A significant 74% of respondents believe the training sector should demonstrate a greater commitment to the environment in the organisation and operation of training, according to a survey conducted by World of Learning 2007, the UK’s key conference and exhibition for business learning.
With organisations increasingly looking at all aspects of their operation in order to reduce their carbon footprint, the survey suggests that more learning and development professionals should be taking action to limit the environmental impact of their activities. This could include running more training courses in-house to avoid extra travel or incorporating e-learning in order to reduce the amount of printed materials required.
The survey results have been released ahead of the World of Learning Conference, which takes place on 14 & 15 November 2007 at the NEC, Birmingham. At the event, Cathy Ham, General Manager at BT Conferencing, will be leading the lunchtime seminar on day one, which will address this highly topical issue and offer practical advice on how to reduce the environmental impact of training.
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Alison Church, Conference Manager, said: “The survey results indicate that environmental considerations are going to become increasingly important for learning and development professionals. As an event organiser we are also looking to reduce the travel and venue carbon emissions generated by the conference. For the first time the World of Learning is taking part in The Woodland Trust’s ‘Dedicate a Tree’ scheme whereby each delegate to the Conference will have a tree planted in their name within a dedicated UK forest project.”
Survey was carried out in October 2007, based on a sample of 480 managers with responsibility for training.