Training Stories and Case Studies
This section contains training stories and case studies highlighting the business benefits that come with improving the green skills and energy efficiency know-how in your workforce.
On this page:
Rural Production
Australia’s farming sector is at the front line when it comes to the impacts of climate change. Already drought and environmental degradation make it challenging to maintain traditional land management practices.
Agriculture contributes approximately 12% of NSW’s greenhouse gases. This makes the sector susceptible to the risks brought about by a low carbon economy and from the pressures to change practices.
NSW primary producers need to increase their preparedness for the future challenges of climate change, soil depletion and water scarcity.
Rural enterprises across NSW are already reaping the benefits. The examples below show how green training is good for the land and good for your bottom line.
Sustainable Agriculture
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Kylie Cunningham, a farmer from Bingara, felt the training in sustainable agriculture was "a real eye opener", which delivers practical outcomes. "With the help of our trainers, we've developed plans that will lift our productivity, while improving the land" siad Kylie. |
| [Download pdf 174kB] |
Grazier - Super Fine Wool, Bathurst
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“The formal training I have done has definitely helped me to look more closely at the interaction between the land and grazing, which allows me to plan ahead.” says superfine wool grower Michael Inwood of Toulon, an 800-hectare property near Bathurst. |
| [Download pdf 300kB] |
Winery - De Bortoli
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When Rob Glastonbury, operations manager at De Bortoli winery arrived, he set about eliminating sodium based chemicals from the production process to stop complaints about the smell from neighbours. "This meant that all winery wastewater was 'plant usable' and it profoundly changed our thinking.” The wastewater is now used to generate over $200,000 in crops. |
Organic Macadamia and Coffee Farm
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Catherine and Chris Ford could not have fulfilled their dream of a running an organic macadamia and coffee farm on the NSW north coast, without green skills training. “The courses showed me how to put together a management plan to ensure that we use sustainable methods. Now, I have a high level of understanding of the life cycles and interactions of crops, weeds, pests and diseases." says Catherine. |
Fish Farm - Tailor Made
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It’s nothing new for top restaurants to offer quality seafood, but what’s on the menu at Tailor Made Fish Farms is quite surprising. It’s a farming system that is both sustainable and environmentally responsible. “We can control so much more by growing fish on a land-based farm in a sustainable manner. Fish can’t escape, pollutants don’t go into the sea and the water is recycled,” says managing director Nick Arena. |
| [Download pdf 268kB] |
Hospitality
Climate change brings business risks and opportunities for the tourism and hospitality sector. These may include reduced travel overall, as well as price increases for food, electricity, fuel water, and waste removal.
On the other hand, environmental improvements are an opportunity to help secure your business future. Strategic benefits include opportunities to:
- reduce operating costs
- develop new income streams
- increase clientele
- attract and retain productive staff
- target new markets
- create a stronger perception of your brand in the community.
The case studies below tell the stories of tourism and hospitality businesses from across NSW that have trained their staff to be more environmentally sustainable and have reaped the benefits.
Bowling Club
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According to Matt O’Hara, Manager at Oak Flats Bowling Club “being more sustainable has helped boost the community’s awareness of the club as a ‘good citizen’. Because we are charged with managing a public asset our reputation depends on getting it right.” |
Greenkeeper
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Greenkeeper Wade Walsh from OakFlats Bowling Club believes “in my industry, people don’t often like to change what they are doing but I am really happy to do more training. These changes are about involving the staff and the community in greener opportunities. It’s valuable because it creates more loyalty” |
Caravan Park
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When the Camping and Caravan Industries Association (CCIA) met with Leanne and Tony Mayne, the owners of Trial Bay Eco Tourist Park, they were among the first to enrol in the Gumnut Awards Program. “We wanted to integrate environmental considerations into our business decisions and training,” Leanne says. |
Restaurant
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Ian Slater of Scratchley's in Newcastle says “We had mountains of cardboard and bottles going to landfill and it was costing us a fortune to have it removed. We decided to reduce them one by one until we had reduced waste by 80 per cent.” |
| [Download PDF 220kb] |
Building & Construction
Commercial and residential buildings are estimated to use up to 45% of Australia’s stationary energy consumption.
