Change agents celebrate the success of Milton Keynes Council at the APSE Awards
On the 8th September the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards was held in Bristol. The event was attended by Public Service organisations from across the UK. The awards are dedicated to those who provide frontline public services to communities throughout the UK, and demonstrate excellence in their delivery.
APSE is a not for profit local government body working with over 300 councils throughout the UK including Milton Keynes Council (MKC). MKC were finalists for four categories at this years awards including the Best Public / Voluntary partnership working initiative category due to their partnership with Change Agents UK.
During the past year MKC has worked with Change Agents using its graduate employment program, taking on five Change Agents and another due to start this month. The program benefits the Council by employing high calibre staff on a fixed term contract to undertake a range of projects, often requiring strong communication, organisational and analytical skills, in return for employment, providing training and the opportunity for additional qualifications.
It has been an enriching and valuable experience creating a strong foundation for the Change Agents to build their career upon, with the right amount of guidance from both parties for them to act in a supportive role as well as lead projects. The work has been varied and challenging, enabling the Change Agents to enhance their knowledge across a range of topics, develop a broad skill set and gain a strategic and operational understanding of local authority.
Two of the graduates have secured permanent positions within the Council whilst the others are coming to the end of their placement, looking into new and exciting challenges elsewhere using the skills and experience they have developed during their placement.
Mhairi Adams and Davina Rai, Project Support Officers, Milton Keynes Council
Why a professional qualification might benefit you
Utter the word ‘environmentalism’ and professional qualifications might not be the first thing that comes to mind for most people, but since starting my placement as a Communications Officer at the Society for the Environment (SocEnv), I’ve really come to believe that qualifications such as the qualification we own, the Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) could be the way forward for people like me starting a career in sustainability.
Professional qualifications that take into account your practical skill set offer assurance to employers of your competence, commitment to professional development and knowledge of your chosen sector. Although most recent graduates, including myself, won’t yet be eligible to become a CEnv, many other professional qualifications are available, such as the Personal Development Award offered by Change Agents to all their project workers.
Today’s environmentalists come from no one profession. Academics, builders, designers, lawyers and individuals from many other professions have an important role to play in integrating environmental best practice into the business strategy. SocEnv offer recognition of the amazing work that these ‘unusual suspects’ do through the CEnv qualification.
One look at the current project list on their newly launched website and it’s clear that Change Agents are very much aware the important shift that’s happening as environmentalism is becoming part of every sector, not a sector in itself. Change Agents find meaningful work placements for graduates from a massive variety of backgrounds, and support them if fulfilling their full potential.
From day one Change Agents and my employers at SocEnv endeavoured to encourage and support me in my professional development. The support network offered from Change Agents has been invaluable; they work with graduates at the start of their careers every day and are always happy to give guidance or advice.
My placement has given me a vast array of experiences that I just didn’t expect to be given so early on in my career, from meeting some hugely important Environmentalists such as Caroline Lucas and Jonathon Porritt, to being involved with the development of a new company-wide communications strategy. There’s no doubt I’ll leave my placement far more employable than I was at the start of it.
Michelle Farrell, Environment Communications Project Officer, Society for the Environment (SocEnv)
Finding opportunity through crisis
This is arguably the greatest challenge underpinning the global sustainability agenda. For school leavers and graduates today, the challenge is no different.
The HE sector is just one of the sectors having undergone the financial cutting knife of the coalition government, with a 40% cut. With tuition fees now at a maximum of £9,000, more and more school leavers are choosing to opt out of university than ever before. Scotland has controversially chosen to keep fees free for Scottish students and charge the full £9,000 for English and EU students. So, for those bright school leavers who cannot afford to shell out the full whack, how are they shaping their future?
The national 12% reduction in university applicants has been countered by an unprecedented rise in applicants for apprenticeships, direct entry career development courses and Open University courses. The diversity of ways with which school leavers are choosing to develop their careers is growing and we at CHANGE AGENTS UK hope this pattern does not go unrecognised by the organisations capable of providing such opportunities. Even CHANGE AGENTS UK has now strengthened focus to include younger people as well as recent graduates.
In terms of the environmental and sustainability agenda, more and more universities are recognising the cost savings and advantages in ‘greening universities’. A recent survey revealed that the sustainability performance of a university is important to the decision of university applicants. Universities and colleges are demonstrating their commitment to the ‘green’ agenda on both an organisational and a grass-roots level.
