Julia Bena

Responsible Business Manager

“Ju-lee-ah Be-na” she/her

Julia works on the development of City & Guilds’ responsible business activities, ensuring our organisation remains a force for good and helps create a more sustainable and inclusive world. She is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion and solutions to climate change.

She helped establish the Princess Royal Training Awards and contributed to our DEI webinar series.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son, visiting exhibitions, practicing yoga and learning new things.

connectedness | ideation | learner | intellection | maximiser

The latest stories from Julia Bena on the City & Guilds Foundation website:

Human-Centered Leadership: Nurturing Creativity, Connection, and Collaboration

by Julia Bena | 21 Nov 2023 | Awareness Raising, Campaigning, News, News & events, Our networks

We attended Anthropy this month. The second edition of a gathering like no other, set in the beautiful Eden Project in Cornwall to bring together leading voices to imagine a better world. It’s no surprise that leadership was at the centre of conversations as a tool that shapes behaviours and indeed, our future. In an ever-changing world, leadership has transcended the traditional command-and-control model to embrace a more human-centered approach. The role of a leader is no longer confined to...

Eliminating barriers to employment in the green sector

by Julia Bena | 5 Sep 2023 | Charity partners, Green skills, News, News & events, Our networks, Responsible Business, Social Impact

Creating and filling green jobs is crucial if the UK is to meet its target to deliver a net-zero economy by 2050 (Green Jobs Taskforce, 2021). Green jobs help to protect and restore the natural environment whilst also boosting economic growth, improving energy security, cutting household bills and promoting healthier communities. In essence, they benefit both people and the planet. However, the available workers and skill set required for these positions are increasingly falling short of what...

Celebrating our first carbon literacy training participants

by Julia Bena | 29 Mar 2023 | Awareness Raising, Campaigning, City & Guilds initiatives, News, News & events

Between November and February, 28 colleagues across City & Guilds were invited to be involved in a pilot for Carbon Literacy Training and we are delighted that all have now received their Carbon Literacy accreditation. To be Carbon Literate means taking actionable steps towards tackling the climate emergency, feeling confident in communicating on this topic to our customers and stakeholders, and doing all that we can to mitigate the effects of climate change within our industry and...

How can you reduce your carbon footprint at work?

by Julia Bena | 17 Aug 2022 | Awareness Raising, News, Responsible Business

This guest post is by Enas Rauf who was an intern in the Foundation team during July and August 2022. A carbon footprint is the measure of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere as a result of economic or human activity. With small changes, we can get big results! If everyone did these little changes, it would help us reduce our impact on the environment and help us achieve a healthier lifestyle. Here are some tips to help you get started! 7 ways you can reduce your carbon footprint...

Co-op Levy Share: working together to fund thousands of apprenticeships

by Julia Bena | 12 Apr 2022 | Awards alumni, Awareness Raising, Campaigning, News, Our networks

On Tuesday 5 April, City & Guilds Foundation held an event in partnership with The Co-op discussing how large organisations with unspent apprenticeship levy can share funds with smaller businesses in need as part of their Levy Share initiative. Aimed at businesses who may have a large enough levy pot to share, but also businesses who may not have enough levy for their own apprenticeship ambitions, the event provided advice on how to access levy funds and use them to realise apprenticeship...

Event: Leading Through Values

by Julia Bena | 24 Jan 2022 | City & Guilds initiatives, Events, News

Let’s talk about values in leadership In October 2021, ILM published Leading through Values, a report researching the importance of values. The report features case studies from a number of businesses, exploring what values mean for them, how values are being brought to life in everyday operations and how they've withstood the challenges faced during the pandemic. Read the Executive Summary. We discovered that company values are an integral part of their leadership models and ultimately...

[Podcast] Inclusion & Diversity Series: Gender Diversity – a women’s panel

by Julia Bena | 19 Nov 2021 | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Events, Podcasts

As part of the City & Guilds Foundation Inclusion and diversity events series, offering thought-provoking conversations and actionable steps to promote equal opportunities and improve inclusion and diversity in your organisation. In this event we explored gender diversity and women inclusion in male-dominated industries. Women have made substantial progress in business and leadership positions. But many STEM-related fields are still resistant to gender diversity. How can...

Leading through Black Lives Matter

by Julia Bena | 5 Nov 2021 | Awareness Raising, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Events, News

This Black History Month, we invited diversity and inclusion experts from our network to discuss the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement in our organisations. Listen to the conversation for powerful insights on: Leading in a seismic shiftSustaining the impact of Black Lives MatterDealing with narratives of wokenessCritical leadership styles and qualitiesBlind spots to watch out Event speakers Nelarine Cornelius CCIPD, FRSA, AFBPsS, CPsychol, FBAM, FCIM, PFHEA, FAcSSProfessor of...

[Podcast] Inclusion & Diversity Series: Marginalised Groups – Prison Leavers

by Julia Bena | 21 Oct 2021 | Awareness Raising, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Events, Podcasts, Prisoners and ex-offenders

As part of the City & Guilds Foundation Inclusion and diversity events series, offering thought-provoking conversations and actionable steps to promote equal opportunities and improve inclusion and diversity in your organisation. In this episode we explored excluded groups and giving fair chances for people with lived experience of prison to gain employment. Most prison leavers want the opportunity to turn their life around. Having a job helps them stay out of prison and getting back on...

[Podcast] Inclusion & Diversity Series: Race inclusion – supporting black talent

by Julia Bena | 13 Oct 2021 | Awareness Raising, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Events, Podcasts

As part of the City & Guilds Foundation Inclusion and diversity events series, offering thought-provoking conversations and actionable steps to promote equal opportunities and improve inclusion and diversity in your organisation. this episode explores the importance of role models and allies in breaking down barriers at work for all ethnic groups. Having visible role models at all levels of a company and across different roles provides concrete evidence and inspiration for ethnically...

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