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If you’re a small business owner, where can you attend workshops that deliver hands-on, practical knowledge on the topic of sustainability without either spending an arm and a leg? Where do you turn if you just need to train one or two people?

If you can’t think of affordable options that are relevant for small businesses, you’re not alone – that’s why NHBSR member Cultural Chemistry recently launched an exciting new program called the Small Business Academy.

Mirjam IJtsma is president of Cultural Chemistry LLC, a human resources consulting firm based in Manchester. She was inspired to develop a program to help guide small businesses through their efforts to implement sustainability initiatives. “Many small and mid-sized businesses want to operate more sustainably and achieve the financial and strategic benefits that the larger companies achieve by doing so,” says IJstma, “but it can sometimes seem like only the larger businesses have the resources to address their sustainability.” 

The Small Business Academy combines Cultural Chemistry’s human resources experience with the knowledge of Bryan Sheehan, President of SymbioSus Consulting, an NHBSR member who serves as an instructor for the Academy. Sheehan delivers practical knowledge to participants who are eager to learn about and pursue sustainability initiatives, and IJtsma shares Cultural Chemistry’s expertise in the field of human resources. Together, “we enable small business owners and their employees to start with Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and to keep the P’s (People, Planet, Profit & Passion) of Sustainability in mind, Each class relates to a different step in this process. This is the program to get CSR initiatives started.”

The Sustainability Academy is a three course program. After each 3-hour class, participants will  have an action plan to implement in their workplace. Two weeks after each class, participants re-convene to share their results with classmates.

Course Details:

Three Classes - Schedule

Sustainability Assessment and Action Planning – March 5th
Planning and Implementing for Success – April 16th
Measuring, Reporting, and Promoting your Sustainability – May 14th

All classes will be delivered in Cultural Chemistry’s training center in the Millyard of Manchester. (150 Dow Street)
*NHBSR members receive 10% discount on our classes by using the code “NHBSR”

For more information, go to Cultural Chemistry's website!