Guy Roberts

I’ve spent over 20 years working in the environmental industry for a number of companies whose work was very much focused in and around the UK.  ERM’s global footprint was definitely an attractive factor in deciding to join the company, as well as being able to work with clients that were much more international in their nature. 

Investing in business and career growth

After six years working for ERM in the UK, I was looking for the next challenge.  Suspecting that the Strategic Advice market in the US was less developed than in Britain at that time, it made sense to work on growing this area of the business in the US.  Chicago was the logical place to head, as Mid West’s Strategic Advice Leader and a large number of corporate headquarters were based there. 

When I first suggested the concept of developing the Strategic Advice service in the US, the idea was well received.  I then built the business case as to why I should move and developed a process that would enable me to transfer to Chicago.  I knew developing a new service offering was going to be more challenging than what I had been doing in the UK, but it was definitely the right thing to do. Luckily my family was supportive of the move and quickly settled in, while I spent the next year establishing a network of contacts.

Exciting projects, great people

Now my work concentrates on two main areas that have me working in over 30 US states and across Latin America.  The first involves working with companies manufacturing consumer products and showing them how becoming a sustainable business helps them as a company.  It’s a bit like being a management consultant, but instead relates to environmental issues.  The other area helps clients assure their performance – helping companies to demonstrate that they are actually doing what they claim to be doing in relation to sustainable actions.

I’m very proud of what I’ve managed to achieve at ERM.  In the UK, I became part of a team, whereas in the US I have worked to help establish a team to provide this service.  Moving forward, there are still so many opportunities to continue building this area of work, and I’m loving it.  The quality of people working at ERM is phenomenal.  If you have a job that needs doing, you can just pick up the phone and speak to a colleague who will help you get it done.  People want to work at ERM, which is demonstrated through their willingness to go beyond providing just a standard level of service – they really are people you can rely on.