ESG in Action

How can contracts help businesses manage sustainability risks, meet climate targets and support a just transition?   In this episode of ESG in Action, Alex Holsgrove Jones is joined by Clarissa Lambourne, Principal Legal Engineer at The Chancery Lane Project , a UK non-profit using the power of contracts to support climate action.   Together, Alex and Clarissa discuss why climate-aligned contracti...

Why is wellbeing about more than physical and mental health? And how can businesses prioritise their people’s wellbeing alongside commercial goals?  Alex Holsgrove Jones is joined by Helen Hodgkinson, Chief People Officer at TLT, to discuss why wellbeing is more than a nice to have: it sits at the foundation of a resilient business.  In this episode, they explore:  How effective wellbeing strategi...

Do you know where your money goes – and why it matters?   In this episode of ESG in Action, we’re joined by Sian Williams, Chief Risk Officer at Triodos Bank UK. Triodos is a purpose-led sustainable bank, focused on delivering a positive impact for the environment, economy and society. Triodos demonstrates its commitment to transparency by publishing its entire loan portfolio.   This transparency...

Why should we ‘parent out loud’ in the workplace? And why is flexibility more than a ‘warm fuzzy hug’?  In this episode, we’re joined by Lottie Driver, Relationship Manager at Working Families , the UK’s national charity for working parents and carers. Working Families works with parents and carers, employers, and policy makers to help individuals understand their rights, employers to build flexib...

What role do education and young people play in shaping a more sustainable future? And what can a sustainable education do for our young people?  In this episode of ESG in Action, we’re joined by Helen Taylor, Trustee at the Green Britain Foundation .  The Green Britain Foundation supports a range of initiatives, from sustainable education and sport, to land and marine conversation and animal prot...

How does the Government Legal Department represent the communities it serves? And how does its social mobility programmes put students at the heart of government?  In this episode, Alex Holsgrove Jones is joined by Richard Cornish, Director General and Chief Operating Officer at the Government Legal Department (GLD).  GLD is made up of around 3000 lawyers and provides legal advice to the UK govern...

What should you be doing to ensure your business is fit for the future? And what’s being overcomplicated in the journey to sustainability? In this episode, Alex Holsgrove Jones is joined by Wendy Whewell, Head of Sustainable Solutions and Finance in Corporate and Commercial Banking at Santander. Santander UK is a leading financial services provider, offering a wide range of personal and commercial...

How does sustainability lead to more engaged teams? And how do you navigate that among the pressures of everyday decision-making?  Alex Holsgrove Jones is joined by Charlie Fisher (Sustainability Engagement and Governance Lead) and Sarah Waddington (Estates Lead) from Greene King, which welcomes customers into 2,700 pubs, restaurants and hotels nationwide.   In this episode, they discuss Greene Ki...

What’s the future of responsible investment in a landscape of ESG pushback and greenhushing? How can your ‘ABCs’ help make responsible investment decisions? Alex Holsgrove Jones is in conversation with Jaid Longmore, Responsible Investment Manager at Hymans Robertson , to discuss integrating ESG into financial decision-making, effective stewardship, and B Corp status. Hymans Robertson is an indepe...

How can you change a young person’s attitude to education? And how can we create opportunities for young people in our communities? In this episode, Alex Holsgrove Jones is joined by Gilly Samuddin, CEO of Ablaze . Ablaze is an independent charity that mobilises business volunteers to provide the support, insight and guidance required to help young people thrive. Alex and Gilly discuss: How busine...

Why is perceived complexity the biggest hurdle to the green energy transition? And how do you drive transparency in the solar panel supply chain?  Alex Holsgrove Jones is in conversation with Justin Leger, Co- Managing Director of Eden Sustainable. Eden Sustainable is one of the UK’s leading developers of commercial and industrial solar energy solutions and a certified B Corp. They believe in prof...

How do you build confidence in the next generation? And how can businesses increase social mobility in their local communities? In this episode, Alex Holsgrove Jones is joined by Jess Clarkson, Managing Director at Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP). SMBP is a volunteer-led charity that brings together more than 180 employers nationwide to deliver Work Insight and Skills Experience, or ‘W...

Why does the traditional retail model need to change?  And why does the language of sustainability matter?  Alex Holsgrove Jones chats to Sophie De Salis, Sustainability Policy Advisor at the British Retail Consortium, about the sustainability landscape of the retail industry. They talk about the power of collective action in driving change, the ESG-related changes the retail sector is preparing f...

How has Nationwide Building Society embedded sustainability across its operations – and what has an otter in the Nationwide House lake got to do with it? Alex Holsgrove Jones chats to Amy Thomson and Andrew Martin from Nationwide Building Society about: Why sustainability matters to Nationwide – and how Nationwide is navigating sustainability changes and challenges The Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversit...