The John Lewis Partnership is to make an immersive online training course available to its staff to help them reduce energy consumption, energy use and carbon emissions both in their home and at work.
The move is part of the retail group’s pledge to be a net zero business by 2035, and it will involve John Lewis and Waitrose staff engaging with professional membership body the Energy Institute (EI).
The EI will roll out its ‘EnergyAware’ behaviour change tool to all JLP employees – known internally as partners due to the shared profit model on which the business operates – over the next two years.
The initiative has been delivered as part of an energy fund which is part of the JLP energy supply contract with energy and services firm, Engie.
Using a bespoke online tool, JLP partners will be able to virtually navigate their way from a home setting to a John Lewis distribution centre and Waitrose and John Lewis retail sites. The gamified training platform will enable them to gain a better understanding of how changes in their behaviour can help reduce energy consumption, costs and carbon emissions.
Nadia Hartley, partner & commercial analysis manager for utilities & carbon at JLP, said: “This is a timely training tool given the tumultuous state of energy markets in 2022.
“Not only do we wish to support Partners at home in the face of these trials, but also support the behaviour change in our properties. The training in partnership with the EI allows the partnership to embed these skills with all partners in line with our net zero commitments.”
EI CEO, Nick Wayth, added: “EnergyAware will take John Lewis partners on an immersive journey, educating them about their ability at every turn to influence energy consumption, helping to cut costs and harmful emissions.
“This is a far-sighted investment by John Lewis. It will accelerate the partnership’s journey to net zero and, more broadly, equip 76,000 more people to make informed decisions in their everyday lives at work and home.”
The EI said that its EnergyAware module can be adapted to suit any workplace environment, incorporating company branding and sustainability messaging. It provides a customised checklist of actions to implement as well as certification on course completion, and JLP’s usage is the biggest roll out of the tool to date, and the first in retail, according to the EI.
[Image credit: Energy Institute/John Lewis Partnership]
