A care provider in Suffolk called Leading Lives, wanted sustainability to be more than just a goal. They wanted it to be part of their culture and every aspect of their business. That’s why they engaged Eastern Education Group (EEG) to develop and run a bespoke Skills Bootcamp for 30 of their frontline team.
Sarah Williams, Head of People and Culture at Leading Lives, explained how the Skills Bootcamp worked, and the difference it has made.
Why is sustainability training important?
Leading Lives provides home and social care for people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs. Their teams support people, families, and care organisations across communities in Suffolk and neighbouring counties. It is important that all their stakeholders see them as a good partner, with an ethical and sustainable approach to business.
Sarah and her leadership colleagues realised their frontline employees needed to have an understanding of the Triple Bottom Line. This business approach balances the needs of people, planet, and profit. It goes beyond financial metrics to measure social and environmental impact.
Sarah said “We wanted our team leaders, managers, and champions to feel they could make a real difference to the business. Triple Bottom Line thinking supports long-term growth and helps teams make more informed choices about the way they work. It’s also a powerful way to build purpose, team spirit and pride in the workplace.”
To that end, Sarah asked EEG’s team at West Suffolk College (WSC) to create a Skills Bootcamp focused on understanding sustainability in project management. As Nina Hart, Group Head of Sustainability at WSC, explained “Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond our campus operations. Through our green skills courses, apprenticeships, and Skills Bootcamps, we give students, businesses, and the community the ability to build a more sustainable future.”
What is a Skills Bootcamp?
Skills Bootcamps are short, flexible training courses designed to help people learn in-demand skills. The Department for Education funds them through its Skills for Life programme, making them a cost-effective way for employers to build talent. Approved training providers develop individual Skills Bootcamps with input from local businesses to close specific industry skills gaps.
The team that developed this Level 3 equivalent Skills Bootcamp for Leading Lives included Tom Yeung, who lectures at West Suffolk College. Tom is a business consultant and founder of Success Management Limited, so brings hands-on experience to his courses. He delivered the training through a combination of online and in-person sessions, with a focus on practical learning.
What were the key objectives?
Sarah had set seven goals for the Skills Bootcamp:
- Make the team more aware of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL)
- Help employees create and use sustainable plans that support TBL
- Improve commercial thinking and long-term planning
- Grow community links
- Strengthen team communications
- Build better managers and leaders
- Shift the culture from reactive to proactive and adaptable.
The training included developing employee confidence in using financial data, such as profit and loss reports, in decision making. It also aimed to encourage teams to share learning and adopt a more consistent use of systems and processes.
A practical approach to learning
One big challenge was how to deliver 60 hours of training over 11 weeks to 30 people working in shifts at various locations. Sarah said “Getting everyone in one place at the same time for every session was not practical. We also wanted the training to incorporate different people’s learning styles.”
Learning Lives, EEG and Tom Yeung resolved these issues through a flexible combination of small face-to-face work groups, recorded presentations for online training, and printed handbooks. There was also ongoing 1:1 support available for all attendees, as needed.
Employees could attend sessions at Learning Lives’ Ipswich and Stowmarket Community Hub Centres office or catch up at other times by watching recordings. Sarah continued "The only exception, was the face-to-face meetings, which everybody had to attend. Tom was also good at spotting when topics needed looking at in more detail, he ensured each session met the learning needs of both individuals and the team.” This allowed individuals to decide how and when to do their learning, so enabling them to complete the full course.
As well as co-creating the course, EEG provided practical support. They enrolled learners, tracked progress, and kept our managers up to date.
Real skills for tangible results
The course covered how to:
- Reduce environmental impact
- Build sustainable supply chains
- Become a better team leader
- Create a sustainability supportive culture
At the end, attendees shared what they had learnt in a presentation. They also explained how they might apply that learning to their own role. This helped them reflect, plan, and think critically.
What changed at Leading Lives?
Sarah has already seen signs of success. “This Skills Bootcamp has started to help us build stronger teams. It has improved how we think commercially and how we talk to each other across the organisation.”
Team leaders and managers also now feel more confident. They understand how to bring people together and manage both group and individual behaviours.
Sarah said “the training gave them tools to start including sustainability in their annual plans. It also helped them introduce those ideas to others through better communication.”
A shift in mindset
Sarah particularly values how engaged the attendees have become.
“It was great to see their willingness to try something new. They picked it up quickly and were keen to apply what they’d learned. We had a few quick wins that inspired others too,”
“Now, there’s a clear change in mindset. People are more positive, open, and willing to work together. This is creating real progress towards our wider organisational goals.”
Lessons for other employers
If you’re an employer in Norfolk or Suffolk looking to boost sustainability in your workplace, Leading Lives shows what’s possible.
With EEG’s support, they delivered high-impact training to a tight schedule. By shaping this Skills Bootcamp around their business needs, they ensured flexible delivery and a focus on results.
It has made Leading Lives a stronger, more agile organisation. As Sarah puts it: “We’re seeing real changes already – in people’s thinking, their energy, and how they work together. Teams are already looking at how to apply the Triple Bottom Line to their plans. That’s really going to make a sustainable difference.”
If you would like to know how Skills Bootcamps and how they can help your business bridge skills gaps and develop team talent please contact our Skills Broker, Bev Wallman by email at bev.wallman@suffolk.gov.uk.
