Date published: 18 February 2026
Stonewater’s Sustainable Futures programme has successfully completed its second cohort, marking another milestone in a growing initiative that is empowering customers with knowledge, confidence and tangible pathways into employment and further learning. Developed under Stonewater’s Greenoak Centre of Excellence, the programme demonstrates how sustainability education can deliver social impact well beyond the classroom.
A collaborative approach to customer empowerment
Sustainable Futures was created to give customers a deeper understanding of sustainability within housing, while also supporting them to explore how this learning could influence their personal lives, communities and career ambitions. The initiative has ensured the programme brings together expert voices, practical insight and clear progression routes.
The course spans eight two-hour sessions delivered over eight months, allowing participants time to absorb learning, reflect and build confidence. Each session focuses on a key aspect of sustainability in housing and the built environment, including:
- Session 1: Introduction to Sustainability
- Session 2: Domestic Energy Efficiency
- Session 3: Fuel Poverty and Health
- Session 4: Improving Existing Homes
- Session 5: New Homes
- Session 6: Nature Recovery and Climate Change Resilience
- Session 7: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Supply Chain
- Session 8: Employability and Next Steps
Sessions are delivered by a mix of Stonewater colleagues and external specialists, including National Energy Action, ensuring customers gain both technical understanding and real-world context.
Growth, reach and engagement
Following a successful pilot cohort, the second cohort cemented that there is a growing interest and demand from customers across Stonewater communities. Participants joined the programme with varied motivations - from wanting to better understand their energy bills and homes, to exploring new career pathways in sustainability.
From learning to action: employability at the heart
A defining strength of Sustainable Futures is its clear focus on what happens next. Rather than ending with theory, the programme actively supports customers to turn learning into action - particularly through discussing employability and volunteering opportunities relating to the topic area of each session. This culminates in a final session run by Stonewater’s Employability and Volunteering Lead, who is joined by contractors and partners who offer customers opportunities and support as they delve into what’s next for them.
Following completion of the course, customers continue to work closely with Stonewater to explore how their new knowledge might support future goals. This includes discussions around further training, volunteering, career changes and employment pathways linked to sustainability, housing and beyond.
A powerful success story
During the final session of the second cohort, participants heard directly from a graduate of cohort one, who returned to share her journey after completing the programme. Following Sustainable Futures, she was referred to partner charity Clean Slate for employment coaching, where she was supported to clarify her ambitions and next steps.
With this support, she successfully applied for a Longleigh Foundation grant to contribute towards the costs of an accountancy qualification, which she has now begun. Her story offered a powerful example of how education, personalised support and partnership working can open doors to new and fulfilling opportunities.
The impact of this story was immediate. Following the session, three members of the second cohort requested referrals to Clean Slate, keen to carve out their own paths towards better employment with increased confidence.
Building confidence, skills and community
Beyond employability outcomes, Sustainable Futures has delivered broader benefits. Customers report increased confidence when discussing sustainability, a stronger understanding of how housing decisions affect health and the environment, and a renewed sense of agency within their communities.
The programme also provides opportunities for ongoing connection as graduates form part of the Sustainable Futures Alumni, enabling them to stay engaged, share feedback to help shape Stonewater's sustainability journey and continue learning beyond the sessions themselves.
Looking ahead
The success of the first two cohorts highlights the value of Sustainable Futures as more than a training course. Through the collaborative efforts of Stonewater and trusted partners such as Clean Slate, the programme is helping customers not only understand sustainability but actively shape their futures within it.
As Stonewater continues to embed sustainability across its homes and services, and recruitment for Sustainable Futures cohort three begins, it provides a clear example of how investing in customers can deliver meaningful, lasting impact - for individuals, communities and the wider sector.