The move towards a low carbon economy is placing increasing demands on the building and construction industry to reduce the carbon impact of Australia’s built environment.
The industry is well placed to take advantage of the business opportunities that economic reform provides. The opportunities exist in both designing and constructing new green buildings, and retrofitting existing commercial and residential properties.
Energy and resource efficiency are already important concerns on building sites. The big end of town is already tapping into the opportunities in green building. A recent report shows green building accounts for 30% of Australia’s new building market. By investing in green know-how and credentials, your business will be better placed for the future.
Building and construction companies across NSW are already benefiting from
a green skilled workforce. You can read their stories below.
Electrician
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“At the end of the day, training green electricians is a necessary step forward in meeting the rising demand for energy efficient products and technology in both the consumer and commercial markets” says Michael Brewitt, manager of Velocity Electrical, a Sydney based electrical contracting company. |
| [Download pdf 252kB] |
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More than 1,200 electricians have completed NECA's training course in Electrical Energy Efficiency and become accredited EcoSmart Electricians. Jeff Brown, a training participant from J&S Brown Electrical, believes completing the course has opened up new opportunities for his business to expand into, such as energy auditing work. |
| [Download pdf 103kB] |
Plumbing
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Ian Cowei from Tilba Plumbing felt training in sustainable plumbing practices was "relevant to the type of work we do" as they did a lot of the kind of work covered in the course. He felt it was important to "learn what is new in the industry" and see where others had successes and failures". Steve Betteridge, a sole trader, believes the time spent training was "worth it in the long run". |
| [Download pdf 150kB] |
Interior Designer
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Investing in an accredited green skilled workforce was essential to Pike Withers’ future business prospects. “Everything is changing. A new benchmark is being established in the industry. Being green accredited interior designers shows we are moving with the times.” |
| [Download pdf 272kB] |
Plumber
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“It was a lucky decision. I saw water shortages early on in the piece … back then people weren’t thinking about solar power or eco toilets. Now it's just a matter of time before all new houses will have both,” says Warren Perrett chief executive officer at Aquablock and 2008 GreenPlumber of the Year. |
| [Download pdf 300kB] |
Landscape Contractors
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Tony Bright believes training has improved staff retention at ESD Landscape Contractors, “in recent years it has helped to limit staff turnover – they feel appreciated and valued because we invest in them.” |
| [Download pdf 382kB] |
Painter
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Peter Sutcliffe, Managing Director of painting company HMP, says “Sustainable operations have a positive impact on the environment and will help us stay competitive. The implementation has cost us money but we see the long-term benefits of greener business practices.” |
Builder and Architect
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“We have introduced Wednesday afternoon as a training day,” says Oliver Steele of building and design company Steele Associates. “It’s a good time for eco-friendly product representatives to educate our staff on their products. We look at environmental issues such as erosion control, housing insulation and draft control. We also discuss regulatory issues, like BASIX compliance.” |
| [Download pdf 260kB] |
Surveyor
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Gary Polkinghorne believes receiving green training through the Sustainability Advantage program helped progress the company’s environmental vision. “We now have a better awareness of sustainable practices . . . we have improved our productivity through better business planning and staff engagement, reduced costs through optimising resources and enhanced our reputation." |
| [Download pdf 240kB] |
Bathroom Manufacturer
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Marquis Bathroom Products' operations co-ordinator Phillip Gray stumbled upon the advantages of sustainable production after completing a Cleaner Production course in 2003. “We’ve created more efficiency in our product manufacturing and it’s been relatively easy. Knowing where to start and how to identify areas that could be improved was a key step in improving our business. Getting on board through training courses made all the difference.” |
| [Download pdf 240kB] |
Printing
The printing industry has had to work hard to change society’s perceptions that it is a fairly dirty game.
There have been significant reforms over the past 20 years, aided by improving technologies and the need for greater efficiencies.
There is a positive link between environmentally sound production and improvements to the bottom line. By taking action and developing a green skilled workforce, you can attract new customers and keep ahead of your competition.
Printing businesses across NSW are already benefiting from a green skilled workforce. Here are some of their stories.
