A SERIES of podcasts promoting the work of a pioneering environmental partnership will be broadcast from the start of next month.
The seven podcasts were commissioned by Darlington Borough Council to raise the profile of the Darlington Employers’ Environmental Partnership (DEEP).
DEEP was launched in May 2023 as an innovative way of local employers sharing good practice, experience and information around the Net Zero agenda while building mutually beneficial relationships.
The series, which will be broadcast via Spotify, starts on July 1 with an introduction by DEEP steering group chair, Rob McDiarmid, a former Cabinet Office lead on sustainability and now Head of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) for Darlington-based integrated mobility solutions provider, Zigup.
He is joined by journalist Peter Barron, former editor of The Northern Echo and one of the DEEP founders in his role as a board member of Darlington Building Society.
The rest of the schedule – broadcast on the first day of each month from August to January – is as follows:
Episode Two: Seth Pearson, Director of Darlington Partnerships, and Margaret Enstone, Darlington Borough Council’s Sustainability and Climate Change Lead Officer, explore how DEEP is led, supported and aligned with the local authority’s sustainability ambitions.
Episode Three: Sarah Marshall, from family-owned Darlington electrical wholesaler, TEP Electrical Ltd, talks about how the company is actively working towards the sustainability agenda, and its involvement with DEEP.
Episode Four: Ingrid Brough Williams, Sales and Marketing Manager of JB Recycling, explains how the waste industry tackles sustainability – from managing materials responsibly to helping businesses reduce their environmental impact.
Episode Five: Carl Wright, partner at Clive Owen LLP, explores how the professional services sector contributes a meaningful role in the sustainability agenda, and why being part of DEEP matters.
Episode Six: Emma Speight, Executive Director of Assets and Growth with North Star Housing, talks about the importance of embracing sustainability while providing safe, warm homes.
Episode Seven: David Gartland, CEO and Principal of Darlington College, explains how an education provider, such as the college, is working towards NET Zero, and the benefits of being part of DEEP.
DEEP chair Rob McDiarmid, said: “In a relatively short time, DEEP has grown to include 60 employer members, ranging from large international companies to SMEs.
“As we transition to a lower-carbon society—one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime—it is vital that we find new ways to share our message and work together to meet that challenge.
“DEEP has already attracted a lot of attention, but we are delighted to see the council invest in a series of podcasts to add a new dimension to that positive publicity.”
The podcast series – produced by Darlington marketing agency, Hubspoke Media – was also welcomed by Councillor Chris McEwan, Deputy Leader and Economy Portfolio Holder for Darlington Borough Council.
“DEEP brings local employers together to share insight and improve sustainability. The podcasts exist to share the perspective and experience of the DEEP network more widely, helping more organisations to take action on sustainability,” he said.
Hubspoke Media director, Adam Walker, added: “As a Darlington business, we were thrilled to be asked to produce the podcast series for a ground-breaking initiative like DEEP that’s inspiring local employers to work together on such a vital issue.”
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