BAE Systems takes environmental training to the top: Senior executives learn how to integrate green issues into their everyday functions

Abstract

Purpose

Describes how BAE Systems, a global provider of defense and security products, is integrating environmental awareness into every business unit and helping its executives to consider the limitations and opportunities of the environment in their everyday functions.

Design/methodology/approach

Details the role of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)-City & Guilds course on leading with environmental sustainability in helping the company to achieve these changes. Also considers other environmental courses run by IEMA.

Findings

Explains the two key goals of the training – to ensure a level of integration with other existing training and development schemes at BAE Systems and to get different senior people from across the business units together in one room so that they can collectively learn and appreciate how the environment affects the company's operations and how its long-life products – ships, planes and tanks – affect the environment.

Practical implications

Reveals that engaging executive managers in the program, clarifying key questions for them and providing a model that they can support with its subsequent roll-out across their businesses is already providing huge benefits and extended buy-in.

Originality/value

Reveals the growing role of environmental considerations in a global defense and security company.

Citation

(2014), "BAE Systems takes environmental training to the top: Senior executives learn how to integrate green issues into their everyday functions", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 22 No. 1, pp. 7-10. https://doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-01-2014-0004