unemployment, STEM skill shortages and, the need to develop a low carbon, resilient economy.

Details can be found at www.yourgreenfuture.org.uk

Who we’ve engaged with?

8 events

2131 STUDENTS

run across the South West and Midlands.

aged 12 to 18 years old have attended events with their teachers.

104 Schools

200 Businesses

have attended the events.

have supported the events.

In Solihull We were pleased to deliver the event for the first time.

When: 4th and 5th March 2015 Where: Solihull College Conference Centre

Who attended?

362

12 -18 years olds

36

Businesses

18

Schools from Solihull and Birmingham

Student Stats?

37% Male

63%

Female

This event was excellent, the lecturers and businesses were very inspirational and were amazing with the students Teacher

Local Delivery Team In order to deliver the Your Green Future event in Solihull, and ensure it met local needs, Severn Wye Energy Agency set up and worked closely with a Local Delivery Team.

Big thank you to the volunteers on the day: Rotary and Soroptimisits

A day to innovate A creative programme

Inspirational speakers, interactive workshops and an opportunity to make higher education and industry connections.

Develo

innovate with technolo

Discover careers in sustain

Engaging work s h o p s

lop products fit for 2015

ogy

Manage waste & resources

nability

Plan our Future energy

92%

of students enjoyed spending time in the exhibitor hall

What happened Speakers Peter Braithwaite Chair of Sustainability West Midlands David Meller Director of Product Integrity, Fairtrade Foundation Councillor Ian Courts Cabinet Portfolio Holder Economic Development & Land, Solihull Council

Career Pathways Exhibition Hosted by: Oakgrove Associates Sponsored by: Jaguar Land Rover All students spent time in the Career Pathways Exhibition and were set the challenge of interviewing a selection of the 19 represented local and national organisations. This included finding out about the organisation, the diversity of sustainability related jobs and, to consider this information against their own interests, talents and aspirations. Students were also able to speak to education and training providers providing them with an awareness of pathways into jobs, from vocational to more academic options.

“ I really enjoyed the exhibition hall�

Student

Workshops Your Business Future Develop food and fashion products fit for 2025 Delivered by: Just Ideas Sustainable Solutions Sponsored by: Touchwood Shopping Centre

Thanks to IKEA for providing the workshop prizes

In a nutshell Teams of students worked with successful businesses to develop fashion and food items of today into products fit for 2025.

Each team entered their product into the Future Food and Fashion Awards, and voted for the most sustainable entry, in terms of people, planet and profit.

WINNERS The overall winners were those teams of students working with Lush, and one of the winning products included a fridge which, via an app, tells you what food products you have in your fridge, when you need to eat your food by, and suggests new recipe ideas.

Overall, students gained an understanding of the choices, the opportunities and the challenges of putting environmental, social and economic sustainability at the core of business.

Q

Something I will think about next time I buy food or clothes...

When buying food ensure that you plan what and when to eat so that it’s not wasted.

Where it is produced and if it is sustainable, Fairtrade or eco-friendly.

The process it has been through before getting to me.

If I will be able to use the product again and again.

[I most enjoyed] helping the children tap into their expansive mind-sets, and come up with out of the box ideas!

IKEA

Q

One thing I found out about working in the food and fashion industry I learnt that it takes a lot of thinking to come up with a completely sustainable product.

When making a product you need to think about social, environment and economic factors.

How many places products travel to before it is made.

There are vast ways food and clothing can be sustainable in the future.

Workshops Your energy Future Plan our future energy needs & deliver them today

Delivered & Sponsored by: Severn Wye Energy Agency

In a nutshell Students worked in teams, with diverse businesses, to develop a sustainable energy plan for Snowdonia National Park.

They investigated different forms of renewable energy and considered the relative potential of different methods for reducing consumption, including both behaviour change and technical measures.

Students also considered the types of job roles that may be relevant when it comes to implementing their chosen solutions.

