Blue Mountains City Council




 

Blue Mountains Business Advantage Program

To assist businesses to improve their profitability, address business and lifestyle issues, recognise the importance of their location and to move up to another level requires an innovative, purpose built, flexible learning program. This is the Accreditation Program in Sustainable Business Practices.
Programme Focus

The program focuses on improving your profitability and shows how working with your community and the environment can also translate to improvements across the bottom line.

It recognises the limited time most businesses have to work on improving their business and that most businesses already have a lot of practical experience. By using facilitated learning techniques you will be actively involved and able to share your experiences and learn from others. You will also have the opportunity to solve your specific issues within this learning framework.

Business isolation is often a barrier for small to medium size businesses. This program assists you with developing networks and business relationships.

Once you have enrolled you are eligible to become a brand partner.

Program Outline

Purpose of the 'One Day Workshop'

Coming to terms with ‘Sustainability’ and the ‘Triple Bottom Line’ (TBL) of economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality are among the biggest issues facing contemporary Australian society. Sustainability is a mind-set that requires us to look differently at our world - to think in a cyclic rather than a linear way, to see waste as a resource - to do more with less.

Broadening an organisation’s performance to incorporate social and environmental elements is crucial to long-term financial sustainability. The development of ‘learning cultures’, the championing of corporate social responsibility, community engagement and the integration of management systems are some of the pivotal building blocks of a sustainable organisation – large or small.

  • Understanding the building blocks of the sustainable business
  • Developing the organisation-specific business case for sustainability
  • Best Practice lessons – Managing for environmental and social performance
  • The consequences of complacency

This workshop will examine the issues, develop and explore some conceptual frameworks and start to develop practical approaches to progressing TBL sustainability in your organisation.

Overall Aim

To provide you with an awareness and understanding of your opportunities and responsibilities in actioning sustainability in the day-to-day activities of your organisation.

Objectives and Outcomes

The workshop will address the following objectives:

  • Why do? - Understand the rationale for a ‘sustainability’ approach at your organisation.
  • Understanding: Attain a working knowledge and understanding of the principles of Sustainability and TBL.
  • Where at now? Assess current situation and practices.
  • Where to? Consider your organisational sustainability strategy.
  • How to? Day-to-day activities in the context of sustainability.
  • Measure progress: How to establish appropriate indicators and reporting processes.
For more information, visit the Blue Mountains Business Advantage website at www.bluemountainsadvantage.com.au.