Learning from others and bettering their solutions is a good way of improving your own performance. In the public sector there is normally free access to good practice information and organisations are often more than happy to exchange information and learn from each other. There is a growing range of world-wide experience in developing best practice for public and private sector organisations to become more sustainable. Tapping into that experience can provide free R&D. It can help develop better services more quickly. Global to Local has built up a reputation for using Best Practice as a means of disseminating information to clients and encourage them to benchmark their activities against such practice.

This has a number of advantages:

• It introduces new ideas and innovative approaches to management;
• It uses tried and tested solutions in real life situations;
• It draws on a wealth of experience gained both in the UK and throughout Europe;
• It provides reassurance that specific solutions have previously been applied to specific situations.
  

Global to Local has been responsible for a wide range of projects not only in the UK, but throughout Europe, and as far afield as the Ukraine. These projects have been carried out on behalf of both individual municipalities and consortia of local authorities. In addition major governmental and international bodies including the European Commission have engaged Global to Local in a variety of tasks associated with sustainable management and the reduction of environmental impacts. A recent example has been the extremely successful co-operation forged between Kiev and four other Ukrainian cities, which has been formed into an environmentally sustainable network. Best Practice has been shared to the mutual benefit of all participants. As well as gaining experience of specific projects Global to Local has run study tours for clients to investigate examples of Best Practice in several parts of Europe. Recent assignments include a tour to Scandinavia to show case studies of sustainable development in the energy, housing and waste sectors and a tour to Spain to study renewable energy and sustainable transport. These visits have developed the companys knowledge of the best available practice. For more information click here.

Global to Local also actively participates in a number of pan European projects all of which aim to develop best practice in a number of fields including transport, renewable energy and environmental management. A particular strength of our company is that we hold seminars and study sessions, sometimes in conjunction with local governmental bodies such as the IDeA. These have involved working with local authorities and other organisations to identify and better not only Best Practice from further afield, but that applied by the participants themselves. Best practice disseminated in this way is included in courses on key environmental contracts such as parks and open space management, cleansing services, highways maintenance and purchasing.

This experience has contributed to a formidable pool of information, which is being used to inform decision-making amongst Global to Locals clients across the range of disciplines covering environmental sustainability.

It allows the company to:

• provide examples of Best Practice which are relevant to the client;
• form networking groups which can share their own experiences and
  knowledge;
• conduct study tours tailored to the needs of participating organisations or individuals;
• hold seminars and study sessions to inform participants about best practice.
  

For an overview of relevant projects Global to Local have undertaken, please click here.