Sustainability can be a complex topic and sharing knowledge about key ESG issues is one of our greatest challenges. Following a successful trial P & M has signed up to Stickerbook, a digital platform that allows users to learn about sustainability in engaging bite sized chunks. Everyone in the business now has access to the software, allowing them to build their knowledge base and keep informed about what the Group is doing to embrace best practice.
At P & M we are committed to embedding ESG principles throughout our organisation and our sustainability strategy Project Acorn is helping us take major strides as an ethical and responsible business. We have set ambitious goals to balance the needs of people, profit and planet and workforce engagement is key to ensuring those targets are met.
We are investing in a staff sustainability training programme to raise awareness about some of the greatest environmental and social issues, whilst educating colleagues about what we are doing to address them. As part of that commitment, we have now teamed up with Stickerbook, a software platform that enables businesses to upskill colleagues and share key information about sustainability initiatives.
Stickerbook uses short videos to bring sustainability to life and share the knowledge and practical tips people need to become sustainability champions. It uses gamification to improve engagement, awarding users a sticker once they have answered questions at the end of each video. An online score board allows everyone to track their progress in completing their sticker book and introduces an element of healthy competition on the learning journey.
In May, we tested out the platform with a four week trial. Around 20 staff took part in the pilot and were asked to complete a minimum of 10 stickers, each of which takes no more than 5 minutes. There was positive engagement as people vied with their colleagues to get top of the leaderboard with the person at the top collecting 61. Participants even created teams to add to the fun as they gained knowledge across a range of areas, including Biodiversity in the Built Environment, Waste and Recycling and the Circular Economy.
Our Group Sustainability Manager Joanne Swift also took the opportunity to create her own videos welcoming users to the platform, taking them through our latest sustainability report and highlighting the Group’s key ESG initiatives.
Our feedback at the end of the trial indicated that more than 90% of participants found the software easy to use and a similar number felt that it is a good way to inform everyone about sustainability and the initiatives and policies P & M needs to deliver its sustainability goals. Several people also fed back that they would be keen to create their own videos to be used on the platform.
Joanne said: “We are very excited to be working with Stickerbook and using it to share the sustainability message. We have already delivered sustainability awareness training to our managers, and this is the next stage in equipping the entire workforce with the knowledge and skills they need to help us meet our goals.”
She added: “The beauty of the videos is that they are short, sharp and easy to understand. They will keep people informed about our sustainability journey whilst providing practical guidance on how they can contribute in their day-to-day roles. It will give people the confidence to have sustainability conversations with customers and stakeholders which will really accelerate our progress.”
Stickerbook Co-Founder John Isherwood said:
“We are delighted to have P&M on board as a client. They understand the importance of making effective learning accessible to all to give their people more confidence about sustainability and more opportunity to help deliver the important initiatives. It’s simple really, the more people that know and understand what you are working on, the more likely you are to be able to deliver your objectives. We are excited to see how Stickerbook encourages even more great sustainability accomplishments at P&M and are looking forward to supporting them on this journey.”
There are currently around 80 stickers for the P & M team to collect, and we will be regularly adding fresh content to ensure it remains relevant.