We’re a sustainability consultancy led by Hugh St Aubyn, drawing on his multifaceted expertise and experience working across sectors — including sustainability management for St Aubyn Estates.

I started off by myself, moving between all the different businesses on the Estates, but now they’ve a sustainability ops board, as well as a steering group; and I’ve gained ongoing experience of working at board level.

This structure is set up to decentralise sustainability, which is key to Re:Now’s approach — working across departments to keep the work lean and effective. This means structuring teams differently and working closely with managers — so objectives are met and risks mitigated throughout the whole business, keeping sustainability on everyone’s agenda.

As a consultant, I can act as coordinator to support you to set up a decentralised approach.

Relationship development is crucial — I’ve become expert in keeping complex projects on track while balancing the aims and approaches of multiple stakeholders at once, designing initiatives with clear objectives and metrics. I’ve worked with many different organisations, particularly charities, including a charitable foundation. I chaired the Cornwall National Landscape Trust, an environmental charity, and wrote a research paper for Exeter University on best practices for multi-stakeholder social responsibility initiatives.

I believe businesses have the potential to be braver in this space — so many interesting things have happened when I’ve worked with others. Collaborative projects offer innovative ways to deliver shared value to a whole range of businesses and organisations; create relationships in your local community; and make an impact on your industry. They also make for compelling stories to share.

‘Making Space for Sand’ is one of my favourite multi-stakeholder initiatives for St Aubyn Estates — a collaboration with Plymouth University, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Cornwall Council and local volunteers to gather a range of environmental data to understand how the dunes were shifting. Led by the data, areas of the dunes have been fenced off, and a local marine group volunteers to remove invasive species and replant marram grass, restoring the habitat. Projects like this engage the community and visitors, and show that the business really cares about the environment.

My training and experience have given me a management and assessment toolkit that can be drawn on in any situation. As a consultant I take real care and research first, paying attention to every aspect of a business — thinking not only about data and systems, but about how it looks and engages with its audience.

A background in psychotherapy, public speaking, university lecturing and delivering training and inductions has taught me that how people think and feel matters; and I’m interested in how internal and external communications change attitudes and bring businesses close to their sustainability goals. It’s not a linear process, and it’s not all about achieving accreditation.

Wherever you are on your sustainability journey I can help you respond right now or reengage. I’ll use my familiarity with diverse frameworks and policy, including carbon accounting, to set a path that’s appropriate for your future.

Re:Now works nationally, but operates from Cornwall, a place that means a lot to me — it’s an interesting mix of values and it’s a very creative, innovative place to be. There’s space to think, but it can also be hectic, and wild — people here seem to operate well in high energy situations.

The world’s not getting calmer — life’s getting more challenging, Cornwall doesn’t step away from those challenges.