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Organisations across the resources and waste sector are being urged by CIWM President, Vicki Hughes, to sign the Think Again Pledge.
The employer Pledge sits at the heart of Hughes’ 12-month ‘Think Again’ Presidential Campaign, which aims to improve sector attractiveness and to transform perceptions of the resources and waste sector with job seekers and recruiters. It will encourage organisations to take practical action and raise awareness of the diverse career opportunities the sector offers.
Hughes said: “Think Again is about changing the perception that the resources and waste sector is all about rubbish and bin lorries. I want to spend my year as CIWM President helping people beyond our sector to see that we sit at the heart of the circular economy, protect valuable resources, tackle social, economic and environmental challenges, and offer rewarding careers for people from all backgrounds.”
As the UK continues to move towards higher recycling and greater resource efficiency, the £24 billion resources and waste sector is looking to invest another £15 billion into new remanufacturing, recycling and recovery services and infrastructure. However, it faces a challenge to recruit another 68,000 employees by 2036 to meet demand.
Research commissioned by CIWM revealed that the sector lacked visibility, clarity and positioning when competing in the jobs market. Furthermore, it highlighted that the term “waste” often put people off looking at jobs before they had even started.
The Think Again campaign has three core aims:
- To change the way the sector talks about itself;
- To encourage organisations to commit to practical action through the Think Again Pledge, and;
- To raise awareness of the wide range of careers available by reaching audiences beyond the sector’s traditional networks.
Hughes continued: “One of the biggest misconceptions is that we only need people with waste and recycling experience. In reality, we need talent from almost every professional background.
“The first step is changing the conversation. We need to help people understand that ours is a modern, dynamic and innovative sector with opportunities across design, engineering, finance, communications, technology, planning, operations, environmental management, and many other professions.
“The second is encouraging organisations to act. The Think Again Pledge asks employers, educators and industry leaders to commit to five practical actions that will improve how our sector attracts, develops and retains talent.
“The third is taking our message beyond our own sector. Throughout the campaign we will continue to develop practical resources, working with organisations across the sector to showcase real careers and real people. These resources will help employers engage audiences beyond our traditional networks, including schools, colleges, universities, professional bodies and industries such as design, manufacturing and engineering, so we can reach talented people who may never have considered a career in our sector.”
The Think Again Pledge asks organisations to commit to five practical actions:
- Rethinking language and identity to remove stigma and reflect the sector’s true value.
- Raising visibility of the diverse careers available.
- Creating clear and attractive career pathways for new entrants and returners.
- Championing flexible and inclusive workplaces.
- Showcasing the real impact and opportunity within the sector.
Organisations can sign the Think Again Pledge online at www.president.ciwm.co.uk and access practical resources, guidance and tools to help turn commitment into action.
Hughes added: “This campaign is not simply about encouraging people to think and talk differently about our sector. It’s about encouraging organisations to act. The Think Again Pledge provides a practical way for employers and industry leaders to demonstrate their commitment to attracting and developing the talented workforce our sector needs.
“If we want to build the workforce of the future, we must first help people think differently about the opportunities that exist today.”
