Data Canât Save Us â But Collaboration Might

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Will isnât just another voice in the ESG crowd. Heâs been on the inside, designing sustainability strategy, engaging boards, and wrestling with the brutal complexity of telecom supply chains. And heâs refreshingly honest about what does and doesnât work.
âThe targetâs just the start. It’s the action behind it that matters.â
In conversation, Will makes a compelling case: true progress demands that we escape our own organisational silos and rethink where value actually comes fromâoften in places overlooked by traditional ESG frameworks.
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đĄ Forget the Net Zero ChecklistsâThink Industry-Wide Standards
During his time at TalkTalk, Will led efforts that cut emissions by 58% in just four years. But heâs quick to point out that individual corporate action isnât enough.
âWe had to look beyond the four walls of the company. That meant getting competitors, regulators, and suppliers around the table.â
That effort led to one of the most ambitious initiatives in UK telecoms: a cross-sector collaboration representing ÂŁ50 billion in annual revenue. The goal? Create minimum joint standards to address Scope 3 emissionsâa problem that no single firm can solve in isolation.
Key Outcomes:
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85% of suppliers (by spend) now have science-based targets
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A roadmap for reducing upstream emissions shared across the industry
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Ongoing work with Ofcom to align regulatory frameworks with sustainability priorities
This isnât ESG as branding. Itâs ESG as systems change.

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đ§ Why ESG Reporting Misses the Point (and What to Do Instead)
Willâs critique of standard ESG reporting is incisive. He doesnât reject it outrightâbut heâs sceptical of the weight it carries in decision-making.
âReporting on ESG metrics is often about satisfying frameworks. But that doesnât necessarily lead to change.â
So what does?
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Board-level engagement that links sustainability to commercial risk
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Simplicity and clarity over 80-page reports
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A shift from defensive disclosures to forward-looking strategy
His approach also included mandatory ESG training for TalkTalk employees and Carbon Literacy Trainingâa first in the sector.

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đ Whatâs Next: A Commercial Lens on Sustainability
After nearly 12 years at TalkTalk, Will is shifting his focus to consultancy, bringing a commercial mindset to ESG challenges in other industries. He sees massive untapped potential for mid-sized firmsâtoo often overlooked in policy discussions.
âThe companies that are going to move the dial are those that see sustainability not as a cost, but as a catalyst.â
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