Most people think of ‘sustainability’ in terms of reducing greenhouse gases, insulating the home and recycling – but for the business world, it’s a lot more than that.

With all of our apprentices we talk about sustainability in relation to their employer.

Corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability, diversity and global citizenship are all part of their apprenticeship programmes, helping them to identify the impact of not reducing ‘waste’.

And there is a whole raft of ‘waste’ issues that if not tackled head-on can seriously impact on any business – including time being wasted. Is it necessary, for example, for 10 people to be in a meeting in one place for an hour?

Could that meeting be carried out using skype with a pre-planned agenda to keep wasted time to a minimum and reduce the need for people to travel?

Innovations can be created when businesses ask ‘what can I do better’. And what is the biggest inhibitor to innovation? Success! Many businesses say to themselves, look at how we’re doing despite the economy, we must be doing something right! And they may well be – but not for that long if they fail to look at innovative ways to ensure the future sustainability of their businesses.

Remember businesses like DEC (Digital), the original AT&T, Smith Corona, Blockbuster? And Blockbuster even says it saw the end coming but didn’t really heed the warning signs of growing complacent and a failure to innovate.

Then there are those that were able to reinvent themselves. Companies like P&G, IBM, Ford, Apple. What was the difference? People, management, new leadership, new insights, the ability to spot those warning signs and turn a business around.

It all comes down to talking to your team, your employees, and asking them ‘what could we do better’ that will ensure a bright future.