Back to the desk today after a very warm few days at our stand at the education Hub at the 2024 ploughing.
A great few days meeting clients, colleagues and even the Minister for State Malcom Noonan called by our stand. Minister Noonan, as Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform and T.D. for Carlow-Kilkenny, works tirelessly for an Ireland where healthy, resilient ecosystems teem with wildlife, are conserved and made accessible to all.
CEO AnnMarie McSorley with Minister of Health of State and Nature, Malcom Noonan at Ploughing 2024 at VeriConnect stand
Speaking to agency leaders such as Kieran from National Organic Training Skillnet, Mary from the National Parks and Wild Life it was great to get a meeting of minds on bringing Sustainability Strategy to life for our clients.
Clients such as Laois Development Company, who we worked extensively on the Nore Vision Project headed up a full Laois marquee. Their new CEO Caroline Lydon and new LEADER programme Manager Brian Kelly are bringing their new programme to life at present with the Sustainability pillar a focus for the role out of their programme.
Suzanne Kearny from SECAD, the LEADER company that developed the Wild Work programme was at the ploughing and called by the stand. Their EU best Practice Interregional award winning Wild Work project continues to be rolled out this Autumn. The Veri Connect platform and eLearning toolkit with 60 units for schools are being rolled out via upskilling teachers in the content to integrate into their curriculum delivery.
We were delighted to share the stand with LANTRA, the leading provider of training, qualifications and career guidance for land based industries across the UK and Ireland. A Not for profit that was set up 50 years ago, to support upskilling of rural workers. As always working with Paula Smyth and her team at LANTRA was a great education opportunity for me. I also got to spend the day yesterday with their new Irish Trustee, Pat Griffin. Pat’s career has spanned 30+ years, working quarrying, and in the agricultural industry. Having joined the Health and Safety Authority in 1991, Pat held several positions with responsibility for Mining and Agriculture. This included the Irish Governmental representative on the European Standing Working Party for the Extractive Industries for over 30 years, developing policy and guidance for the sector.
Kieran Cowhig our Lead Ecologist is working today on our stand and will be investigating new LANTRA programmes in Tree Identification and management for Community spaces. I also met with Leitrim team on the Social farming, and our client Leitrim Development Company. There are a number of really exciting new PEACE PLUS programmes coming up in the Biodiversity sphere. We were also really excited to share an upcoming innovative re-wilding programme in the North West which we hope to be announcing soon and may even have some VIP’s to help us kick off!
This day last week was a significant milestone for us here at Veri Connect. It marked the finale to our long running training programme which was delivered to staff from ESB, Ireland’s foremost energy company since it was established in 1927. Over 70 ESB employees volunteered to take part in the Sustainability Navigators programme which is a part of ESB’s greater strategy to make the organisation more sustainable. This was accompanied by Sustainability Essentials programme, a suite of e-Learning tools that was launched during Biodiversity Week and saw 4000 units being completed by staff members across ESB within the first 8 days of being released!
The training for the Sustainability Navigators, which was delivered by Dr. Amanda Greer began all the way back in November of last year. Since then participants have learned all about topics like the social and environmental consequences of Climate Change, greenhouse gas emissions, the road to net zero, the circular economy , sustainable procurement & supply chain management and biodiversity & nature net positive. Along the way various subject matter experts joined the sessions as guest speakers to ensure participants got the greatest insights into the subject with the most cutting edge information available.
In picture – VeriConnect’s Senior Ecologist and Sustainability Expert Trainer with an ESB Staff and Sustainability Navigators, in Athlone at the final field day of the ESB Training Program where they we focused on biodiversity and being nature net positive!
Last Thursday’s session was all about biodiversity and about being nature net positive. We started the day at the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone where Amanda and our guest speaker for the day Alan Sullivan of Rivus gave a brilliant breakdown of the current state of biodiversity in Ireland and some of the ways that ESB are trying to help address some of the issues they have come across in this regard. As this was to be the last day of training, participants were treated to a site visit where we attended a power station located just south of Athlone town in Shannonbridge County Offaly.
Sitting on the banks of the River Shannon at the edge of the Shannon Callows an important area for wildlife conservation (designated both an SAC and SPA), this site carries a lot of history being used as a large peat fired plant which was still operational up until 2020. Since 2022, the site has been under construction with a lot of work underway. The field session was delivered by our very own ecologists Kieran Cowhig and Yosef Dvores with help from ESB’s in-house ecologist Geoff Hamilton.
In picture – VeriConnect’s Senior Ecologist and Sustainability Expert Trainer with Sustainability Navigators, on the banks of River Shannon speaking about the importance of the channel of water to its local biodiversity!
The message for the day was really about appreciating the importance of biodiversity and the value it provides that we often take for granted. We explored how the smallest of spaces, given a chance, can become havens for wildlife like the swallows nesting in an old disused pump house or the otters that frequent the rocks overlooking the outflow channel at the edge of the site. It is often in the least suspecting places where you can find the greatest surprises. This was perfectly demonstrated by the discovery of a rare bee orchid by one of the ecologists, which was hiding amongst the vegetation of a mostly unremarkable roadside verge.