As a result of working through these challenges students began to understand that when making decisions we must consider a range of factors; environmental, social and financial and, that a range of solutions will be required as the issues are diverse and complex.

“The session about energy in the Snowdonian NP was excellent and the students really enjoyed the challenges it set them.�

Teacher

[I most enjoyed] the energy workshop it was very well run, the students were engaged and it made for some excellent conversations Arup

Q

One thing I have learnt about renewable energy and energy efficiency I’ve learnt that it is important to consider the sites for the alternative sources of energy as well as which sources of energy to use.

I have learnt that people are very flexible with their jobs in the energy saving area as they can do more than one job. They are also cool.

In order to incorporate renewable energy resources into a city you must consider the cost and architecture.

How energy affects everyone’s everyday lives.

It takes a lot of effort from lots of people to create an energy efficient planet!

The future has the potential to be renewable.

Workshops Your Innovative Future

Invest in cutting edge technologies to address today’s challenges Delivered by: STEMNET contract holder for Birmingham and Solihull Sponsored by: Renault

In a nutshell During this Dragons’ Den style workshop leading businesses pitched innovations, based on real industry developments to teams of student ‘Dragons’.

The teams went onto discuss and decide which innovation they would like to fund and how. Up to £1,000,000 worth of funding, per team, could be secured through ‘a bank’, the ‘UK government’ or a ‘charitable trust.’

Overall, students greatly enhanced their knowledge of the crucial role of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in creating a low carbon future.

87% of students left the event with a better understanding about what engineering is

86% of students left the event with a better understanding about what engineers do

pitches • H ydrogen fuel cells by the University of Birmingham • Flexible organic solar cells by Establis • E co friendly buses by Jaguar Land Rover, to take their staff to work and reduce local congestion • C entro’s plan to centralise and encourage local transport use, including finger scanning and facial recognition to make public transport more hassle free

“Dragons’ Den. Business meets science was a fab idea.”

Teacher

I enjoyed the chance to pitch to different levels of students about innovative strategies and technologies.

Jaguar Land Rover

Q

One thing I have learnt in this workshop?

Engineering and technology is developing all the time, there are good ideas but there are also barriers.

I have learnt that many companies have all sorts of different ideas in how to become sustainable.

I have learnt that although the future is predicted to be more green there are still a lot of changes we need to do.

Lots of companies are for green solutions since it will help them sell their products.

I have learnt everyone can contribute to reducing CO2.

New perspectives.

We learnt how to improve new technology.

I’ve found out about how organic solar cells exist & that they can be printed.

People in Africa can afford mobile phones but they have to travel far to be able to charge them because electricity is not everywhere!

Workshops Your Resourceful Future

Create solutions to minimise waste & sustain resources Delivered by: InterClimate Network Sponsored by: NEC

In a nutshell During this workshop teams of students took on the role of six local organisations. Working with business mentors from these companies they undertook a series of challenges in order to devise a creative solution to tackle a real-life waste issue that their company was trying to address.

“It is fantastic to meet the young people and hear their creative ideas, which is so refreshing when most of the time there are so many constraints that can hinder creative thinking in the workplace.�

Virgin Trains

Overall, students gained an understanding of the need to reduce waste across major job sectors and experienced how different job roles can help to make positive changes.

big ideas Each team created and presented a strong communications message to outline their solutions to their chosen target group.

One of the best ideas included: Developing a celebrity endorsed campaign for Virgin Trains, which saw customers get points on a card every time they recycled on the train. Points could be redeemed against future ticket prices.

A very interactive event, giving the opportunity for students to address day to day issues with very creative and different ideas.

NEC

Q

I learnt that ‌..

Reducing waste needs to be educated (taught) from a very young age, imprinted in people’s mind-set.

There are lots of different job roles that play a big part in making positive changes.

The many different target audiences needed to create a sustainable future.

How different companies reduce waste.

A lot of good food is thrown away even before it is opened.

Waste prevention helps a lot of people.

