ecosurety has responded positively to the report from the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) showing that prime job candidates are now much more selective about the employers they choose to work for.
Over half of “Generation S” candidates (those for whom ‘touch screen’ is the norm) would refuse to work for employers who have a record of using slave labour, generating high levels of pollution, employing unsafe working conditions, poor environmental performance, questionable investments and unethical practices.
Missing out on the pick of the crop
“We are now looking at a new generation of savvy career movers. “Generation S” candidates are refusing to work for unethical employers." explains Tim Balcon, CEO of IEMA.
"These career movers are typically extremely well qualified and employers who don’t have a sound reputation for good environment and sustainability performance are missing out on the pick of the crop, whether they are new graduates or career movers. Instead Generation “S” are looking for employers that offer opportunities to advance their career in a role that can make a positive difference to the planet, the economy and society”.
More than just a career
As policy director at ecosurety, and a longstanding associate member of the IEMA, it was no surprise to me to read the IEMA’s study showing that Generation "S" workers are looking for more than just a career, and earning money.
The leading motivator for those seeking a new career in the environmental and sustainability sectors is that they want to add more value than other jobs offer and they are concerned about the negative impact that some industries and organisations have on the environment.
This new generation has developed their interest in sustainability in response to the rise of environmental issues in business, political, and consumer agendas, with more climate change-related events reshaping our world and increasing concern about high levels of pollution. Environment has moved beyond something where people do their bit by recycling, to a mainstream objective in these workers personal and professional lives.
Here, at ecosurety, this has been our impression for some considerable time and it is borne out through our annual graduate recruitment and subsequent staff training programmes. Young people are actively seeking an ethical career and wanting to ‘make a difference'.
You can read the full IEMA story here.
Robbie Staniforth
Innovation and Policy Director
Robbie is innovation and policy director at Ecosurety. Having spent years building an intimate understanding of the industry’s policies and politics, he uses this knowledge to help shape new legislation and oversees Ecosurety’s growing portfolio of cross-industry innovation projects including Podback and the Flexible Plastic Fund. He has worked closely with Defra during the most recent packaging consultations, outlining the impacts and required transitional arrangements of the UK’s new EPR system and is a member of the government’s Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP). He is also a spokesperson for the company and regularly uses his influence to communicate the importance of environmental responsibility to external stakeholders.
Useful links
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