Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) has partnered with broadband provider Fibrus to deliver carbon literacy training for 150 staff and contractors in Cumbria.
Delivered by CAfS, who hold the prestigious title of Platinum Carbon Literate Organisation, training covers carbon footprints, the impact of everyday actions on the environment, and the urgency of taking collective action to restore the delicate balance of our planet.
The goal of the partnership is to foster a greener, more sustainable community, alongside building partnerships, and extending the training to project partners.
Training consisted of two half-day sessions, over Zoom, and has been described as ‘enlightening’ by the first cohort of local Fibrus staff who have now completed their accredited course.
With plans to invest a staggering £700 million, Fibrus remains focused on bringing full fibre broadband to homes and businesses in remote UK towns and villages that need it most.
Last year, the UK government awarded Fibrus a £108 million contract to provide up to 60,000 rural premises across Cumbria with access to next generation connectivity. As part of this, Fibrus alongside CAfS, have committed to deliver carbon literacy training for 150 staff and contractors across a range of roles. This investment forms part of Project Gigabit, the UK government’s £5 billion programme to enable hard-to-reach communities across the country to access lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband.
Hazel Graham, Carbon Literacy Training Manager said: “Carbon literate employees understand the scale of the climate crisis and what to do about it – how it relates to them, at home or at work.
“They understand the need for, and the benefits of, an organisation’s climate strategy and how they can drive it forward in their role.
“They can confidently talk about the problem and the solutions and the benefits of taking action. They will tackle the climate crisis through informed decisions and practical actions, helping their organisation to truly have an impact on their carbon footprint.
Empowered with knowledge, Fibrus say staff felt ‘motivated to take tangible steps towards emission reduction’.
Fibrus employee Libby Bates who attended the training said: “Before completing the above training, I would have been very aware of what I needed to do but not very good at it.
“We’re pretty good at recycling in our house but haven’t previously thought much about how we can introduce other interventions to reduce our carbon footprint within the family. After completing the training, I feel that I am a lot more aware of my contribution to the bigger picture, and that we cannot delay in making the change.”
Upon completion of the training, each staff member pledged to take specific actions to reduce their carbon footprint, both in their own lives and within the Fibrus family. Suggestions were investigating recycling of fibre cable and planting four new trees for every telecom pole planted.
Environmental and Sustainability Specialist at Fibrus, Rachel Bain enthused: “Everyone who has attended the training so far has been enlightened and motivated to make changes, big and small, and I can’t wait to see how this will cascade through Fibrus and help us do more to reach our net zero goals. Not to mention the wider reach of our staff taking this knowledge home to their families and friends, everyone making a small change can make a big difference.”
Now Fibrus is encouraging others to undertake the course, and has committed to putting 150 Fibrus employees through the training, with scope to expand this figure in due course.
Rachel Bain, added: “CAfs are the perfect partner to deliver this training, with their knowledgeable and friendly staff, not to mention being base in Cumbria, helping Fibrus contribute to Zero Carbon Cumbria reaching its net zero target of 2037.”