Participants were introduced to some of the efforts being made by ESB at the site to support biodiversity in the area from wildflower meadows to Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon nesting boxes as well as areas being set aside for biodiversity to recolonise. We also acknowledged some mistakes that have been made in the past and how ESB has tried to rectify them. Some participants even had the chance to rescue some oak sapling which had sprouted in an area due to be mown in just a few short weeks.
We have received great feedback throughout the programme and the engagement at each of the training sessions has been fantastic, a testament to the enthusiasm and commitment of the ESB staff to be part of the solution. We have immensely enjoyed being part of this process and although the programme is now completed, the journey is just beginning for the navigators who will go forth leading the way as ESB attempt to become a more sustainable organisation. While we part ways with ESB for now I am sure we have made friends for life as we all stand together, shoulder to shoulder and strive for a brighter tomorrow.
VeriConnect’s Senior Sustainability and Training Expert – Yosef DvoresVeriConnect’s Senior Sustainability and Training Expert – Kieran CowhigVeriConnect’s Director of Sustainability – Dr. Amanda Greer
Celebrating a Major Milestone: The Finale of Our Training Program with ESB
Last week was a significant milestone for us here at Veri Connect. It marked the culmination of our long-running training programme with ESB, Ireland’s foremost energy company, established in 1927. Over 70 ESB employees volunteered for the Sustainability Navigators program, part of ESB’s broader strategy to enhance sustainability within the organisation. Alongside this, the Sustainability Essentials programme, an e-learning suite launched during Biodiversity Week, saw 4000 units completed by ESB staff within the first eight days!
Dr. Amanda Greer began the training for the Sustainability Navigators back in November. Since then, participants have delved into various critical topics, including the social and environmental impacts of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, the path to net zero, the circular economy, sustainable procurement, supply chain management, and biodiversity & nature net positive. Guest speakers joined along the way, providing cutting-edge insights and expert knowledge.
The Grand Finale: A Day Dedicated to Biodiversity
Last Thursday, we focused on biodiversity and being nature net positive. The day started at the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone, where Amanda and our guest speaker, Alan Sullivan of Rivus, gave an enlightening overview of Ireland’s biodiversity status and ESB’s initiatives to address related issues. To mark the last day of training, participants visited a power station just south of Athlone in Shannonbridge, County Offaly.
The site, located on the banks of the River Shannon at the edge of the Shannon Callows (an important area for wildlife conservation), holds a rich history as a large peat-fired plant operational until 2020. Since 2022, the site has been undergoing significant construction. Our field session was led by ecologists Kieran Cowhig and Yosef Dvores, with support from ESB’s in-house ecologist, Geoff Hamilton.
Rare bee orchid found on field day
Appreciating the Importance of Biodiversity
The day’s message was about appreciating biodiversity’s often-overlooked value. We explored how even the smallest spaces can become wildlife havens, like the swallows nesting in an old pump house or the otters that frequent the rocks overlooking the outflow channel to the edge of the site. A perfect demonstration of nature’s surprises was the discovery of a rare bee orchid hidden among roadside vegetation.
Participants learned about ESB’s efforts to support biodiversity, from wildflower meadows to Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon nesting boxes, and areas set aside for biodiversity to recolonize. We also acknowledged past mistakes and ESB’s efforts to rectify them. Some participants even had the chance to rescue oak saplings from an area that was due to be mown in the following few days.
Reflecting on a Successful Journey
The feedback throughout the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the enthusiasm and commitment of ESB staff to be part of the solution. We have immensely enjoyed being part of this journey. While the programme has concluded, the journey for the navigators is just beginning as they lead ESB towards a more sustainable future. As we part ways with ESB for now, we know we have made friends for life, standing together for a brighter tomorrow.
As we begin to leave behind the wetter, colder months of the year, many of us are now beginning to venture outside once more, becoming closer to the natural world around us. The bees are busy back at work pollinating, the Hawthorn trees are now in full bloom and the main Salmon run is underway in many of our rivers. It’s a great time of year to be an ecologist!
Wildlife, nature or, as it is most often called today, biodiversity, is the variety of life that lives on this planet. Biodiversity provides us with so many benefits, known as ecosystem services, that we often overlook. Where would we be if it were not for the pollinators doing the hard work to ensure we have abundant supplies of food? How long would we last if it were not for the plants that produce the oxygen we breathe? (how long can you hold your breath?) Every day biodiversity provides us so many services that we often take for granted.
It is important that as a society we take a moment now and then to tip our hats to biodiversity and reflect on all it gives us. This week is the perfect opportunity to do just this as National Biodiversity Week is upon us. Kicking off on the 17th May, the programme runs until the 26th May with a schedule jam packed with free and exciting events all across the country aiming to bring you closer to nature.
Clicked by our Senior Sustainability and Biodiversity Expert and Ecologist – Yosef Dvores
As I read through the list of events, I am reminded of many of the courses I have been involved with creating and delivering with Veri Connect over the years. As we all reflect on nature this week. I am taking a moment to reflect on how fortunate I have been to be able to do what I love, teaching people about nature.