Finsbury Green Printing
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For Finsbury Green, it is easy to see the pay-off of being a sustainable business on the company’s bottom line. Rodney Wade, the company’s environmental and technical manager points out “in the seven years of this sustainability journey, our business has trebled in size.” |
| [Download pdf 238kB] |
Bright Printing Group
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Becoming more sustainable is a key selling point for the Bright Print Group, says Director Debbie Burgess, “People have come to expect a high level of environmental performance. For many customers, procuring green products is an important part of their company’s environmental policy.” |
| [Download pdf 248kB] |
Commercial, Office & Property Services
Even the smallest offices can have a negative impact on the environment if lighting, hot water and office supplies are overused. Some 60% of all energy use in Australia’s capital city CBDs is attributed to unnecessary energy use in offices, with office workers accounting for at least half this energy use.
Little things like constant boil hot water systems, outdated computer screens, and leaving lights and equipment on at night all generate a hefty cost to you and to the environment. If all of Australia’s office tenants were to adopt some simple changes, CO2 emission reductions pa would be the equivalent of taking 200,000 cars off the road.
Larger businesses may have a heavier office space footprint, but they are more likely to sign up to sustainability programs like CitySwitch. If you're not an industry leader, you need to think about getting on board before your workplace becomes old fashioned and expensive.
Clerical and office-based businesses across NSW have discovered the benefits of a green skilled workforce. Here are some examples:
Green Cleaning
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Offering a Green Cleaning service to its clients was a new direction for Assetlink, a large property services company. Steve Kulper from Assetlink saw green skills training for his employees as an opportunity to help their clients implement their environmental policies at each work site. |
| [Download pdf 142kB] |
Investa Property Group
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Craig Roussac, General Manager Sustainability, Safety and Environment at Investa Property Group, believes “greening your workforce” is critical if businesses want to rise to the challenge of reducing their greenhouse emissions and environmental footprint. “Businesses increasingly need the knowledge, experience and know how to address environmental impacts, and green skills training and a stronger culture of innovation are the answers.” |
| [Download pdf 244kB] |
Historic Houses Trust
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Wanting to set a good example in property management, the Historic Houses Trust put a range of its employees from across the organisation through a customised energy efficiency training program. John Hoey, a training participant and spokesman for the Trust, believes the training has created "a sense of motivation to tackle higher level sustainability policy" within the organisation. |
| [Download pdf 113kB] |
Zenith Interiors Pty Ltd
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Saving resources can ensure a company’s very survival – commercially and environmentally. “We take our corporate and social responsibility very seriously,” says Victorian Sales Manager Michael Bond, of Zenith Interiors, “and it has helped us grow into the market leader we are today.” |
| [Download pdf 268kB] |
Altis Consulting
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The backbone of the environmental initiatives the company is taking is the engagement of its workforce. In the opinion of Chris Kearns, Quality Assurance Manager at Altis Consulting a Sydney based information management consulting firm, "Staff engagement is a powerful aspect of any sustainability program." |
| [Download pdf 244kB] |
Transport & Logistics
Workers in the transport industry directly impact the environment at every stage of operation, from materials handling and waste disposal, to land and terrain damage and exhaust emissions.
As an industry that depends almost entirely on fossil fuels, chemicals and large machinery it has a lot of work to do to become sustainable. On the otherhand it means there is a huge amount of opportunity to improve current practices and by operating smarter, greener and more efficiently.
Dislocation from customers is bad for business, and outdated practices that create excessive waste and pollutants are increasingly likely to be rejected by clients and buyers. Here are some transport and logistics professionals that are already benefiting from a green skilled workforce.
Relocations Company
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Annie Larkin is Smoothmoves' business manager. Sustainable practices help her speak her staff's language. “Our staff are generally younger. They are in their twenties or thirties and they care about the environment,” Annie says. |
| [Download pdf 220kB] |
Carton Rental Company
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Business owner John Eustace saw a market advantage in turning BOXSMART Carton Rentals into a carbon neutral company. In order to gain carbon neutral status, John worked on developing the skills of his small team of four employees to bring their work practices into line with BOXSMART’s environmental policy statement. |
| [Download pdf 216kB] |
