UN Global Compact Network UK – June Newsletter

Welcome to the June edition of the UN Global Compact Network UK Newsletter – a snapshot overview of our upcoming industry-leading programming and events.

Get in touch if you want to find out more about us? - we hope you find our newsletter useful.

SDG Storytelling

Companies are faced with increasing demands from stakeholders for more comprehensive and transparent disclosures, including ever more strict statutory reporting requirements. Storytelling allows companies to build engagement with your audience and spur action. Without a sustainability story, businesses are at risk of missing customer support and employee engagement.

We are launching a year-long series on how the Sustainable Development Goals can be used as a holistic framework for storytelling to meaningfully communicate ESG strategies. Through interviews with industry leaders, action-oriented infographics, a hands-on workshop, and SDG storytelling toolkit, the series will help you uncomplicate complicated ideas, secure business benefits, and make progress for people and planet whilst leaving no one behind. Find out more here.

Accelerate Sustainable Action: UN Global Compact Info-Session

As corporate sustainability continues?to evolve at a fast pace, businesses are facing mounting challenges in aligning their strategy to the latest guidance, reporting requirements, and meeting stakeholder and consumer expectations. ?

?The UN Global Compact Network UK supports businesses in taking on these challenges through a strong corporate network and action-led resources. Join our upcoming webinar Accelerate Sustainable Action: UN Global Compact Info-Session on Tuesday, 18 June at 14:00 – 14:30 BST to explore the benefits of joining the network and learn how UN Global Compact participation can support businesses to accelerate their sustainability journey. Find out more and register here.?

Sustainability Reporting Webinar Series

The global corporate sustainability reporting landscape is undergoing a rapid shift from largely voluntary reporting systems to the implementation of mandatory disclosure regulations. In the UK, businesses are preparing for the UK Sustainability Disclosure Standards to be finalised in 2024, with many companies already being scoped into the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Organisations are expected to design coherent and consistent reporting that meets mandatory requirements as well as investors’ and other stakeholders’ expectations.

The UN Global Compact Network UK is hosting a ?to clarify what emerging regulation means for businesses and to provide practical guidance on how to prepare. Aimed at sustainability and finance professionals leading non-financial disclosures, the series will explore case studies to reflect the needs of different sectors and stages of the reporting journey. Find out more and register for the sessions?here.

?Sustainability Literate Workforce

Businesses' ability to holistically manage climate-related risks and drive action across the organisation can be significantly hindered by a lack of understanding about sustainability across the wider organisation. By engaging, educating, and inspiring all employees to act on sustainability issues, companies can normalise conversations around sustainability, increase resourcing for projects, and generate cooperation and innovation across the organisation to build upon the efforts of sustainability teams.

?To support companies in fostering a culture of sustainability we are hosting a session on ‘Creating a Sustainability Literate Workforce’, to explore the different avenues and methods for empowering and educating more individuals within the organisation to contribute to their company’s sustainability targets, regardless of their role. Find out more and register for this session here.

Business Sector Exchange

To accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, we need sectors working in cooperation rather than opposition.

?The UN Global Compact Network UK is hosting two exclusive events in the month of July at Soho House & Co and The Conduit to mobilise key stakeholders in the fashion and food sectors. Attendees will gain a better understanding of current sustainability issues, hear best practices from businesses that are ahead of the curve, and inspire action through networking with peers. Register?here.?

SDG T-Shirt

Only 46% of large businesses, 18% of SMEs, and 13% of adults in the UK are familiar with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).?

The SDGs, agreed in 2015 by every country worldwide, provide the only universal blueprint that defines our global priorities and aspirations for 2030, laying out what we collectively need to do to create the future we want. But how can we get there when awareness of the Goals remains so low?

In partnership with Teemill Tech Ltd , our new line of beautiful, 100% organic cotton SDG T-shirts allow you to wear your voice. Join our call to action to show you care about the world’s biggest challenges, including tackling poverty, advancing gender equality, and promoting climate action. Buy your T-shirt here.

?Member Spotlight

Jo Appleby (she/her) Head of Sustainable Innovation at Impact

About me:

I’ve been at Impact for over 20 years (and I still love it). I design and deliver powerful learning solutions, engaging with a diverse portfolio of global businesses and people. I’m committed to fostering transparent dialogues to help deliver real change in the world. I always try and align leadership learning to the Sustainable Development Goals. I sit on the Advisory Group for the UN Global Compact UK Network, and I co-deliver on several UN Global Compact programmes, which I really enjoy.

Favourite restaurant, bar, pub or coffee shop?

• Comida, in Kendal, where I live. It’s a Spanish Tapas restaurant – wonderful flavours, great service, lovely environment.
• The Force Café, there is no better place on earth for amazing food, and outstanding views and it’s next to the Impact office.

Favourite TV show, book, podcast, or film?

I love Podcasts! I listen to many…

• ‘The rest is Politics’ Podcast with Rory Stewart and Alistair Campbell: I’ve learned so much about politics from this podcast. Rory often does an ‘explainer’ on topics ‘that viewers might not be familiar with’. Hurrah! They also role model how to disagree, agreeably – and we all need to be more skilled in that area.
• ‘The Intelligence’ (Economist) Podcast has three news stories daily from around the world and is good for reporting on real events.
• ‘No Such thing as a Fish’ Podcast from the writers of QI, it is often funny and playful.
• ‘Life Changing’ Podcast by BBC Sounds interviews with people who have experienced a life changing events.
• ‘The Moth’ Podcast is Storytelling on personal stories of situations and lived experiences.

Who or what inspires you in your career?

The everyday (often simple) actions of people in service of others (people or planet).?

The UN Global Compact is proud to work with over 20,000 forward-thinking global companies committed to advancing the sustainability agenda.?You can check if your company is a participant?here.

We welcome our newest members, including:

ACS (Advanced Clothing Solutions) | Apollo | AIB | Association for International Broadcasting | ATPI | Atrato Group | Cognism | Croxsons | David Miller Architects | EcoHub Technologies Limited | ENCYCLIS | Envision Pharma Group | IDS Group | 毕马威（英国） | Learning Technologies Group | PAI Partners | SCIS Group | WWF-UK

If you would like to know about the benefits of joining the UN Global Compact and its UK Network, register for our upcoming info-session here.