As a renewable electricity* supplier, sustainability has always been at the heart of what we do. Within our Bryt by Nature framework, we’re working to become a better, truly sustainable business, and this wouldn’t be possible without our team, who help us to deliver our company purpose.  

With the impacts of climate change being felt across the world and the deadline to reach net zero drawing closer, we felt it was an important time to deliver training to our team that would help them feel confident to discuss and implement actions to reduce carbon emissions, at home, at work and in the community. 

Carbon Literacy offers just this. So, if you’re looking into sustainability training for your organisation and want to know more about our own experience, take a read below.

Carbon Literacy is a one-day course set up by the Carbon Literacy Project in 2013 and is defined as “an awareness of the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis”¹.

Speaking on why we chose this course, our Sales & Marketing Director, David Taylor, said: “We chose this course as we were able to customise it to cover how Bryt Energy’s purpose and sustainability strategy, along with our parent company Statkraft, fits within the broader approach to tackling climate change. In particular, we tailored the course to tackle specific aspects of the net zero energy transition, and the important role the energy sector has in driving change and the ways that Bryt Energy and its customers can contribute.”

After completing the course, participants can become certified as Carbon Literate by committing to two climate actions, joining over 100,000 others across 26 nations all over the world². On top of this, research estimates that Carbon Literate individuals can achieve annual carbon savings of 5-15% per person³. Crucially, this training course is designed to encourage learners to discuss and share knowledge with peers, friends and family, and advocate for sustainable practices across their wider sphere of influence.

In 2024, our senior leadership team set a new objective to develop and implement an employee engagement programme on climate change and sustainability. Carbon Literacy training became a key part of achieving this, and a priority for the sustainability team. Our first focus was finding certified Carbon Literacy Trainers who we could collaborate with to create and deliver a bespoke course, tailored to our core purpose.

We worked together with Susanne Bearblock who specialises in circularity and behaviour change (key aspects of the core training), and Dr Helen Rodgers, MEng, Ph.D. who works as a consultant within the renewable energy sector. Both certified Carbon Literacy Trainers had the expertise and passion we were looking for to help us create the 8 hours’ worth of tailored content needed to deliver to over 100 members of staff.

Susanne Bearblock, Carbon Literacy Trainer, commented: “Carbon Literacy gives participants the opportunity to understand the bigger picture of how and why our world is changing, and encourages us to think about our role in the climate emergency. The light bulb moments I see throughout the day when participants start to realise the steps they can take to create positive changes that will lead to a better world – this is one of my favourite parts of the day.”

The Carbon Literacy training covers the causes and impacts of climate change, as well as the vulnerabilities faced by different communities. We also learn what makes up a carbon footprint, with special attention to our own footprint as a business and what employees can do to help reduce it.

Whilst the science behind climate change is stark at times, focus is also given to the solutions, and the action being taken to tackle climate-related risks at a local, national and global level. We included how our own industry is changing in the transition to net zero, and the key role renewables such as solar, wind and hydro power have in decarbonising the grid. Lastly, to continue momentum after the sessions, employees have been encouraged to commit to carbon reduction actions within their roles at work.

Our Sustainability Specialist, Georgina Kilburn, said: “It has been great to work with such passionate trainers who really care about educating people on climate change, and how we can feel encouraged to use this learning to create real and substantial carbon reduction. I think everyone at Bryt Energy has taken a lot from the course and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s ambitious actions come to life.”

Susanne Bearblock added: “What a privilege it’s been for me to be involved in delivering training to five cohorts of engaged staff who have every intention of rippling their knowledge, actions and determination for change out into society. I look forward to seeing the participants truly develop their “carbon sense” and to start taking meaningful climate action.”

As a result of the Carbon Literacy training, we feel our team has become more connected to our purpose and has a deeper understanding of how our sustainability strategy – and that of our parent company, Statkraft – fit within global solutions to climate change. 90% of employees who took part in the course would recommend the training to others⁴, and we hope it has inspired them to have meaningful conversations that encourages even more people to take action on climate change. We’re looking forward to continuing our Carbon Literacy journey into the future.

You can read more about our progress to becoming a sustainable business in our mid-year Bryt by Nature report. And if you are interested in Carbon Literacy training for your own organisation, you can find out more information here: https://carbonliteracy.com/