Oxford Innovation Advice has taken major steps toward embedding sustainability into its culture, with more than 90% of employees now certified through Carbon Literacy training. This milestone reflects the organisation’s deep commitment to driving responsible practices, creating a positive impact on the environment and communities by reducing its carbon impact and supporting the UK’s transition to a Net Zero future.
A commitment to reducing carbon impact
In 2024, Oxford Innovation Advice’s senior management team identified sustainability and Net Zero as key priorities for the business. Since then, the focus has been on reducing internal emissions, raising awareness among staff, and offsetting remaining emissions, whilst also supporting businesses with their own Net Zero journeys.
At the start of 2024, there were no employees with electric vehicles. Thanks to our ongoing sustainability initiatives, we now have 13 members of staff driving EVs, which shows a growing adoption of cleaner, greener transport options across the business through the Octopus scheme.
To help drive this work, the business set up a Low Carbon Champions group which bought together eight members of staff from across the business, including programme managers, central office staff, project teams, and senior management – all united by a shared mission to champion Net Zero initiatives.
Led by Managing Director Jane Galsworthy, the group focused on measuring its carbon footprint, identifying reduction opportunities, exploring offsetting options, and embedding sustainability across the business.
Developing and delivering Carbon Literacy training
By summer 2025, members of the Carbon Literacy team began developing a bespoke internal Carbon Literacy training course. Building on The Carbon Literacy Project’s SME Toolkit and supported by their project team, Oxford Innovation Advice created a programme tailored to its operations, using real company data and examples.
The course achieved official accreditation from The Carbon Literacy Trust in December 2024, with training sessions launched early in 2025 and rolled out with all staff from southern Cornwall to North Yorkshire between March and June. By summer 2025, 90% of staff had completed the training and became certified as ‘Carbon Literate’, with remaining sessions planned for new starters and those who could not attend earlier in the year.
Looking ahead
With a strong foundation now in place, Oxford Innovation Advice is focused on achieving a Carbon Literate Organisation (CLO) – Silver accreditation – in recognition of its ongoing leadership and commitment to sustainability.
Jane Galsworthy, Managing Director at Oxford Innovation Advice commented:
Following the success of our Carbon Literacy training, we’re excited to be applying for Silver-level Carbon Literate Organisation accreditation. This is another step forward in reducing our carbon emissions and a reflection of the genuine effort that everyone across the organisation is making to reduce our environmental impact. Achieving Silver accreditation will recognise our progress so far and keep us moving towards becoming a Net Zero business.
By the end of 2025, Oxford Innovation Advice aims to complete Carbon Literacy training for all staff and embed the training into its culture by making it a mandatory part of induction for all new starters, delivered twice a year.
As the business works towards Silver Carbon Literate Organisation accreditation status, it continues to broaden its awareness of Carbon Literacy across its teams and client programmes, monitoring progress against the group’s action pledges. It has also chosen a one-year carbon offset project – Nature Broking, as part of its ongoing efforts to balance its carbon footprint.
In addition to this, Jas Hayre who works on the West Yorkshire Good Growth Programme has been accepted as an associate for the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission. This role will contribute to the region’s Net Zero initiatives, raising awareness of Oxford Innovation Advice’s work on the Carbon Reduction Agenda, and represent the sustainability support needs of SMEs.
These initiatives reflect Oxford Innovation Advice’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, demonstrating that meaningful action, staff engagement, and measurable results are at the heart of its journey towards a low-carbon future.
