Rachel O’Connor – Skills Bootcamp: Future Climate Leaders
Get to know our Skills Bootcamp: Future Climate Leaders alumna Rachel
.png)
Rachel O’Connor is a Skills Bootcamp: Future Climate Leaders alumna and currently works as a Director at Force4Good Consultancy, working as a communications advisor to various organisations.
1. What support did you receive?
The course offered a breadth of experts, both academic and those with lived and professional experience, which was extraordinary. I particularly loved Zoe Gilbertson from LIFLAD, who spoke about commons and commoning. I hadn't heard of that approach and was fascinated by it from a working perspective. I also enjoyed hearing from Dr Andrew Seedhouse, who provided really granular detail about how travel infrastructure is built and how policy needs to change.
Also, our course leaders were incredible. Their knowledge, skills, and ability to create a non-judgmental and supportive learning environment were exceptional. Given that most of the course was online, that was quite an incredible feat to achieve. Additionally, I had a few personal things come up, and they provided me with further learning time. Their understanding of life’s challenges, and their ability to find a practical but very positive solution, was brilliant for me because I probably wouldn't have completed the course without that individual support.
2. How did you find the delivery of the course?
The online delivery was very well managed. Considering the density of some topics, the course design was thoughtful, considered, and enjoyable. There was a great balance of learning, group chats, and breakouts.
There was also an opportunity to review each of the session recordings, so if you missed something or wanted to go back over it, you could, which was really well designed.
3. Would you recommend this course?
I would recommend this course to others, as it was an incredible opportunity to engage, learn, and develop new skills.
What was so special about the course was that the cohort of future climate leaders was a real mix of ages, backgrounds, and businesses. I’ve done a lot of different things over the years, but it was really heartening, there wasn’t anybody who wasn’t helpful.
The course gave me a real sense of confidence and a deeper understanding, enabling me to professionally and confidently advise and shape my clients’ decision-making when it comes to responsible business practices. All my clients have choices in how they run their businesses, how they address their responsibilities, and the impact they have on people, communities, and the environment. The course enabled me to feel more confident in communicating the need for real change with clients.
I just wish more people had the opportunity to do it. It doesn’t matter what role you’re in or what organisation you work for, it can apply across all roles.
4. How did you apply the learnings from your course to your workplace?
My action project was around a particular client, a large-scale travel company. They’ve received investment from the British Business Bank Growth Fund, which means they need to have an active ESG strategy, something they had been struggling with. I used an ESG framework to create a project focusing on water, built around three pillars: water safety, water scarcity (conservation and recycling), and clean water (pollution).
Regarding water scarcity, the company is looking at removing single-use plastics and improving recycling systems and processes across its five main office sites. They have a new head office, and part of the criteria for this new premises includes building on what exists in their current sites, with a stronger emphasis on water scarcity and conservation (e.g. greywater usage). We quantified the potential impact, and this could deliver significant change relatively quickly. The clean water pillar is particularly important, as each office is located near the coast, a canal, a river, or a lake. These teams will work with a delivery partner who will educate them on what individuals can do both at work and at home. They will also create on-site materials to reinforce messaging and highlight the impact of positive behaviours, such as turning off taps, using reusable bottles, and litter picking. Lastly, for water safety, climate change is increasing the risk of flooding and water-related fatalities. We are therefore exploring a school education programme in partnership with a local club, focused on inland water safety.
It’s a two- to three-year plan, but I have developed and successfully presented the strategy, and we are now moving into the next stage, where I am meeting potential delivery partners. For this client, the benefit has been significant. They now have a well thought-through strategy that meets their business needs with the potential to drive meaningful change.
Due to the size, scale, and reach of the organisation, once internal audiences are engaged, they can work with travel agents and consumers across the country to raise funds and expand this work. By creating something that can win hearts and minds both internally with leadership and employees, and externally with communities and customers, it becomes both a business improvement opportunity and a unifying force.
About Skills Bootcamps
These Skills Bootcamps were funded by Cornwall Council through the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, helping everyone gain skills for life.
Funded by UK Government
Net-Zero Exchange
Skills for Life Skills Bootcamp
Cornwall Opportunities
Cornwall Council