BT is using Carbon Literacy Training to support its social value commitments as part of a major Home Office contract.
Working together, we’re helping Kerry and the team build practical sustainability knowledge across the programme through a bespoke accredited course delivered in person and online. The training supports BT’s commitment to train 100% of dedicated programme staff, while embedding sustainability awareness and capability across the wider workforce.
By building knowledge, confidence and practical understanding, it helps colleagues see how sustainability connects to their day-to-day decisions and responsibilities. In doing so, it strengthens BT’s ability to deliver on its strategic priority of being a trusted leader in digital inclusion, resilience and sustainability, ensuring these ambitions are understood and supported across the organisation
The challenge
BT already has strong sustainability credentials, but in a business of more than 90,000 people, the challenge is making that knowledge land beyond the specialist teams. Kerry and the team need a practical way to help people on the ground understand what sustainability means in the context of their day-to-day roles
A big driver is BT’s Emergency Services Network contract with the UK Home Office, where social value requirements form part of the agreement. That means the team needs something practical and scalable that can support those commitments and stand up to reporting.
Carbon Literacy Training becomes a strong fit because it can be rolled out across the programme, help build practical knowledge beyond specialist teams and support BT’s commitment to train 100% of dedicated programme staff.
The delivery
When BT needed to meet new contract requirements for the Home Office, Kerry and her team looked at what was already working inside the business. Carbon Literacy Training had been a massive hit with BT Sourced, so we teamed up again to roll this out across BT Business.
Together, we built an accredited, bespoke course grounded in BT’s reality, focussing on their real world footprint, high energy use and wider sustainability priorities. The rollout is designed to be flexible. Carbon Literacy Training is delivered mainly in person, with online sessions alongside that. The mix in the room is a real strength too, with directors and junior team members learning alongside one another, sharing perspectives and sparking useful conversations.
BT also used our Train the Trainer model to build internal capacity. Kerry completed the course as a practical safety net, giving the business a way to support future rollouts and fill scheduling gaps. Alongside that, we handle the full operational side of the program, taking care of course coordination, admin, and pledge tracking to keep everything running smoothly at scale.
Impact
The earliest impact isn't just a headline carbon figure, it's a massive shift in mindset. BT staff leave our sessions with a much stronger understanding of sustainability and a clearer sense of the practical changes they can make in their own roles.
That shift is already showing up in how BT works. Sustainability and carbon are now a formal part of their daily governance and decision-making processes. The training also builds in real accountability, with strict quarterly reporting to the Home Office on certifications and impact.
We are seeing clear signs of scale too. BT has already trained around 60 people, and recent courses will push that past 80 as part of their commitment to train 100% of their 200+ programme staff. Pledges range from personal lifestyle shifts to big operational ideas around procurement, travel, and energy use.
The data is still building, but the direction is clear: Carbon Literacy Training is turning sustainability from a specialist agenda into something everyone understands, discusses, and acts on across the program.
Next steps
For BT, the next phase is all about turning engagement into hard evidence. With the rollout well underway and a growing number of staff trained, the focus is shifting from simple delivery to what happens next: tracking pledges, supporting actions, and measuring impact over time.
Pledge follow-through is a huge priority. We’re working with BT to collate the pledges, grouping people around shared themes, and setting up internal working groups to turn these commitments into practical action, covering everything from individual habits to big operational shifts.
BT is also building a stronger evidence base. Quarterly reporting to the Home Office keeps everyone accountable, while internal tracking gives us a clear picture of what the training changes in practice. Over time, our Train the Trainer model will help BT reach the remaining staff and support a much wider rollout.
If you want to turn climate targets into action, talk to the Lighthouse Sustainability team today!