Summary and action points

In this session we have worked through a scenario of an SME with conservative values, and explored how different language and messaging might be used by intermediaries to encourage change. We also learned how tensions can arise between personal and organisational values, and how intermediaries can help their clients to navigate these.

You had the chance to reflect on how and when you have encountered values in your own career, and which most strongly resonate with you. In the final activity, the advisor suggested that business cultures are changing, and that values – including those relating to the environment – may be becoming more influential for SMEs. In this context, a values-based approach offers the potential to link conventional forms of business engagement in areas such as energy saving to a wider range of social and environmental issues, from fulfilling responsibilities to our local community to being good stewards of our environment for the benefit of future generations.

You should now be able to:

• Identify which sets of values you have encountered in your professional career.
• Recognise the values that are particularly significant to you personally.
• Put into practice the values-based toolkit, and other ideas set out in this course.

You have now completed Session 5.

Now complete the short quiz for this session [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .

Afterwards complete the End-of-course survey.