The Green Impact scheme is one such initiative (headed by the National Union of Students) which is seeing record numbers of sign-ups from universities and colleges. This year, CHANGE AGENTS UK are working closely with the NUS to place Green Impact Assistants across the country. From Jewel & Esk College in Edinburgh to Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent, more staff and students are pledging their commitment to sustainability and the green agenda.
As further challenges arise in higher education, graduates are becoming more creative with how they embark on shaping their careers. Despite the challenges and financial restrictions facing higher education, students and graduates must not lose sight of the opportunities and innovations presented through the sustainability agenda.
Hanna Plant, Education and Learning Coordinator at CHANGE AGENTS UK
Case study: Corby Borough Council
Corby Borough Council
I, like many graduates across the country found myself in a middle of uncertainty once graduating from University, with many doors being closed because I did not have that all important ‘experience’ that many companies are wanting now a days. However with the help of Change Agents UK, I successfully managed to obtain a year placement working at Corby Borough Council within the Environmental Services Department under the job title of Housing Renewal and Energy Efficiency Officer.
During my time within the post I have been involved within a broad spectrum of work relating to Environmental Services in relation to Private Sector Housing, these included managing Home Repair Grants, dealing with housing and nuisance complaints and ensuring the security of empty homes in the Borough.
The work that I have been involved with helps maintain and ensure the sustainability of the Borough, ensuring that the community continues to live in a safe, secure and clean environment.
Without the help of Change Agents UK I would not have obtained the position that I did, and would not have realised that this is the career path that I want to pursue. I would recommend Change Agents to all those recent graduates who are finding it difficult to find a job after they have graduated. It really does help provide you with the opportunities that we are all searching for and get that all important foot in the door.
Bon voyage to the first group of Leonardo change agents
CHANGE AGENTS UK were delighted to wave off the first participants of our latest Leonardo programme earlier this month. Noemi Guipponi, Eleanor Devenish (both Portugal) and Bartosz Niezbrzycki (Germany) will be completing 12 week work placements in regional networks for Education for Sustainable Development.
Their departures are the first of 19 recent graduates who will benefit from the 2011-13 programme funded by Leonardo Mobility Lifelong Learning. In addition to Portugal and Germany, Change Agents UK are also offering work placements in Austria and Spain. Participants will each be undertaking work to support Regional Centres of Excellence in Education for Sustainable Development building on work we started during 2008 and 2009. “This is a great project, it allows recent graduate to develop their skills and experience and it is great to be supporting European networks in this way” said Nick Goodman, Charity Leader at CHANGE AGENTS UK. Leonardo Mobility provide funding to cover participants travel and provides a weekly allowance to cover accommodation and living expenses, ensuring volunteers aren`t left out of pocket. The next wave of placements are due to start in early January with placements in Barcelona (Spain) and Graz (Austria).
Communication is key
When CHANGE AGENTS UK emailed me about a job opportunity with Athene Communications I leapt at the chance for a job in the sustainability field. Less than a month later I was settling in to my new job at Athene as a Community Engagement Executive.
Athene Communications is a strategic communications company with a strong background in sustainability. Over the past few years Athene has specialised in effective community engagement. This involves promoting dialogue between residents in a community and developers so that both sides feel that they have come away with a better development and understanding of each other.
One example of this was the work I did for LarkEnergy who contacted Athene to support their plans to develop a network of six solar farms across the East of England. As a leader in the field, Lark Energy is currently responsible for providing a significant amount of the UK’s solar capacity.
We conducted a Community Audit for each of the proposed locations, providing an understanding of the make-up of local communities, the local policy and political framework, and the needs and ambitions of local communities. This understanding of the built and social fabric of the local area was used to formulate a strategy to allow us to engage communities in a dialogue about the proposed solar farms. We were then able to deliver a number of public consultation events and stakeholder meetings. The first of the solar farms was connected to the grid on July 12th.
In Athene Communications I have found a welcoming team of individuals who share my love of sustainability and cakes! It is a very varied job utilising all my skills including my degree in Environmental Science. It has also given me the opportunity to learn new skills. I feel like a valued member of the team and have been very pleased to accept a permanent contract.
CHANGE AGENTS UK played a key part in my securing this role and has provided me with valuable training which is helping me build confidence and manage projects myself.
Claire Gibbison, Community Engagement Executive, Athene Communications
Current Environmental Issues Affecting Local Authorities and Communities
Melton Borough Council
The sustainability agenda has imploded onto the forefront of modern day life and is showing no sign of subsiding. One instance of this is the UK’s thriving Social Enterprise sector which is about to enter a very exciting stage of its campaign for sustainable business when the Public Services Bill goes to the House of Commons this month. Change Agents UK is centred around promoting and implementing sustainability within businesses. I was, therefore, delighted to be offered the Project 1990 permanent position of Customer Service Advisor at Melton Borough Council. I knew that, with Change Agents UK at the forefront of the recruitment process, this position would provide me with an exciting opportunity to work for an organisation which has responded to this increasing awareness and promotion of environmental sustainability, and, so far, I have not been disappointed.
