Attract and engage top talent
Hurd Champions is a free peer learning programme for people who want to mobilise their colleagues around climate and sustainability. Together, Hurd Champions learn how to cut through the noise, overcome resistance, and deliver engagement campaigns that leave a lasting impact.
Each cohort is focused on designing a campaign around a shared moment for action. The next cohort is centred on Earth Day (22 April 2026).
Who should apply?
Anyone who wants to drive engagement at work around Earth Day.
You might be a Head of Sustainability, or a member of your ERG. Or perhaps you’re simply an employee with a passion for impact, even if it’s not in your job description. We’re here for you.
Timeline
- 2 February: Application deadline
- 5 February: Successful applicants notified
- 18 February: Session 1 – Introductions & Overview of the Programme
- 18 March: Session 2 – Overcoming Resistance
- 8 April: Session 3 – Comms Dos & Don'ts
- 22 April: Earth Day Connect
- 13 May: Session 4 – Impact Measurement & Wrap Up
All sessions will be held online at 16.00 GMT
What you'll get as a Hurd champion:
A communications toolkit
We provide the playbook for engaging your colleagues on climate and nature at work, including everything from template slides and emails to a tool to build your campaign timeline.
A supportive community
Join a community of like-minded people (all equal parts enthusiastic and exasperated). We'll connect over a dedicated Slack channel and four facilitated community calls, bringing together peer learning and insights from hand-picked experts – all focused on activating your colleagues and tackling disinformation.
Data and insights
Identify easy wins and areas for improvement with metrics on your team’s engagement. Plus you can unlock a detailed dashboard for your team once you’ve reached target engagement levels.
What we ask in return
The time commitment is to join 4 practical, action-focused one-hour calls over the 3 month programme, alongside delivering your engagement programme. We also ask you to:
Spread the love
There’s power in numbers and the bigger the Hurd, the bigger the impact. The goal of the programme is to help you to activate your people in learning through Hurd, after all.
Help shape Hurd
As a start-up, we’re still in our nascency, so we’d love feedback from our Champions to help shape the future of Hurd.
Share your experiences
Knowledge is power and power is best spread... equally. We’d love to see our Champions share their wisdom with the rest of the Hurd to help sow the seeds of collective action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost?
Nada. Rien. Nothing.
The programme and app is totally free, thanks to our philanthropic funding.
In return, we ask Hurd Champions to do their best to promote Hurd to their colleagues, helping us to grow our impact and reach. But hopefully you’ll want to do that anyway!
How much time does being a Hurd Champion take?
The programme includes four community calls of one hour each. These are designed to be as practical and action-oriented as possible.
Outside of the calls, the time you invest is up to you. Some Hurd Champions spend around an hour a month applying what they are learning, while others choose to go further, dedicating more time to building momentum and driving engagement within their organisation. The programme is designed to flex around your role, capacity and ambition.
Do I need my employer’s permission to take part?
While it is always helpful to have your employer’s support, it is not essential. You are welcome to take part in a personal capacity and apply your learning within your workplace where appropriate.
The only requirement is that you are able to attend the monthly calls during working hours. Please check the dates listed in the timeline above to make sure these work for you.
What will I actually get out of being a Champion?
As a Champion, you will gain practical tools, confidence and a supportive peer community to help you take action at work. You will also join a global network of people facing similar challenges, learning what works and what does not across different organisations and contexts.
The practical tools include action-focused templates to help you map stakeholders, plan your approach and gather feedback, as well as ready-to-use templates for emails, Slack or Teams posts, presentations and more.
We will also share high-level data on the referrals and engagement you drive. Champions who reach target engagement levels will receive access to more detailed impact dashboards, helping you demonstrate progress and influence internally.
Can my whole team join?
No, we currently limit the programme to 1 Champion per organisation. This helps us to create a high trust, diverse community with a rich mix of experience.
However, if there’s wider interest within your organisation, we can run dedicated Champions programmes, tailored to your context and needs. Get in touch to discuss.
It is open to people internationally?
Yes – you can join from anywhere in the world. Our last cohort included Hurd Champions from the UK, USA, Ecuador, Beirut, and Nigeria!
All community calls will be held at 16.00 GMT, so do bear that in mind when deciding if the programme fits your time zone and schedule.
Still have more questions?
Join our Q&A webinar on 21st January at 12.00 GMT. Sign up here