Sustainability Strategy for Co-operatives and Mutuals

An online and face-to-face internationally accredited training program to assist co-ops and mutuals to develop effective sustainability strategies responding to compliance pressures, consumer and market demands and to the net zero imperative – BCCM member discounts available

The BCCM has launched a world-first accredited sustainability training program for co-operatives and mutuals developed by sustainability strategist and educator Peter Watts. This will help co-operative and mutual leaders to understand key sustainability issues and equip them to lead their organisation in developing a strategy (or improving an existing one).

  • Do you understand the opportunities from the low-carbon transition?
  • Are you ‘E ready’ in your ESG framework? Do you have a strategy in place, does your existing one need an overhaul or are you starting from scratch?
  • Do you feel equipped to discuss environmental/sustainability issues with your internal and external stakeholders? For example, senior team, employees, members, etc.
  • Do you feel you understand different accreditations, ESG frameworks and reporting standards?

Find out more about the BCCM’s Sustainability Strategy for Co-operatives and Mutuals accredited course – download the course flyer and syllabus.

Buy online today (BCCM member and Co-op NZ member discounts available).

Estimated climate action benefits in Australia include an A$890 billion increase to GDP and the creation of more than 195,000 extra jobs by 2070. Conversely, dangerous climate change and loss of biodiversity pose significant risks to lives, food supplies and property and estimated annual economic costs of A$94 billion (BCA).

Read the Co-operatives and Mutuals Declaration of Climate Action and the BCCM Position Statement on Climate Change.

About the course

The training course consists of a series of recorded lectures and self-directed learning together with live tutor-led workshops across three modules (7-8 hours per module). Participants will develop an actionable plan to protect their members and build value and resilience for the future and the course will finish with a one-on-one session with Peter to review and refine their approach.

  • Module 1 – Foundations
  • Module 2 – Action
  • Module 3Transformation

The course is accredited by the international sustainability body IEMA whose mission it is to Transform the World to Sustainability. Upon completion, participants are awarded an IEMA Certificate and 15 CPD points.

Upon purchase, content is accessible for 18 months to allow you to complete your actionable strategy. Buy online today with generous member discounts.

Find out how your co-operative or mutual can become a member of the BCCM, and take advantage of our member discounts for this course.

Find out more about the BCCM’s Sustainability Strategy for Co-operatives and Mutuals accredited course – download the course flyer and syllabus.

Contact the BCCM if you have any questions before purchasing.

Frequently asked questions

Who can benefit from this program?
  • Organisations without a current sustainability/ESG approach
  • Organisations with an ESG strategy and needing support with its implementation
  • Organisations with a sustainability strategy already in place – but it needs improvement and updating
What will I learn?
  • The relationship between the co-operative and mutual model and sustainability, e.g., how proactive management of environmental issues builds value in the long-term for the organisation and its members
  • How you can integrate sustainability into your organisational and member value offering turning good intentions into tangible actions
  • The net zero imperative and the bigger picture between the international climate change response, national climate policy and requisite action by co-operatives.
  • The advantages and opportunities from the low carbon transition and how to ensure that transition is managed in a way which is fair and just to your stakeholders
  • The relationship between environment and ESG practices and frameworks including reporting standards and systems
  • What you need to commit to help to become more sustainable and gain recognition in terms of accreditations, standards and initiatives
What is in the course syllabus?

Find out more about the BCCM’s Sustainability Strategy for Co-operatives and Mutuals accredited course – download the course syllabus.

How many licences do I need?

Course content is accessed through purchasing a licence with fees based on the number of people from each organisation accessing the course.

There are three licence packages available for:

  • one user
  • two to five users
  • six to ten users

This licence structure has been designed to support smaller organisations to easily access the same world-leading information and our larger members. Pick the package that best suits your organisation. You might like to consider the value of having more than one person participating so that you have a team working in collaboration on the development and implementation of your Sustainability Strategy. Buy online today.

How much does the course cost?

Content is accessed through purchasing a licence, with fees based on the number of people from your organisation accessing the course. Licence packages are available for one user, two to five users and six to ten users. This licence structure has been designed to support smaller organisations to easily access the same world-leading information as our larger members.

Level 1 pricing – 1 user licence

  • Pilot BCCM ESG Project CoP members: $6,057 + GST
  • Pilot BCCM member and Co-ops NZ member rate: $6,413 + GST
  • Pilot Non BCCM member rate: $7,125 + GST

Level 2 pricing – 2-5 user licenses (includes one-on-one consultation per licence package)

  • Pilot BCCM ESG Project CoP members: $11,248 + GST
  • Pilot BCCM member and Co-ops NZ member rate: $11,909 + GST
  • Pilot Non BCCM member rate: $13,232 + GST

Level 3 pricing – 6-10 user licenses (includes one-on-one consultation per licence package)

  • Pilot BCCM ESG Project CoP members: $21,629 + GST
  • Pilot BCCM member and Co-ops NZ member rate: $22,902 + GST
  • Pilot Non BCCM member rate: $25,446 + GST

These prices include booking fees. Payment is also available via invoice.

Email the BCCM for your ESG Project CoP members discount code.

Buy online today.

How does content differ from what we have covered in the ESG Partner Community of Practice?

Are you a member of the ESG Partner Community of Practice? Find out how the content of the Sustainability Strategy for Co-operatives and Mutuals differs from what we have covered in the Community of Practice.

In the Sustainability Strategy for Co-operatives and Mutuals course there is wider and deeper coverage of areas such as approaching ESG strategically, objective setting, net zero, managing scope 3 emissions and sustainability reporting including hands-on and practical activities. Each module of the course also allows for direct contact with Peter Watts via a group workshop plus a one-to-one session at the end of Module 3 where he provides direct support with completing your own sustainability strategy.

Course presenter Peter Watts

Presented by Peter Watts

Peter Watts

Peter Watts, Director of Watts Sustainability (UK), is an experienced sustainability consultant helping clients mitigate risks and most importantly understand and implement the opportunities presented by more sustainable ways of working. He is a Chartered Environmentalist and a Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. He runs the consultancy Watts Sustainability with a client list including LEGO, DHL, Institute of Cancer Research and ITV amongst many others.

He specialises in the design and implementation of sustainability and ESG strategy with particular expertise on the ‘E’– with projects including helping organisations develop net zero and climate crisis response strategies, setting improvement programs and developing engagement and behaviour change programs.

He has been working with the BCCM on the ESG Sustainable Mutual Value Program and is particularly enthusiastic about how the co-operative and mutual model can deliver benefits to the environment as well as society.

Other courses

Accidental Co-operative and Mutual Enterprise Secretary

Are you working as, aspiring to be, or wanting to know more about how to be an effective Secretary for a co-operative or mutual?

Mutual Mindset: An Introduction to Co-operatives and Mutuals

A program for employees of co-operative and mutual businesses developed to ensure a consistent level of knowledge across the co-operative and mutual sector.

Mini governance course with Richard Westlake

Renowned governance expert Richard Westlake is offering BCCM members an exclusive bespoke mini governance course, delivered online and customised to your organisation’s...