Fiona Ball: Embedding green skills into everything we do

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is clear that we must limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. And while society is making encouraging progress on carbon reduction, we can never be complacent or lose focus. Natural disasters that have caused humanitarian crises in the last 12 months only strengthen our determination to take further action.

From being the first media company to go carbon neutral, to setting a science-based target to be net zero carbon by 2030, two decades ahead of UK requirements - we've been committed to reducing our environmental impact for more than 15 years.  

To achieve our net zero goal, we must transform our business. To transform our business, we must incorporate sustainable thinking into everything we do, delivering a systems-wide approach that requires the embedding of green skills right through Sky, our supply chain and our partnerships.  

It’s critical that we change the way we work and think differently about skills and career trajectories. We need to break out of business unit silos, share expertise and work towards a common goal. That’s why we’re supporting the launch of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)’s Green Careers Hub.  

Recent research from LinkedIn¹ found that the share of green talent in the workforce grew by an average of 12%, while the share of job postings requiring green skills grew 22.7%. To support this necessary growth of the green economy we need to help everyone understand how their skills are relevant. Whether you’re just starting out or are an experienced professional looking to change career, the Green Careers Hub features a wealth of information for anyone looking to find out more about green skills, green jobs and potential career pathways.  

At Sky, we already have multiple sustainability experts working within different business functions such as finance and design, as well as individuals and teams who are benefiting from channelling a sustainable ethos. For example, in October 2021, we launched Sky Glass, our first streaming TV and the world's first TV to be certified as CarbonNeutral®. Sky Glass is built to last up to seven years in customer homes and with the TV, set-top box and soundbar all built into one product, it saves up to 50% of electricity compared to having all these components separate. Our focus on ensuring products are designed with efficiency and longevity supports a circular economy and drives down emissions whilst also reducing our reliance on raw materials and cutting costs for customers.  

You can learn more about how different teams are coming together to make our products more sustainable by viewing our videos on IEMA’s Green Careers Hub.