Sustainability: the key to corporate recruiting

The motivation of companies to find talents to join their team is constantly increasing, becoming a strategic opportunity to seek professionalism and expertise. The need to live life with a focus on environmental sustainability is becoming a social and economic trend that is spreading among the Italian population. And it is precisely this need that is turning personnel selection upside down, rewarding talents who can find their own specific field of work where they can express their professional knowledge and skills.

The green transition of the Italian business system is characterised by a labour demand with a widespread demand for skills in energy saving and environmental sustainability. This is an orientation that is becoming increasingly pronounced in micro and small enterprises (MPIs). An analysis of the data from the Unioncamere and ANPAL's Excelsior Information System shows that "in 2022, companies will require green skills, i.e. an aptitude for energy saving and environmental sustainability, for 4.2 million positions, or 81.1 per cent of the expected entries in 2022. This share is an increase of almost five points compared to the previous year, when green skills were required for 76.3 per cent of expected entries'.

The professions are undergoing a strong change as a result of the need to upgrade companies with sustainability systems. Companies are looking for specialists in sustainable, environmentally friendly work, not forgetting renewable energy, zero-impact production and biocompatible materials. The thirteenth GreenItaly 2022 report, presented by the Symbola Foundation and Unioncamere, outlines the new skills in demand. "Among the professions we find - as emerges from the report - eco-labelled sales manager, machinery and plant repairer, installer of better efficiency electrical networks, environmental computer scientist, environmental marketing expert, ecodesigner, green bricklayer, energy management expert (energy engineer), environmental quality certifier and installer of low environmental impact air conditioning systems."

It emerges from a 2019 "Study by Fast Company that 40 per cent of US workers between the ages of 35 and 45 also choose their employer based on its sustainability profile, while more than 70 per cent confirm that the presence of a strong sustainable development plan company has a decisive impact on their decision to stay long-term". Not only that. Several studies highlight how human resources have a greater need to participate in the sustainable transformation of society, not to mention how the economic component is declining in comparison to the motivational factor. Recall that "McKinsey, in a 2017 survey of more than 600 thousand researchers, workers, athletes, entertainers and politicians, points out that the performance of the most productive ones is four times higher than average."

Companies are sensitive to sustainable development and there is increasing attention to the environment. This is the picture that emerges from the Survey on the internalisation of enterprises conducted by Istat. "91 per cent of enterprises with 50 and more employees carry out differentiated waste collection, 71 per cent actively control energy use, 56 per cent control water use, and more than half control atmospheric emissions. While only 19% of medium to large enterprises perform wastewater treatment and only one fifth use secondary raw materials'. Not only that. The number of Italian companies purchasing eco-investments is growing. "24.3 per cent of the total in 2021 - as stated in the Greenitaly 2022 report - is up from 21.4 per cent recorded in previous years. If we look at the trend over the last decade, companies interested in eco-investments have grown as a percentage of the total by 10 percentage points, from 14.3% in 2011 to

It is useful to highlight the changes in employee attitudes that emerged from the 2016 "Cone Communications Millennial Employee Engagement Study", which highlighted how, for example, 64% of workers of the millennials generation (50% of the workforce in the US) are attentive to considering the social and environmental commitments of a company before signing a labour contract. It is quite evident how the study wants to underline the strong sensitivity of the new generations towards corporate social responsibility practices, without neglecting the impacts generated by a company's activity.

The economic impact of sustainability is undeniable. According to a study conducted by the Harvard Business Review, companies that have adopted sustainable policies have seen a significant increase in their profits. Over the past five years, these companies have seen an average 15% increase in their profit margins. Research clearly shows that sustainability not only attracts talent and consumers, but also contributes tangibly to the economic growth of companies. Moreover, companies that invest in sustainable technologies and processes often benefit from government incentives and reductions in operating costs, further improving their market position.

Therefore, new opportunities to deepen environmental sustainability and promote training in this area are emerging. It is worth mentioning the team building, a tool through which one can raise awareness of important issues such as biodiversity and environmental protection, to initiate real change. This is the need that is felt in this historical period on a social level. Let us not forget that companies must prepare themselves and seek talent to upgrade the production process towards sustainability. This is the context for the company workshops by 3Bee: "Moments designed for companies that want to involve their employees in a concrete path to become aware of what is happening to our Planet, providing them with the tools to make them professionals and citizens who actively contribute to a positive change". A strategic investment for corporate well-being and to improve the eNPS of employees.

There are several company positions that are responsible for driving the transition towards sustainability. In particular the Sustainability Manager, a rapidly rising profile with cross-cutting tasks and responsibilities. These figures need to constantly update their skills and knowledge. Hence, projects and initiatives are born to respond to this specific training need. This is the occasion to recall the training project Pillole dall'Oasi, 3Bee's Digital Academy for sustainability professionals, designed to provide corporate sustainability representatives with the tools to deal with issues related to the world of CSR. For this reason, the course is particularly suitable for managers or the entire sustainability team who feel the need to acquire new skills and to stay up-to-date on these ever-changing but increasingly in-demand topics.

With innovation and changing production processes, an enterprise cultural update for management is necessary. In the globalised economic environment, innovation becomes an imperative for SMEs. The management of the 21st century must have another approach to deal with the new economic paradigm that goes beyond the concepts of Industry 5.0 and Company 5.0. Entrepreneurs and professionals must embark on a path of transformation of their companies, taking a more holistic view. New models based on the concept of innovation management are needed to enhance human capital. It is quite clear that a culture of environmental sustainability for companies becomes necessary. The training of human resources on these topics is the challenge of the 21st century that concerns companies personally. Are you a company and would you like to train your employees on sustainability topics?



Article edited by Francesco Fravolini