A month ago the latest “stakeholder” conference on climate change took place in Manchester. Despite promises that a) elections would be held (see “Steering Group elections: Statement versus official minutes“)and b) information would be forthcoming about what happened at the conference, neither of those things has happened.

We here at Manchester Climate Monthly (forbidden from attending and too bored to gatecrash) have already published four accounts – three from “activists” (whatever that word means -see here, here and here) and one – blistering – account from a businessman who was vastly underwhelmed by what he saw. https://manchesterclimatemonthly.net/2013/03/11/businessman-about-the-stakeholder-conference-help-me-to-explain-to-the-industry-that-this-is-not-a-giant-waste-of-public-money/
We now publish another account from someone who was there, MCFly reader Vicki Ramsden.

Manchester​: A ‘Less’ Certain Future – Stakeholde​r Steering Group reflections

Last month I attended the “Manchester: A Certain Future Conference 2013”, in other words the Manchester Climate Change Strategy conference coordinated by the Stakeholder Steering Group. Some might say I was fortunate to have been granted an invitation to attend given that places were limited. However fortune, it would appear, is in the hands of the stakeholder and as most of the delegates were from businesses, I was left wondering just who will be the fortunate that benefit from this strategy and just who are does Manchester City Council consider as its stakeholders? And so, rather than continue with a list of my gripes with the event, I thought it more constructive to make suggestions about what could be done differently to achieve a more positive outcome (e.g. combat climate change). So here it is; my 5 point checklist of how to throw a winning A List climate change stakeholder event.

1 The perfect guest list
According to the Oxford English Dictionary one of the definitions of ‘stakeholder’ is “[as modifier] denoting a type of organization or system in which all the members or participants are seen as having an interest in its success: a stakeholder economy”. So, if you are hosting a stakeholder event, make sure you know who your stakeholders are and have undertaken a thorough process to include them all. NB: the term ‘stakeholder’ isn’t synonymous with ‘a business’.

2 Avoid Equality & Diversity pitfalls
Know your E’s from your D’s and your P’s from your Q’s. Make sure that you have identified all groups of stakeholders who may be precluded from engaging in such matters which affect them. For additional wow factor A list inclusivity make sure that those invited and supported to be included are actually representative of the population of stakeholders defined in Point 1 above.

As a suggestion, remember to include guests representing groups such as (this list is not exhaustive): those whose first or only language isn’t English, ethnic minorities, vulnerable groups, the under-represented. The guest list may also include the disenfranchised, the misrepresented, the unaware, those that do not feel welcomed, those that do not understand stakeholder or strategic processes and aren’t assisted to do so.

3 Supply-side capture (also referred to as ‘demand-side crowding out’)
If you fail to effectively execute points 1 and 2 then you are likely to suffer from supply-side capture (SSC). SSC refers to a phenomenon whereby other crucial objectives are ‘captured’, obscured or ‘crowded out’ of focus from the event as a result of failure to effectively represent all stakeholders. In this case “stakeholders” does not just refer to businesses (supply-side) but also includes the likes of residents, commuters, workers & business visitors, tourists & other visitors, students, children and young people as well as those groups referred to in Point 2 (demand-side).

4 The perfect purpose
Consultation: (noun) derived from the verb consult (See also Point 1 above).
According to the Oxford English Dictionary one of the definitions of the verb ‘consult’ is: “have discussions with (someone), typically before undertaking a course of action: patients are entitled to be consulted about their treatment [no object]: the government must consult with interested bodies”. If you invite people to an event in which topics and activities will be discussed that will affect them, it is recommended that you consult with them.

5 Take action
Avoid repetition, hesitation or deviation from your stated aim: “our co2llective action on climate change” by agreeing or confirming what actions will be taken by whom and by when. If this isn’t possible, suggest that as a minimum you tell your varied and diverse group of stakeholders what will be done as a result of including them in the consultation. Otherwise suggest holding a business forum/corporate jolly instead.

Vicki Ramsden
MSc Environmental Governance