Shift Sustainability Case Studies
While some of Shift’s work was confidential, we are grateful to have received client permission to share the following case studies of projects we completed.
Attitudes to becoming a heat pump trainer
The MCS Foundation commissioned Shift to run research aiming to understand the motivations and barriers associated with becoming a heat pump technician trainer, as well as investigating installers and trainers’ perceptions of the role.
Influencers’ perceptions of green apprenticeships
The MCS Foundation wanted to understand teachers, parents/carers and career advisers’ perceptions of both apprenticeships and green jobs, to understand what influences might prevent young people from choosing these routes. The research aimed to generate findings that could be used to evidence intervention areas and improve messaging around technical routes into green careers.
Sustainability training and professional development
IEMA wanted to ensure that their products and propositions remain aligned with the evolving needs of their individual members and corporate partners. They commissioned Shift to conduct research that focused on the sustainability training and professional development sector.
Public health case studies
Birmingham City Council’s Public Health division were eager to hear how recent demographic changes captured in the 2021 Census are impacting the health and wellbeing of Birmingham residents. Shift were commissioned to conduct interviews with a wide range of citizens living in Birmingham. These were designed to capture residents’ insights and experiences, to create anonymous case studies for use in public-facing documents.
State of the profession survey
In light of statistics evidencing that the environmental and sustainability sector was the second least diverse out of 202 professions in the UK, IEMA wanted to look at the professional state of its members. Shift was chosen to conduct this study with the aim of gaining a full understanding of career paths and salary options in the sector, as well as providing an evidence base around member perceptions of current IEMA strategies.
Climate action education: a global view of challenges and best practice
Take Action Global and EARTHDAY.ORG set out to understand best practice in teaching sustainability to children. This project was developed as a partnership between teams at Shift Sustainability, Take Action Global and EARTHDAY.ORG.
Gold Leaf Member 360 Review
The UK Green Building Council commissioned Shift to undertake the desk research behind its annual Gold Leaf Member Sustainability 360 Review.
Built Environment Ethnographic Research
We conducted ethnographic research for Birmingham City Council to explore the impact of Birmingham’s built environment on the health and wellbeing of the city’s population.
Identifying climate research knowledge gaps for CLARE
Shift conducted work for the FCDO exploring knowledge gaps in climate resilience and adaptation related research in developing countries. This involved consultation with climate scientists and researchers in wider areas relating to the field through interviews and a qualitative survey consultation.
Youth circularity
The LEGO Group noticed there was an absence of youth voices and input to policies and discussions around regulating plastic pollution and developing circular economy frameworks. Aligned to The LEGO Group’s desire to join forces with and keep children as their number one stakeholder, they wanted to harness these voices via a study on the circular economy to find out what children know, and feel, about the subject.
Analysis of LSE’s Sustainability Consultation
We conducted a cluster analysis of LSE's sustainability consultation and combined this with the results from themed workshops to produce a report that informed their Sustainability Strategic Plan.
Using behaviour change approaches to close the say/do gap in recycling
To understand how young Londoners could be motivated towards better recycling behaviours, we conducted cognitive interviews and mobile ethnography before presenting findings as part of Circular Economy Week 2020.