Proof it works

Delivering the Your Green Future agenda Your Green Future aims to meet both school and business needs, and aligns with a real need to develop an understanding of sustainability and to tap into new skills. Careful evaluation ensures its quality.

Take a look at the results!

Developing knowledge, prospects and skills Through life-like practical and creative activities, and communication with professionals, Your Green Future events aim to enhance 12 to 18 year olds knowledge, prospects and skills.

Knowledge of the evolving low carbon, sustainable economy Q

Do you know what a low-carbon, sustainable future means?

Q

Which industries do you think are involved in a sustainable economy?

event stats

Pre event

Pre Event

Post Event

28% Yes 34% No 38% Unsure

22% 74% NGO’s

Post event 90% Yes 1% No

68% 90% energy

8% Unsure 52% 78% Land management

80% of students said they should learn more about sustainability in school

95% of students said

it was important that we create a low carbon, sustainable economy

40% 80% Construction

47% 85% Engineering

18% 69% food

Fashion

22% 57% Politics

23% 70%

57% 88% Waste & water

Prospects including providing students with a clear view on the current job market and training opportunities Post event opinion

92% of students said they are more likely to look into going to university, college or undertaking an apprenticeship

Enhance student’s vocational skills Q

I think the Your Green Future event has improved my skills in…

74% Communication

81% Decision Making

79% Teamwork

80% Problem Solving

“All students must think on their feet and present to their peers which boosts self-confidence.”

“[The event] encouraged students to present their ideas no matter how credible they are.”

Teacher 2015

Teacher 2015

I most enjoyed the opportunity for students to work with business and look at the consequences of decisions and compromises that have to be made to solve these issues.

Teacher

[I have learnt] how to make decisions based on what I know and questions I’ve asked.

Student

Developing work related learning Your Green Future event activities are designed in collaboration with teachers to ensure they provide real learning. Additionally, events can kick start future activity and collaboration for schools. Notably, Your Green Future events:

Link to the National Curriculum and a wide range of college courses

Provide ideas and inspiration for schools

“The content of the event was hugely applicable to the science that the kids will be working through.”

“I learnt a lot about how organisations consider sustainability and this is something I can use in my teaching.”

Teacher

Teacher

95% of teachers

would like to attend the event again

“I personally was introduced to a few new ways that energy is being recovered and saved during the exhibition.”

Teacher

Offer networking opportunities for teachers “[I most enjoyed] meeting and talking to local businesses” Teacher “I made contacts with the universities who will be coming into our academy to support us and our post 16 students” Teacher

Enhancing business Whilst the target audience is schools through active participation the event is a fantastic opportunity for businesses, notably to:

Raise the awareness of and promote their organisation “The event is an excellent opportunity to give back to the community and understand their perception of your company.”

Jaguar Land Rover “It was a fantastic event. Helped us raise our profile and support local students so that they are aware of the opportunities and options available to them when they leave school.”

Solihull College “If you have a strong ethical focus/ passion this is a perfect way to spread your message, particularly to a younger generation.”

Lush

92%

of Businesses said the event was a good opportunity to promote their organisation in the local area

Network with a diverse audience “It is a great way to meet colleagues in other industries and see what they are doing to tackle similar issues in the same subject area.”

Virgin Trains “The event provides a unique opportunity to network with other like-minded organisations attending the event.”

Centre for Sustainable Manufacturing and Recycling Technologies

88% of businesses said the event provided a good opportunity to network with other businesses

It was great to see that ‘light bulb moment’ when the pupils got behind their ideas and were inspired to create something with sustainability in mind.

Lush

Support, inspire and educate young people “The event is a great platform to showcase not only your company’s image or products but to inspire youngsters and students to think outside the box and open their eyes to alternative technologies and alternative thinking.”

Jaguar Land Rover

“It is a fantastic opportunity to share your knowledge and business insight with young people!”

IKEA “It is an opportunity for businesses to inspire young people to think in different ways and to consider factors that they might not normally take into account.”

