Lost in Transition: What skills do sustainable communicators need most?
Yesterday’s Lost in Transition event brought together the Sustainability Comms community for a deep dive into the growing skills gap, and it was fantastic to see such strong engagement! A huge thanks to our brilliant panellists—Beth Knight, David Croft, Rochelle Toplensky, Mark Funnell, and chaired by Lucy Smaill—for sharing their invaluable insights. And to all who attended, thank you! We hope you walked away with fresh perspectives and meaningful connections.
Here are the top takeaways:
Authenticity is key in avoiding greenwashing: The key is to be transparent and tell stories that show genuine progress, even if it means admitting where things aren’t perfect. Audiences are more discerning than ever, and honest, tangible stories that showcase real impact and lessons learned are essential. From disclosures to external communications, sustainability messaging must be coherent and consistent.
Tailored, relatable communication: Understanding your audience is key to delivering the right message. Compelling, relatable stories resonate far more than corporate jargon—our panellists highlighted how voices from on-the-ground team members often connect better with people than traditional spokespeople.
Garnering internal buy-in for sustainability: A recurring challenge is convincing internal stakeholders of the business benefits of sustainability initiatives. Democratising risk management and embedding sustainability across the organisation are strong strategies to get buy-in.
If you’re interested in exploring skills development further or want to continue the conversation, reach out to hello@sillion.co.uk! We’d love to arrange a chat.
Sillion Sustainability Comms series
This will be the second in a series of events for the Sustainability Communications community – a new and hugely important group of professionals. 3 years ago, there were few if any explicitly Sustainability Comms roles in the UK. There are now hundreds. Whether you're a sustainability practitioner with a focus on communications, or a communications professional with an interest in sustainability, all are welcome. Our aim is to support this growing and essential group, and provide occasions to meet peers and learn best-practice.
Sillion, the leading transition consultancy for communication and technical sustainability advice, serving top companies in the FTSE100, hosts this event. Whether you're a sustainability practitioner with a focus on communications, or a communications professional with an interest in sustainability, all are welcome.
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