Campaign re-energises staff in their sustainable quest

PICTURED: Staff at the energy awareness event in Singleton Hospital.

Swansea Bay staff have been re-energised in their quest to become more sustainable in their personal and professional lives.

The health board has partnered with Swansea University and Vital Energi - the company which has helped deliver decarbonisation projects including the construction of the solar farm near Morriston Hospital - to roll out an energy awareness campaign with an interesting theme.

To make sustainability more appealing, the campaign, which covers Morriston, Singleton and Neath Port Talbot hospitals, has been given a Bridgerton-themed twist.

Staff took part in an interactive survey on energy and sustainability issues, with Vital Energi sponsoring four £100 vouchers for each week’s winner, along with a digital bingo card which encouraged them to complete energy-saving actions throughout the four-week campaign.

PICTURED: Staff took photos in cardboard cut outs which had a Regency theme.

The event launch also featured an interactive cut-out photo booth, allowing attendees to immerse themselves in the world of Lady Turnitdown – a character loosely based on the hit television series Bridgerton’s Lady Whistledown - while pledging their commitment to sustainability.

Des Keighan, Assistant Director of Commercial and Contract Management, PFI Hand Back, Commercial and Decarbonisation, led the project on behalf of the capital & estates department.

He said: “The campaign aimed to impact behaviours and instil the importance of sustainability and highlight how small actions by staff can have a big impact.

“Using the Ladyturnitdown character gave us a really interesting theme to engage people in discussing sustainability and where they can put it into practice in their department.

“We are aware that talking about sustainability can be a turn off for some staff, but the campaign has certainly changed that perception and re-energised staff in their efforts to be more energy efficient both at work and home.”

The campaign was fronted by Anusha Suresh, who has just completed her MSc Management in Sustainable Business at Swansea University and Carlie Harvey, who is in the third year of her Marketing Degree.

They were selected among 120 applicants who successfully progressed through an interview process, which included workshops and writing a Lady Turnitdown newsletter using the witty and engaging style of Lady Whistledown, before a final interview.

PICTURED: Carlie Harvey and Anusha Suresh led the marketing element of the campaign through an internship with the health board.

They then embarked on a six-week internship to lead the marketing element of the campaign.

Anusha said: “It’s been an amazing experience. Everyone at the health board has been so warm, encouraging and open to ideas. I’ve really enjoyed being part of something that’s had such a visible, positive response.

“I’ve been a Bridgerton fan since day one so when I saw that this campaign was themed around Lady Whistledown and regency-era elegance, I was immediately excited. The creative approach really piqued my interest. At the same time, sustainability is something I’ve been passionate about for years and I’ve always wanted to work in sustainability communications.

“This felt like the perfect blend of both - a meaningful campaign with a fun, creative twist. It was exactly the kind of project I’d been looking for, and I knew it would give me a chance to use my marketing skills and contribute to something that has real impact.

“Working on this campaign has shown me how creative communication can play such a powerful role in driving behaviour change - especially around topics like sustainability, which can sometimes feel overwhelming or technical.”