The Problem We Were Solving 
Scottish Opera wanted to strengthen its sustainability work in a way that was practical, proportionate and aligned with real operational needs. The organisation already had strong foundations in circularity practices in workshops, an active Green Team, and early carbon data, but these efforts were happening in pockets rather than as part of a coordinated programme.

They were looking for a holistic view of sustainability across all departments, clarity on existing initiatives and challenges, and a better understanding of what different teams needed to move forward. They also wanted a co‑created sustainability action plan that felt achievable, accessible to all staff, and reflective of the realities of running a national opera company. Importantly, they were seeking a preview of what a longer‑term sustainability programme could look like without committing to a full transformation immediately.

The Solution We Delivered 
With Intent Partners designed a seven‑day diagnostic and engagement process that blended carbon data analysis, departmental insight and collaborative workshop design. The aim was to create clarity while meaningfully involving staff quickly.

We began with a review of Scottish Opera’s existing carbon baseline and sustainability data to understand what was already measured and where future improvements could be made. To build a whole‑organisation picture, we held conversations with teams across Finance, Production, People & Culture, Maintenance, Fundraising and Marketing. These discussions gave us a 360° understanding of current initiatives, operational realities and departmental priorities.

A key part of the engagement was a co‑creation workshop attended by 15 staff members from across the organisation. This interactive session explored immediate challenges, quick wins, cross‑team dependencies and what “practical sustainability” means in an opera context. It acted as a teaser version of what a full sustainability programme could look like and ensured the engagement was not just a report, but a shared learning experience.

We then produced a detailed sustainability baseline review covering governance, data, operations, engagement, circularity and estate planning. To make the work accessible to all staff, we created a one‑page sustainability roadmap outlining short‑term (3 months), medium‑term (6 months) and longer‑term (12 months) priorities, along with suggested departmental ownerships. This roadmap served as a clear, structured preview of how a full sustainability programme could be navigated.