"I've been where you are" – meet your expert trainer for Module 1 of ETI’s Human Rights Essentials Course

ETI’s Human Rights Essentials Course gives participants a firm foundation in human rights that they can immediately bring back to their own work or business. Our training partner Inherently Human breaks down Module One.

The latest round of the Ethical Trading Initiative’s Essentials training is about to start, and we at Inherently Human are delighted to be ETI’s training partner. Inherently Human is a boutique consultancy supporting businesses on their human rights strategy. 

Whether you’re looking at this course for yourself, or have identified a knowledge gap in your team, the course will equip learners with the fundamentals of human rights in business. The training also offers opportunities to learn from others and grow your network.

Consider this training your business and human rights 101.

The course comprises four one-day modules. Module 1 gives you a strong foundation in the origins of human rights, the relevant legislation and frameworks, and tests your learning through real-life case studies - from UK agriculture to cobalt mining in the DRC.

We get to grips with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The CSDDD was only formally adopted last year, so the training brings you right up to speed with recent regulatory developments.

The training allows participants to digest and understand the ETI Base Code. Created at ETI and adopted across many sectors, the Base Code is an internationally recognised code of labour practice founded on the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Participants also leave the training with a grounding in what ETI's role is, who their members are, and how they work together to advance human rights in global supply chains.

Meet your expert for Module One

Each of the four modules is delivered by a different expert trainer, offering participants a diversity and depth of perspectives. Your trainer for Module One in our first series of 2025 is Gabriella Wass.

Gabriella is a Business and Human Rights Advisor here at Inherently Human. After getting her Master’s Degree in Human Rights, she started out working for NGOs where she focussed on East Africa and India and gained expertise in complex industries including extractives, agriculture, and the cut flower sector.

Before joining our team, Gabriella worked at Primark and Twinings, where she tackled challenging supply chains like herbs and cocoa, and ran their factory monitoring and improvement programme. 

Alongside delivering human rights training, Gabriella supports Inherently Human clients including Fevertree, innocent drinks, and Sainsbury’s.

“I love teaching Module 1 of ETI’s Human Rights Essentials Training because it is all about the foundations,” Gabriella says. “What is a human right? Where do they exist, and what does it mean to have them? Not only that - but you start to apply your knowledge straight away by exploring real-life case studies.”

The course will be immediately applicable to anyone working in human rights and business. “The ETI Base Code has become a Code of Practice that is recognised by factories around the world. Through the training, you will take the time to really explore the Code, and think about how it applies to the factories in your supply chain.”

With the CSDDD only newly adopted, this year’s training offers an opportunity to understand the foundations of this new EU Directive. “Module 1 will allow you to get to grips with the legislation and the fundamental concepts behind it - essential for any company that intends to bring themselves into compliance with the CSDDD in the coming months.”

Who is the training for?

“Whether you’re a passionate graduate just starting out in the field of business human rights, you’re looking to move careers or you’re in a corporate role and human rights considerations have become a part of your role, I’ve been where you’ve been,” says Gabriella, “And if I haven’t, someone else in your cohort has, and will be able to share their first-hand experience.”

Look out for the next blog from Inherently Human, which will introduce you to your expert trainer for Module Two: Steve Craig.

Module One takes place on 6 February 2025. If you would like to enquire about booking one of the final remaining places, please contact: Ali Murrell at training@inherentlyhuman.co.uk or +44 (0)7813 150855.