Birkbeck supports consultancy SME on their journey to net zero with customised training and partnerships
Horizonscan is an employee-owned consultancy firm specialising in business continuity, resilience and crisis management. Their employees bring real world experience and expertise to their client partnerships, and the organisation invests significate time and resource into continuing professional development (CPD) to ensure they stay up to date with emerging trends and respond effectively for their clients
Director and Head of Consultancy (Shane McMahon) studied on the Help to Grow: Management programme at Birkbeck, a leadership programme specifically designed for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) decision-makers to support them in leading change and growth within the business. As part of the Help to Grow: Management community at Birkbeck, we run regular events and workshops that address current challenges faced by businesses. Shane attended a Net Zero for SMEs workshop, with objectives in mind for Horizonscan’s net zero and sustainability journey, seeking additional support on how to practically get started with implementation. Since the session, he has worked with one of our panellists to secure Horizonscan’s status as a Certified Carbon Neutral Company and continues to invest in sustainable initiatives as part of their people, planet and profit strategy.
Bespoke CPD for true business value
We developed a partnership to deliver a bespoke training for the full organisation on-site at Horizonscan’s offices, leveraging content from our Net Zero Accelerator for SMEs short course. The collaborative approach ensured that the course content was structured for the needs of the organisation, with feedback and iterations throughout. As a champion of CPD within the business, and following on from other individual trainings on ESG, Shane recognised the value of an academic-led executive training that considered the specific needs of SMEs, translating a complex topic into actionable next steps.
Led by Dr Ioanna Boulouta, the course outlined practical and credible pathways towards net zero and carbon neutrality for SMEs, understanding the various scales of impact reduction opportunities and how these can influence business performance, risk and competitiveness. The course was a great opportunity for Horizonscan to collaborate, reflect on what they have done so far and more importantly look at their next steps, with the team praising the thought-provoking discussion exercises that they may not have otherwise had the opportunity to allocate time to.
Shane’s journey partnering with Birkbeck is a testament to the importance of continuous learning and development, and the positive impact that networking can have for opening opportunities. The team are also now Carbon Literate Certified following the course, thanks to the training offering a supported pathway to this achievement.
Business innovation with Birkbeck
To explore bespoke training collaborations for your business, get in touch with the Innovation Support Unit. For news and insights on our support for small businesses more generally, join Birkbeck’s Small Business Club.
“This course is really nice because it gives you the balance between the academic research that’s available and the data behind all of this, so you can speak with confidence on the topic. It allows us to reflect as a business together on those practical steps we can take to get going with this.”