Sky joins forces with Management Today to find future leaders who are already putting sustainability at the heart of their organisations

Having established in a ground breaking study last year that the next generation of business leaders sees sustainability as a priority for all businesses, Sky is now working with Management Today to find how future leaders are already turning their ideas into action.

Launched today, the MT Sky Future Leaders Awards will recognise the best examples of initiatives and projects run by future leaders to do everything from cutting carbon emissions and establishing ethical ways of working to sharing best practice experiences with external partners and contributing to local communities. There are awards for individuals working in the public and private sectors who have just started their careers as well as for more experienced professionals. MBA students past and present who have applied their study of sustainability to the workplace are also invited to enter.

The MT Sky Future Leaders Awards are being launched after the publication of ‘The Sustainable Generation: The Sky Future Leaders Study’ in December last year. Over 750 graduates, middle managers and MBA students took part in the study into the attitudes of tomorrow’s business leaders towards sustainability. Amongst the findings, the study showed that 96% of respondents plan on being involved in sustainability during their careers, with a third (34%) also saying that creating social and environmental value through business was an important economic goal.

Jeremy Darroch, Sky Chief Executive, said: "At Sky, we’re committed to building a more sustainable business for the long-term. We also recognise that working with our people is vital to ensuring we act responsibly in our day-to-day business and make a broader contribution in the communities in which we live and work.

We carried out the Sky Future Leaders survey last year to help all businesses better understand the attitudes towards sustainability of the people who will be leading them in the future. The MT Sky Future Leaders Awards will now shine a light on the future leaders who are making the biggest difference in the workplace today and best equipping their organisations to succeed in the future. There will be much we can all learn from their achievements."

Matthew Gwyther, Editor, Management Today, added: "MT is delighted to be working with Sky on these innovative awards that will recognise the talent and efforts of those who really care about sustainability. We’re on the hunt to find forward looking individuals in both businesses and
not-for-profit organisations who tirelessly champion this cause. It’s our aim to celebrate the achievements of tomorrow’s business leaders who have already demonstrated their commitment to sustainability through clever thinking and successful initiatives."

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Notes to editors:

1. The MT Sky Future Leaders Awards recognise sustainable stars in five categories: ‘Corporate Ace’ for those working in companies with more than 250 employees; ‘MBA Mastermind’ for those currently studying part-time for an MBA whilst in employment or those who have finished MBA courses within the past five years; ‘Start-Up Star’ for those working in small to medium-sized employees with less than 250 employees; ‘Non-profiteer’ for those in the public or third sectors and; ‘One to Watch’ for those on a corporate graduate trainee scheme for less than three years.

2. The closing date for entries is 13th July 2012. Winners will be announced in November 2012

3. Further information about the awards, the report that inspired it and how to enter can be found at: www.managementtoday.co.uk/go/skyfutureleaders.

4. More details about Sky’s Bigger Picture programme is available at: http://corporate.sky.com/the_bigger_picture

For further information

Carolyn Irwin/ Katie Swain, Bell Pottinger Business & Brand
e. cirwin@bell-pottinger.co.uk

e: kswain@bell-pottinger.co.uk

About Sky

Sky entertains and excites more than 10.5 million homes through the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky 1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Living pushes ahead with fresh and innovative entertainment formats; Sky Arts is the UK's only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Atlantic is the home to HBO and other iconic drama and comedy, Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; Sky News remains a pioneer in television news; and Sky Movies is leading the way in High Definition and on-demand.

Sky also works with dozens of other broadcasters on the satellite platform, as well as online and on mobile through the ground-breaking Sky Go service. Sky has also led the UK into the age of high definition television, launched Europe's first 3DTV channel, Sky 3D, and offers customer even more flexibility and choice through Sky Anytime+, its internet-delivered video on demand service. Since launching Sky Broadband and Sky Talk in 2006, the company has also been the UK's fastest-growing home communications provider.Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates, not least by increasing participation in, and access to, the arts, supporting grassroots sports, and taking positive action on the environment.