Course overview
In today’s business landscape, integrating sustainability is critical for long-term resilience and competitiveness. This degree apprenticeship goes beyond theoretical learning, focussing on practical skills in sustainability assessment, stakeholder engagement, and project management. Apprentices learn to create and implement strategies that align with their organisation's goals, addressing real-world sustainability challenges and contributing to a sustainable future.
What are the top five reasons to hire a Sustainability Business Specialist apprentice?
- 1. Comprehensive learning: grow skills in your workforce to execute your environmental, social and governance (ESG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals.
- 2. Day-one contribution: develop practical skills in environmental and social impact analysis that your apprentice applies immediately within your organisation.
- 3. Leadership focus: develop your future sustainability leaders. Apprentices learn essential management and communication skills to drive organisational change, lead initiatives, and effectively engage with stakeholders on sustainability issues.
- 4. Cost-effective talent development: leverage your apprenticeship levy to fund this programme and develop specialised sustainability expertise within your team. This apprenticeship allows you to upskill employees in critical areas without incurring additional training costs.
- 5. Expert-led instruction: benefit from industry insights provided by Grant Thornton, the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre and academic leaders in sustainability.
- identify future trends, technologies, and innovations in sustainable practices
- lead and manage sustainable business projects
- deliver solutions to reduce environmental footprint
- implement and enhance ESG strategies through stakeholder engagement and training
- manage environmental data, monitor sustainability performance, and ensure regulatory compliance.
How it works
Delivered through a combination of interactive workshops, case studies, and project-based learning, this apprenticeship provides hands-on experience with sustainability challenges. Apprentices work on real-world scenarios and benefit from direct application of their skills in their organisations, ensuring an impactful and relevant learning experience.
Who this apprenticeship is for
This programme is ideal for employees new to sustainability roles, as well as experienced staff involved in developing sustainability strategies or whose responsibilities increasingly involve sustainable business practices. It suits organisations across diverse sectors—including manufacturing, construction, retail, professional services, public sector, and finance—aiming to reduce environmental impact, optimise resources, and respond to evolving laws and industry standards.
Business impact and learning outcomes
Graduates of this programme will be able to:
We have partnered with leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP to launch this apprenticeship. The programme is rooted in real-world business experience and offers participants the opportunity to develop future-proof skills in sustainability leadership.
Please note, we can only respond to enquiries from employers, or individuals with agreement from their employer to undertake an apprenticeship.
Course details
Course structure
Core modules
Driving Sustainable Change Strategies
Learners explore innovative ways for organisations to thrive in economic and environmental landscapes. They draw on real-world scenarios from various domains, sectors and contexts, and think critically about the intersection of business and sustainability.
Apprentices develop an understanding of the need to transform organisations into catalysts for change, delving into topics such as corporate social responsibility, strategic direction, ethical leadership, stakeholder engagement and organisational behaviour. They engage with industry experts, discussing current trends and best practice in sustainable business strategies.
Apprentices develop an understanding of how businesses can drive positive change while maximising profits. They also learn how to navigate the challenges of modern-day business, manage organisational change, and lead the way towards a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Evaluating Sustainable Global Operations
Over the past two decades, the importance of managing environmental impact has become increasingly paramount to business success. This has led many organisations across the globe to explore their impact at an operational level and across their extended value chain, identifying areas for improvement and the development of more efficient, sustainable management practices.
Learners identify key operational challenges in value/supply chain management and explore the tools available to organisations in achieving their sustainability objectives through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Value Chain Analysis (VCA) and lean management tools linked to process improvement and identification of waste.
Sustainability and Regulatory Frameworks
Learners are introduced to international, European and UK sustainability regulatory frameworks, with an understanding of the relationship between sustainability and regulation, laws, treaties, reporting rules and guidelines. They also gain an understanding of how organisations can embrace and adhere to the various sustainability regulations, to accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy.
Sustainability Principles and Data Reporting
Learners familiarise themselves with the principles, theories and policies underpinning sustainability, and how they apply to different sectors of business and society. They gain an understanding of the risks posed by climate change to businesses, and the skills needed to effectively measure and report on the impact of these risks.
Sustainable Finance and Legislation
Learners focus on the complex relationship between climate change, businesses, financial decisions and legislation, looking at the origin, content, scale and scope of sustainable finance, and its implications internationally.
They explore the theory, history, practice and relevance of sustainable finance, considering the laws and regulations. Apprentices also examine how sustainable finance is essential for businesses to accelerate the transition to a low carbon, environmentally sustainable and resilient economy.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
Apprentices learn through a mixture of in-person workshops and online seminars, and they are supported through our digital learning platform. This flexible learning approach fits around busy work and life schedules.
The apprentice learns authentically with their peers to develop solutions to strategic challenges in organisations. They also actively participate in online discussion groups and virtual seminars, with access to a variety of other digital materials to shape their learning.
How you are assessed
Assessments are innovative and engaging, allowing the apprentice to develop their skills and qualities. They are assessed through business reports, case study analysis, presentations, self-diagnostic assessments, reflective reports, research proposal and dissertation.
Apprentices also complete an end-point assessment (EPA) to assess them against the apprenticeship standards requirement of skills, knowledge and behaviours. The EPA has two assessment methods:
- work-based project, consisting of a report, presentation and questioning
- technical interview, underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.
Entry requirements
To be accepted on to an apprenticeship course you must have support from your employer and meet the course entry requirements.
You must:
- meet the standard entry requirements for master's level study, which are normally one of the following:
a good honours degree (at least a 2:2) in a subject related to the field of study
a post-experience or professional qualifications
equivalent qualifications (including internal qualifications).
- hold and evidence level 2 qualifications including English and maths
- be employed and working at least 50% of contracted hours in England, in a senior role that supports you in achieving the apprenticeship duties
- have approval from your employer and commitment that they can support you to carry out your job role and the apprenticeship.
Applicants without an honours degree who have significant management experience are also encouraged to apply. This is managed on a case by case basis following the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning process.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
Employability
Career opportunities
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, graduates have the skills and knowledge to play a crucial role in driving sustainable practices within organisations, preparing them for a successful career in sustainability management, corporate social responsibility, environmental consulting and other related fields.