Since starting the project at the beginning of August, I have been struck by Melton Borough Council’s continued efforts to promote the sustainability agenda. For example, it recently initiated a new sustainable travel plan. This aims to promote green travel in the community by encouraging its staff to reduce single occupancy car use and to use other transport networks. My employment, through Change Agents UK, is another example of the Council’s continual efforts to achieve their sustainability goals. More importantly, it is illustrative of how important Customer Services is perceived as being to the implementation of this agenda, something which I have since come to learn for myself.
As a Customer Service Advisor, I am responsible for accurately recording data which will provide a valuable insight into neighbourhoods and customers across the Melton Mowbray district, including data which can be used to identify current environmental issues which are affecting local communities. One persistent issue that has been brought to my attention is littering, particularly fly tipping. I have to deal with at least 80% of all enquiries I receive by providing a diverse range of council services. From this I have discovered that not only does littering have a detrimental effect on wildlife, but that having dirty streets and neighbourhoods creates an environment in which anti-social behaviour can thrive. I consequently believe that by continuing to promote environmental durability, local authorities will be able to initiate widespread improvement within communities. I therefore wish to embed the sustainability agenda within my newly found ability to identify and communicate appropriate services and solutions to customer enquiries. By doing this I hope to develop and implement a customer oriented philosophy which will significantly improve the quality of life for communities more generally. I also look forward to continuing in a role which is exciting, challenging, and rewarding, and which will enable me to continue to develop a diverse range of skills and knowledge, so as to create, for myself, a future of sustainable employment.
Emma Roden, Customer Service Advisor at Melton Borough Council
“Customer Services at Melton Borough Council is structured differently from most local authority call centres with Advisors being expected to identify and resolve multiple issues that our more vulnerable customers have in their lives, including dealing with rent and council tax arrears, benefit claims and anti-social behaviour. This was the first time we had recruited an Advisor through Change Agents UK and we were not left disappointed. Emma has demonstrated, not only her ability to multi-skill when dealing with such a huge variety of customers, but also a wider understanding of the wider social and environmental factors affecting local authorities today. It is this wider understanding, along with Emma’s drive and determination to develop which will make her hugely successful”.
Joe Collier, Customer Services Manager at Melton Borough Council
Join our Members and Fellows Network
Our Charity Leader, Nick Goodman explains the benefits of joining our new network: ‘Members and Fellows’
Chip shop choices
Is a lack of knowledge around sustainable seafood the issue? I find myself wondering that if customers are more informed of labels and signs to look out for, would their fish and chip shop choices change and as a result change the purchasing patterns of the shop owners?
A busy night was had by two hungry wandering change agents yesterday evening. A brief saunter into the local pub led to the most interesting portion of chips without fish supplied by the very chatty owner of the chippy down the road. Two helpings of chips with mushy peas later we had become very involved in a discussion about sustainable fishing and what it meant for his chip shop and profit.
Our very earnest attempts to persuade were met with the amused and stubborn responses expected from a man driven by the choices of his regular Friday night orders and the fear of change from his most devout customers. After all cod and chips is a long-held British staple and who wants to alter tradition?!
Feeling a little disheartened by our half-baked arguments falling on flat ears I have decided to delve a little deeper into the world of sustainable fishing and the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) so that by my next venture into the chippy I will be armed with success stories and solid facts to dispel his doubts.
My research has unearthed surprising results. I had not realised myself that cod is not a complete no go, nor the large range of fish and shellfish available that is approved by the MSC as being sustainable. It certainly seems that far from cutting our options when scanning over the chippy’s menu board, making sustainable choices is more about the suppliers than the fish type. Had I been armed with this knowledge during the lively debate last night I would have surely impressed the positive impacts of buying from MSC certified suppliers much better and left feeling I had made a difference.
This also got me thinking about how you out there might have come up against similar resistance and what tools you used initially engage with locals and break down common misconceptions and excuses. You may ask how you can get involved and make some changes to your local chippy, I encourage you to go and speak with the staff, see what they offer and if they might make their menu more sustainable. You never know this could become a community sustainability project fit for your CV! I’d like to hear your stories in the quest to complete mine and inspire others to start asking questions when they make a simple purchase when they’re hungry after the pub on a Monday night!