Fairtrade Foundation

Tap into new skills “By getting involved in this, outreach businesses are training the next skilled generation of workers in the field, and this is a strong asset to many UK companies indeed.”

88% of businesses said the event gave their organisation the opportunity to promote the skills they need now and in the future

Centre for Sustainable Manufacturing and Recycling Technologies

Develop new and unique ideas and undertake market research “It is a great idea to do some ‘outside the box’ ideas gathering as many of the pupils had some amazing ideas which are not limited by perceived restraints that us adults sometimes put in place.”

Centre for Sustainable Manufacturing and Recycling Technologies “It was a chance to step outside of our organisational ‘bubble’ and see the issues from a fresh perspective.”

Environment Agency This is a great opportunity for your business to interact with young adults, who are not inhibited with financial constraints to come up with innovative ideas and solutions to current issues.

Solihull Council

I would love to do this again Student

Thanks to the businesses Core Sponsor:

Workshop Sponsors:

Hosted by:

Photographers Acknowledgement Kris Bentham KrisBentham.com

Michelle Tennison tennisons.co.uk

Steve Evans sevenstarphotography.co.uk The photos and feedback statistics may not be reproduced, distributed or modified without the express written permission of Severn Wye Energy Agency.

100%

of businesses would like to attend another event

Get Involved

Change can happen through education Between 2015 and 2016, due to the success of our past events, and an increasing demand from all our event supporters, we plan to further develop and deliver the Your Green Future programme.

In order to achieve this aim we would welcome your support.

Opportunities include: • J oin a Local Delivery Team in order to support Your Green Future development and delivery, notably ensuring that the event meets local needs.

• P articipate in an event.

Your organisation can support the event’s creative workshops by volunteering a member of staff to share their expertise. You can also provide an interactive exhibition showcasing your company, its initiatives and opportunities.

• S ponsor an event.

We work hard to raise the funds for each event, to enable the schools to attend free of charge. We would welcome your support and opportunities start at £700. Sponsorship benefits, including brand exposure, are outlined on: yourgreenfuture.org.uk

Your Green Future is a project by Severn Wye Energy Agency, an independent charity and not-for profit company which aims to promote sustainable energy and affordable warmth through partnership, awareness-raising, innovation and strategic action. www.severnwye.org.uk

Contacts

Rachel Brain Head of Education & Training rachelb@severnwye.org.uk 01452 835069

Cecily Etherington Project Manager cecilye@severnwye.org.uk 01452 835076

About Severn Wye

Working for a future free from fuel poverty Severn Wye Energy Agency is a charity and not-for-profit company. Born out of an ambition to end fuel poverty we focus on providing practical expertise to help communities become more energy efficient and sustainable.

We do this by translating strategic thinking into real action, developing projects and solutions, offering impartial advice and technical support and, providing training and education for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Severn Wye supporting Solihull Due to connections made at Your Green Future Severn Wye are now working with Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull to implement Night Hawks, a European project aimed at reducing out-of-hours waste in shopping centres and the retail sector.

The management at Touchwood prioritise sustainability and have already implemented many measures including a

policy of a paperless office. Night Hawks surveys, carried out by Severn Wye, were able to further support their efforts by identifying a number of opportunities to help cut energy and water consumption.

This included putting vending machines on timers and ensuring heating and cooling systems in the offices are switched off at the end of the day.

Get in touch If you’re interested in working with us or you’d like to talk about how we might be able to help you, your business or school please get in touch.

01452 835060

We look forward to hearing from you.

@Severn_Wye

Severn Wye Energy Agency is registered in England & Wales Charity reg no. 1083812 Company reg no. 3830608

info@severnwye.org.uk www.severnwye.org.uk

Invigorating and inspirational.

Touchwood

“A great event to promote new and innovative ‘green’ ideas to the youth.”

Jaguar Land Rover

“Educational, inspiring and motivational.”

Teacher

“It was an eye opening experience.”

Student

© 2015 by the author of this brochure (Severn Wye Energy Agency). Severn Wye retains sole copyright to their contributions to this brochure.