In partnership with ETI, Inherently Human is delivering essential human rights training

Following a hiatus during the pandemic and a major update to content, we are pleased to announce that ETI’s human rights essentials course is now back! 

Together with ETI, Inherently Human has updated content, case studies and language, bringing essentials training in line with the latest developments in business and human rights. 

The course is designed to equip learners with the fundamentals of human rights in business and practical tools to embed human rights and environmental due diligence into supply chains, in line with UN Guiding Principles. Participants benefit from the expertise of trainers with corporate, NGO and trade union expertise and the opportunity to build a support network of sustainability professionals. Many ETI members and leaders started their ethical trade journeys with ETI’s original essentials training and have maintained contact with our course cohort as they’ve progressed.

Former ETI member, Frankie O’Byrne – who has worked for Morrisons, the Commonwealth Games and is now taking on a role with UK Government – recalls his experience of essentials training in 2016:

“The ETI essentials course gave me a foundation on which to build my sustainability and human rights career. I’ve taken ongoing inspiration from the trainers and drawn on lessons learnt from others in my cohort throughout my career.”

Nyika Brain is currently Group ESG Director at MM Flowers after several years with ETI members Waitrose and John Lewis. She describes why she decided to come on the course:

“For me, it was the perfect opportunity to put structure around ethical trading principles in global supply chains, and indeed build the confidence to know what I was talking about! I valued the opportunity to hear and debate different perspectives, from NGOs to union representatives and from other businesses (of all sizes) all grappling with similar challenges and discussing how to collectively drive progress. It is a practical course that gives excellent grounding to putting the ethical trade principles in practice.”

From May 2023 onwards, you can choose from online or in-person options across four one-day essentials modules, which cover:

Module 1 – The foundations of human rights and business

Module 2 - Protecting human rights: Supply chain transparency and risk

Module 3 - Respecting human rights – managing risk and measuring progress

Module 4 - Remedying human rights violations – putting things right before or after they go wrong

More information regarding course content, who can participate, dates and prices are available here. Contact training@inherentlyhuman.co.uk with any questions. 

What learners say about the new course:

“It has helped me to bring down to earth the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights through real business cases, and what it is more, it has helped me to do an introspective analysis of where we are positioned as a business when it comes to human rights due diligence and, where we would like to go.” 

Andrea Gerwer, Sustainable Supply Chain Manager, Oxfam after attending ETI Human rights essentials, modules 1 - 4.

“As someone who is relatively new to the world of ethical trade, this served as a great way to build foundational knowledge, explore problems and solutions we may face, and network with others in my industry! The course was interactive and engaging, both online and in person. The course leaders were incredibly knowledgeable, and it was a privilege to be learning from them.”

Rosie Minnie, Senior Ethical Trade Assistant, ASOS after attending ETI Human rights essentials, modules 1 - 4.

Our trainers have decades of experience between them, working with retailers, brands, suppliers, multi-stakeholder initiatives and trade unions to develop and deliver sustainability and human rights strategies. 

Our trainers include: 

• Louise Herring - Human rights and modern slavery consultant and passionate advocate of collaboration and impact metrics. Founder of the Food Network for Ethical Trade (FNET) and currently Executive Director of AIM-Progress.
• Laura Falk – A sustainability specialist with a particular focus on labour rights and international supply chains across both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors in the UK and internationally.
• Bev Hall – An advocate for promoting and advancing people-centred solutions across global supply chains, with experience in the NGO, trade union and corporate sectors. 
• Muriel Johnson - experienced trainer and facilitator in corporate social responsibility and ethical supply chain management, using skills gained over seven years of living and working across Asia for a large UK retailer. 
• Steve Craig – Trade Union Coordinator for ETI and National Development Officer with Unite the Union (UK). Previously, a trade union studies and industrial relations lecturer in further and higher education. 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” 

Margaret Mead

We believe this course can help equip participants to cement human rights and environmental due diligence along the supply chain, improving the way we do business around the world.

If you want to learn more, get in touch with Inherently Human - your partners on the journey to sustainable business.