Waterford Local Enterprise Office is delighted work in collaboration with Taste Waterford to deliver to an engaging workshop that promises to shed light on how those in the hospitality/ food & drinks sector can confidently introduce greener policies into their business, this workshop will demonstrate that introducing and maintaining a sustainability policy is practical, tangible, and impactful. This will be delivered by Jigsaw Better Business.
The primary objective of this workshop is to equip industry professional and businesses with an understanding of how they can realistically introduce greener policies within their businesses, Through an exploration of real world example, attendees will gain actionable insights and practical ideas into how they can introduce greener and leaner practices and policies into their operations and elevate their business. This workshop aims to be hands-on and involve active participation from all attendees.
Proposed Overview:
Welcome and Introduction
- Introduction to key speakers
- An overview of what to expect from the workshop and define learning goals for the session.
- Why going green matters- from a local, national, and international perspective.
Why sustainability Pays Off
- An overview of the financial and reputational benefits of introducing greener practices.
- Exploration of real world success stories and case studies (emphasis here on micro and small businesses to demonstrate the practicality of green implementation).
Never mind the Buzzwords
- An open and frank discussion with participants on what a sustainability/green policy will look like for their particular industry.
- Re-structuring our understanding of what a green policy is i.e. its not just a corporate words on paper, instead a practical and tangible way of operating our business in a way that has positive environmental and cost benefits.
Motivation for Change: Fuelling your Sustainability Journey
- A review of what motivates people towards greener initiatives; waste reduction, biodiversity preservation, a desire to leave the planet in a better place for future generations, cost etc.
- Completion of an anonymous survey (such as Mentimeter) to understand what participants individual motivations are.
- An overview on how these motivations can be transcribed into a practical framework for greener change.
Creation of a Green Game Plan
- Overview of what the core elements of a successful Green policy are for businesses within the industry.
- Exploration of quick-wins vs long term endeavours.
- A deep dive into where businesses tend to come into difficulty in introducing a Green Policy.
Core Pillars of a Sustainability Policy
- A discussion on what central components of any food and drinks centred business should have in their sustainability policy.
- Focus on waste and how a lean framework can reduce waste in all areas of the business.
- Understanding key resources, how they are used and how they can be used more effectively.
- A deep-dive into sustainable problems with procurement, how to balance sustainable ingredients and suppliers with the cost of products.
Rallying the Troops
- How to engage staff and other stakeholders in the businesses strive towards green policies and practices.
- An understanding on how to authentically share your businesses sustainability story in a way that is interesting, transparent, and succinct.
Tying it all Together
- Using all of the above to demonstrate what a sustainability policy will realistically look like- both on paper and in-practice.
- An overview of how a simple, robust framework can be altered to meet the individual needs of each businesses.
Ready, Set, Go!
- Participants are split into groups (number depending on size) and each given a unique summary of a business owner and the business they run. Groups have ten minutes to create a brief sustainability policy that determines the example businesses motivations, key environmental issues, potential pitfalls in creating a greener policy, and what actions they need to take. Each group then has 2 minutes to discuss their findings with everyone and how they came to create their policy.
Overview of supports
- A brief summation on what supports are available to businesses and how they can access them.
Speakers
Stuart Nelson
Stuart Nelson is the driving force at Jigsaw Better Business! With over 25 years of experience in leadership, coaching, and consultancy, Stuart serves as the Director of Operations & Program Development. Holding a Master Black Belt in Lean, he's deeply passionate about organisational excellence and empowering teams.
Stuart's achievements include nabbing the Lean Learning Award for groundbreaking research and pursuing a PhD focused on SME operational excellence. As a published author, he contributes to the discourse on organizational excellence.
Co-founder and director of Jigsaw Better Business, Stuart has supported hundreds of leaders and teams in transformative change through Business Improvement training, mentoring, and workshops. His approach is centred on a client-centric mindset, characterized by curiosity, friendliness, and the art of asking insightful questions.
Sophie Deans
Sophie Deans is Jigsaw Better Business Head of Sustainability and has coached over 120 businesses on how they can introduce sustainability into their day-to-day operations. Well versed in the issues impacting the hospitality and food & drinks sector, Sophie has a great deal of experience in demonstrating how small steps can produce big change in businesses.
Sophie holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Communications, as well as an Undergraduate degree in Environmental Science. Earlier this year, Sophie also completed the B Leader Training with B Labs Europe and is a registered B Corp Consultant.
Date and Venue: 22nd October from 9.30 – 12.30 at the Coach House Coffee Café, The Courtyard, The Workhouse, Union Road, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford, X42 VY33
Jamie Whitty, LEO Business Advisor will also be attending on the day to discuss LEO’s Green Supports.
Please get in touch today to confirm your attendance