This is always a busy time of year for us at Veri Connect as we gear up to deliver biodiversity courses to communities all across the country. My role as a trainer started a few years ago with a water biodiversity course we ran in Connemara with the help of Forum Connemara and LAWPRO. That course was a huge success where we trained 220 community members in relation to water biodiversity and water quality. It laid the foundations for the many courses that were to follow. Since then we have grown as a team and have gone on to work on some amazing projects.
We have worked with 19 Leader companies across the country delivering training to communities in relation to sustainability, terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, invasive species management and seed saving. We worked on a first of its kind project called Wild Work which trained 1000 online users and 600 blended learners (in person and online) in Cavan, West Limerick, and South and West Cork. This hugely ambitious project trained participants in biodiversity ,citizen science, wellbeing and community engagement through experiential learning. In 2023 we adapted this style of experiential training for 5th and 6th class students in schools across county Cork.
In response to growing climate change concerns, we created our own Lantra accredited course Climate Action 101 which was designed to help businesses understand the various environmental challengeswe face today and guide them to take actions that will have real impact. It has been a great success so far with businesses such as Red Mills, CF Pharma, Danske Bank, New Park hotel all passing through the programme. We have also worked with the Local Authorities nation-wide to deliver training to outdoor staff on Climate Action. In recent times we have worked with ESB to develop and deliver their Advanced Sustainability program to train their staff, 6000 users online and 300 leadership team members, in topics like Climate Change literacy, sustainability in the workplace, circular economy, sustainable procurement and supply chain.
VeriConnect’s Senior Sustainability Expert and Ecologist with (then) Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the launch of one of our flagship projects WildWork
Those are just some of the big projects we have had the pleasure of working on over the last few years and we are still helping our clients to push the boundaries with new course concepts such as the very popular rainwater harvesting course which drew big crowds in Louth earlier this year or the upcoming course working with Churches in DLR who have asked parishes to set aside 30% of their land for rewilding and other environmental projects aimed at supporting biodiversity. It has been a great journey over this last few years and I can’t wait to see where we end up next.
If you would like our help to get your projects up and running, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. You can also check out our training hub to see what kind of training we offer. If you would like to learn more about events running during national biodiversity week check out this link here
Meeting two Ministers for the launch of our clients programmes on the seven year anniversary of Veri Connect meant it was not such a Blue Monday for me this week!
Mary Lyon’s team under Noreen Fitzpatrick saw the need for these Micro Credentials and their work was launched today.
What are Micro Credentials?
Micro-qualifications are short, part-time accredited training programmes, and they have been developed under the Skills to Advance initiative.
And more to the point –
Why will companies need to invest in these micro credentials ?
Climate now is a competitive issue in value chains for all businesses. Both in public procurement where up to 30% of tender responses may be judged on sustainability credentials or for Business to consumers who are constantly differentiating by buying greener.
Listed Companies, Banks and insurance will immediately also be affected by the now Live ESRD regulations. In essence this means measuring a company’s effect on Climate Change, Pollution, Water, Biodiversity, and Circular Economy .
But even small companies like our own who are part of the Supply chain to these from 1st of January this year now have to start their sustainability journey if they want to work in the supply chain to these buyers.
Who will deliver these programmes?
Our team recently delivered the SOLAS Train the Trainer for the programmes to a number of trainers in the ETB sector in the field. Through the contracted training network we hope to be part of the teams that roll out these important programmes in 2024 via Skills to Advance in the 16 ETB’s across the country.
Our team currently deliver training for the 6000 plus ESB staff on Sustainability and Climate Action, as well as leading on some of the countries largest Biodiversity programmes in the local development sector.
It was a sharp learning curve deciding that I was going to build my own software for somebody that wasn’t very good at programming the sky remote. As well as the motivation to solve the problem my training business was having with Scale and Quality,
the factors that helped me take the step were:
Encouragement from my expertise in the sector
Technical help from the Waterford Institute of Technology TSSG who are award winning software developers of Feed Henry.
Financial support for design in the form of an innovation voucher from Enterprise Ireland
I mapped out what I was looking for by listing all the processes that needed addressing with TSSG. Then, their advice was that it was simply a matter of putting my money where my mouth was by recruiting and paying a programmer. My first meeting with a programmer came via the programming outsourcing elance site.
My choice was an Irish programmer with similar project work. We had maybe 2 online meetings after which we met at the beginning and the end of the timeline, two virtual meetings in between and hey presto there was a system that worked.
Definitely at the beginning there was a little bit of glitchiness. We used it, we tried it and we weren’t sure that everything was the way it should be. My programmer was helpful and after a little bit of ironing out we were quite happy to start using it. Roll on three months later with a dozen programmes in the system, half a dozen tutors and administrators using it. It was saving us time and money and ensuring happier learners with timely communications and evaluations.
So now on my Linked In Profile I could add “software development project management” to my skillset, but the best was yet to come. Sales!
A surprise and a spur for a new business venture… for the next post I think.
