Open Works

Be inspired – and learn from – Open and Place-based Learning exemplars

Our Open Works database captures an emerging field: where expertise, innovation, momentum and ecosystemic relationships are built in action rather than classrooms.

OPEN WORKS is a field study and guide of Open and Place-Based Learning projects that – like our own First Hand – turn real places into learning labs for climate action.

Visit to learn how.

Browse the database to see what’s already working on the ground, borrow and adapt ideas for your own context.

Visit the Open Works website.

If you’re already doing this work – in your company, your council, your community – you’re not alone.

Submit your climate learning initiative to join the OPEN WORKS database and help build momentum for new approaches to climate learning.

Join the database.

First Hand

Our experiments in unlocking real places to host learning.

From 2023-2025 we convened field trips, walking tours, workshops and plenaries to test the potential of real places to host climate learning. By connecting people to the people and places making change we built:

Connecting theory to reality, Open Learning unlocks the skills and competences that accelerate change:

  • Transformative green skills
  • Green life skills
  • Sustainability competences

A live case study can serve as a springboard for knowledge & exchange. Practical examples offer new ways in to interrelated problems like:

  • Addressing fast changing regulations
  • Addressing skills and talent gaps
  • Informing and influencing policy

Connections between professionals from industry, advocacy, policy, education and community initiatives are deepened face to face:

  • unlock innovation and spark new ideas
  • hear how green skills agendas meet other real-world contexts
  • exchange and collaborate for systemic change
Group of people taking a guided tour in an industrial food production space

First Hand: A Thames Tour of Climate Action Skills

Immersive Workshop

Roles and skills in urban systems

3 hours

First Hand: New Covent Garden Market

Food Systems Walking Tour

Collaboration and Leadership

1.5 hours

First Hand: Fixing Factory Camden

Material Systems Walking Tour

Creativity  and Collaboration

2 hours

“Highly engaging and thought-provoking. From walking workshops to a skills session on the Thames Clipper – it was all sensory, relevant and truly memorable. The value of pioneering, cross-sector, peer-led learning programmes like this cannot be overstated.”

– Dominique, Supply Chain Sustainability Professional and First Hand Programme Participant, July 2025

What you can do

Explore our vision paper and the OPEN WORKS database. Understand the challenge; plot your skills needs; activate your networks.

Local authorities

Learn to identify and leverage underused places and existing projects for climate learning.

Community and advocacy

Build support for your projects by advocating for your contributions as a learning provider.

Local development

Learn how to adopt new learning and delivery models to increase climate engagement and participation.