Celebrating Responsible Growth Champions Shaping A Better Future
- Clare Bridson
- Oct 20
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 24
We proudly celebrate the completion of the Responsible Growth and Business Resilience programme by our latest cohort of Responsible Business Growth Champions. Their success represents more than individual achievement, it is part of a growing wave of purpose-led businesses reshaping what growth means in today’s world:
"Growth that’s responsible, inclusive, and sustainable for generations to come"
A huge thank you to Brendan Cairns and the team at Ailsa Forklifts for their generous hospitality in hosting our workshop sessions over the past 16 weeks.
"Over the past sixteen weeks, we explored what responsible growth really means... growing commercially while acting responsibly toward people, communities, and the planet. The key lessons? Face challenges with responsibility, use sustainable practices to reduce risk, and build trust through consistent actions. Thank you to Think Partnership and all who joined us on this journey.”
Brendan Cairns, MD at Ailsa X Forklift Trucks, East Kilbride
We’re especially proud to recognise Ailsa’s remarkable achievement in putting 100% of their team through the programme embedding sustainability across the entire organisation and driving positive change at every level of their business.. Check out their Calculator here to see how much you could save in costs and emissions switching to Lithium Battery powered forklifts.
Responsible Growth creates New Opportunities
One of the main things they learned was that Responsible Growth is not about sacrifice or ticking boxes for compliance.
It’s about strengthening your company, opening new opportunities, starting new conversations, creating deeper relationships with customers becoming more adaptable, more trusted, and more profitable in a world that increasingly values integrity and impact.
"To me, adopting Responsible Business Practices is about creating a positive legacy and adding lasting value, not only for our Business, but for society and our planet" Leigh Dempsey, Sustainability & Innovation, George Leslie
What the cohort covered during the course
Throughout the Responsible Growth programme, participants explored how to balance commercial success with purpose, developing practical skills to embed sustainability and resilience within their organisations. Starting by understanding the foundations for responsible growth.
They began by examining the principles of sustainable growth, learning how to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and build stakeholder trust while communicating sustainability authentically.
"The course was very informative and well presented" Derek Young, Hire Controller, Ailsa Forklift Trucks
The group then deepened their understanding of climate resilience and Net Zero strategy, gaining insights into emissions measurement, credible carbon reduction pathways, and how to avoid greenwashing.
Peer Based Learning & Impact
Innovation, inspiration & real impact comes from working in groups, tackling practical issues and opportunities together.
Participants also explored circular economy principles, discovering how to reduce waste, cut costs, and design for regeneration and innovation. The focus then shifted to social impact and purpose, where they learned to apply purpose-driven leadership and design measurable initiatives that create genuine community and stakeholder value.
"I learned many new things from this course about responsible business practices that I never knew" Ellie Sim, Administration team, Ailsa Forklift Trucks
They examined the nature-positive strategies that will help reverse the 73% of nature loss that has occurred since the 1970s.
The teams learned that a Nature Positive Business doesn’t just reduce its environmental harm
- it goes further by restoring and regenerating nature as part of its core strategy.
In the Transparency and ESG Reporting session they gained an understanding of how biodiversity, transparency, and credible data enhances customer and investor confidence while building long-term business value. They also looked at what standards and frameworks would best align with their ambitions and client requirements.
The Responsible Growth Quiz tested their knowledge
Question 1. What is Responsible Growth ?
A. Maximise profitability and efficiency
B. Align environmental responsibility with social impact
C. Uphold compliance as a top priority
D. Balance commercial success with environmental & social responsibility
Practical and actionable outcomes
Finally, through practical assignments, participants put their learning into practice, considering actionable methods and processes that more tightly embed sustainable practices into everyday operations reinforcing a culture of responsible growth.
At the end of the course, the participants from all levels of the organisation received their Responsible Growth awards. Here are Cohort 2 receiving their awards on 14th October 2025.
Time for the awards
Ellie Sim, Admin Team, Ailsa X Forklift Trucks
Lee Robertson, Workshop Engineer, Ailsa X Forklift Trucks
Leigh Dempsey, Sustainability & Innovation Team George Leslie
Fraser Johnson, Business Development Manager, Dew Products
Ross Terbit, Apprentice Forklift Engineer, Ailsa X Forklift Trucks
Alan Caddies, HSQE Manager, Booth Welsh
Derek Young, Hire Controller, Ailsa X Forklift Trucks
An inspiration for the course by Managing Partner, Ray Black
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