Lunch and Learn - Sustainability skills: building a future-ready workforce

Join us for an inspiring and practical Lunch and Learn session on how small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can future-proof their workforce by developing essential sustainability skills. 

In a rapidly changing business environment, sustainability competencies are becoming increasingly critical—not only to stay compliant with evolving regulations, but also to meet customer expectations, improve business resilience, and attract purpose-driven talent. 

This session will unpack what sustainability skills actually are, why they matter for SMEs, and how you can start embedding them into your teams. You’ll hear from our ambassador, Rob Powell, Sustainability Director at Paul Weiss and from an apprentice who has directly contributed to greening their organisation’s operations. 

Why Attend? 

• Learn what sustainability skills are and why they’re vital for business success. 

• Discover practical ways to develop social and environmental competencies in your team. 

• Gain insight from our expert and hear about a successful apprentice story. 

• Get signposting to toolkits, opportunities and training resources. 

Key Takeaways 

• A clear understanding of sustainability skills and their relevance to SMEs. 

• Examples of sustainability-related roles and core competencies (e.g. carbon literacy, inclusive hiring, circular economy). 

• Practical steps for upskilling your workforce through training, apprenticeships, and leadership approaches. 

• First-hand insights from an apprentice contributing to sustainability in an SME. 

• Resources and links to free guides, funding, and training opportunities. 

Who Should Attend? 

This session is ideal for SME leaders, HR professionals, ESG and sustainability managers, and anyone interested in building a workforce equipped to thrive in a greener, fairer economy. 

Whether you're just getting started or looking to deepen your approach to social and environmental sustainability, this session offers a practical and accessible entry point. 

Speaker

Robert Powell, Sustainability Director at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP 

Rob Powell is Sustainability Director at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, an elite law firm, headquartered in New York, which advises the world’s largest private equity firms, financial institutions, and corporations on their most consequential legal matters. 

Rob is responsible for spearheading the firm’s operational Sustainability commitments in Europe and is a member of the Paul, Weiss Sustainability Advisory Practice which helps clients to navigate the ever-changing landscape. Rob pioneered the creation of the Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Practitioner (Level 4) – the UK’s first apprenticeship in sustainability – there are now 500+ CRS apprentices employed by 300+ businesses across the country. 

He is a frequent speaker on the social sustainability circuit, and regularly contributes to industry reports and thought leadership articles, he is chair of Workwhile, on the board of Special Olympics GB and is a member of the City of London’s Sustainable Skylines Taskforce. 

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP 

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, commonly known as Paul, Weiss, is an American multinational law firm headquartered in New York City. Established in 1875 by Samuel William Weiss and Julius Frank, the firm has evolved over nearly 150 years into a global legal powerhouse with over 1,000 attorneys across 10 offices, including locations in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Brussels, and Toronto  

In recent years, Paul, Weiss has continued to expand its global footprint, notably establishing a significant presence in London's legal market by attracting top legal talent and focusing on English commercial law. The firm's commitment to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility remains central to its identity, as it navigates the evolving challenges of the legal industry. 

Accessibility 

We aim to make our learning opportunities and workshops accessible to everyone; if there’s anything you need from us to access this event please let us know in advance. 

Find out more about Heart of the City via our website and our work to help businesses be a force for good. If you're looking for guidance on your journey to net zero, our Climate Action Toolkit is FREE and has been designed especially for SMEs in collaboration with sustainability experts. 

This Lunch and Learn recording will be accessible to our programme participants and alumni only.