Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner

The programme equips apprentices with the skills, behaviours and knowledge to embed and implement social and environmental change across their organisation.

Module one

• Topic one: Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability in Context (origins and evolution)
• Topic two: Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Challenges (key global challenges)

Module two

• Topic three: Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Strategies (stakeholder engagement, governance, understanding what challenges responding to, prioritising)
• Topic four: Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Management Systems (planning, managing, and realising change)

Module three

• Topic five: Accounting for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability: performance metrics (introduction to core measures of environmental, social, and economic performance)
• Topic six: Sustainable Finance and Product Development (green investing, traceability and accountability, green innovation models, environmental, social, and corporate governance-based decision making)

Module four

• Topic One: Realising Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability in your organisation

The final module also ensures the apprentice has the tools to identify, plan, and deliver a real-life project. Implementing everything they have learned on the programme to make a real difference in their own organisation.

Carbon Literacy training 

Carbon Literacy is a large-scale climate change education programme that stems from Manchester’s climate change action plan. Since its inception in 2012 Carbon Literacy has been delivered across the world to over 100,000 participants.  

Manchester Met has been a key partner from the very beginning. In line with the our Leadership in Sustainability Strategy 2022-26, the target is to embed Carbon Literacy in all our programmes by 2026.  

Carbon Literacy training provides a comprehensive overview of climate change including: 

• the science behind it
• its drivers and impacts
• an understanding of the actions required by individuals, communities, and organisations to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

We aim to help participants empower themselves to plan and act on climate issues in their personal and professional lives. 

Delivered as part of the curriculum, the training consists of six one-hour modules of contact time, plus an hour of self-study. 

After the training, you can apply for a carbon literacy certificate to demonstrate your new status. 

This blended learning programme is taught through tutor-supported online study and learning, with one on-campus study block per module. Apprentices will spend eight face-to-face immersive days at our prestigious, triple accredited Business School in central Manchester for tutorials, workshops and masterclasses.

The programme is delivered, part-time over 12 months (excluding end-point assessment), with an additional four months to consolidate the portfolio and produce the project required for the end-point assessment. 

Apprentices will complete projects in their workplace, tackling challenges relevant to their employer and applying their learning directly to their organisation and its business context, supported by an academic expert in their chosen field.

A skills coach at the university and a workplace supervisor will undertake regular progress reviews and support apprentices in their work and studies.

Upon successful completion of this programme, apprentices will receive a Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner level 4 apprenticeship qualification. 

Applicants must be existing employees looking to develop their careers.

They must:

• be 18 or older
• have the right of abode and right to work in the UK to qualify for funding
• meet programme entry requirements

They also need GCSE Mathematics and English Language (grade A*-C or 9-4) or equivalent.

We will evaluate any applicants who do not have these qualifications but have relevant workplace experience.

Apprenticeships are paid for by employers, not apprentices.

Employers with a payroll of more than £3 million can use their apprenticeship levy contributions to pay for places on apprenticeship programmes.

Any business with a payroll below £3 million is eligible for government funding that will cover at least 95% of the cost of an apprenticeship programme.

Additional incentives are also available to employers who recruit new apprentices into their business.

Find out more about funding.

If you are an employer

We will support you every step of the way to offer apprenticeships at your organisation, whether you intend to upskill current employees or attract new recruits.

To find out more about how you can partner with us to offer degree apprenticeships within your organisation, fill out our contact form. You can also get in touch by phone on 0161 247 3720 (9:30am - 4:00pm Monday to Friday) or by email at [email protected].

If you are an employee

If you are already employed, encourage your employer to contact us to discuss offering an apprenticeship.

If you are a student

Sign up to our degree apprenticeship mailing list to get alerts about vacancies and events.

For more information and advice on applying for an apprenticeship, visit our guide.