Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner

Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) Practitioners are found in all industries and are increasingly a key component of virtually all types of business models where profit and growth are a means to an even greater end, such as protecting the environment and improving societal sustainability. This occupation is found in organisations that sit within the public, private or third-party sectors.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to be a social conscience for the organisation, helping innovate and drive ambitions for social and environmental change and make these a reality that are embedded and implemented across the organisation. The roles and responsibilities of businesses are changing rapidly; society increasingly expects that organisations should act responsibly not just to their shareholders but also to their wider stakeholders and the broader community. Business therefore is a great platform for social and environmental change and CR&S Practitioners help to drive this by delivering an organisation’s CR&S strategy ("The Strategy"), releasing the power of business to contribute positively towards social and environmental outcomes.

Typical activities include:

Interact with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
Facilitate change by helping others to understand how different roles fit within the strategy and can contribute to the greater good of the community

This course is perfect for individuals who are passionate about ethical and sustainable business practices that benefit society and the environment. To see whether you’re eligible for this apprenticeship, you will need to complete a skill scan to check your knowledge prior to starting.

Entry Requirements:

Down to the discretion of individual employers but typically includes:

Level 2 English and Mathematics, or equivalent (can be completed during the apprenticeship)
Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery
16 or over
Not in Full-Time Education

All apprenticeship standards cover three overall sections, these being Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours. Each of these areas is associated with a specific standard and covers topics that are relevant to that industry and profession. The core topics covered for the Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Practitioner Level 4 apprenticeship are below.

Knowledge:

Principles of Project Management
Principles of Change management and Culture Management
CR&S Data
Types of Metrics and Insight Evidence
Positioning of the CR&S function within Organisational and Governance Structures
Techniques for Managing and Influencing Stakeholder Relationships
Principles of Negotiating a CR&S Project
The Principles of Data Management
Factors that contribute to successful CR&S Event Management
The Principles of CR&S Fundraising
Quality Assurance Techniques
The Importance & Impact of the Sector Specific Factors
The Principles of Risk Management
Horizon Scanning Techniques
Principles of CR&S Related Budget Management
The Range of Sustainable Practices available to any organisation

Skills:

Select and Implement Project Management and Planning Tools
Assess the Effectiveness of Change and Identify Opportunities
Balance own CR&S workload
Utilise Strengths of Internal Organisational Structures
Tailor Approach to Maintaining new/existing External Stakeholder Relationships
Contribute to written reports on CR&S performance in line with organisational requirements
Analyse Data to form evidence-based conclusions on CR&S performance
Deliver CR&S Events in accordance with contractual arrangements
Quality Assure
Identify own Organisations CR&S opportunities and threats.
Apply Management Techniques
Train Colleagues in CR&S Techniques

Behaviours:

Actively Champion the CR&S Agenda/Ethos
Committed to Developing Self and Others
Works within Own Level of Authority, seeking support when needed
Takes the Lead in Helping others to achieve CR&S results. (within limits of own role)
Seeks Innovative Ways to add value to CR&S issues while remaining objective
Stand by difficult CR&S decisions and hold your team/organisation to account
Ethical and Non-Judgmental

The training is a blended learning delivery model, which occurs on the job during working hours. A structured learning and assessment plan is put in place to test core components of the course along the way.

This consists of:

1-to-1 monthly meeting: Approx. two hours with a GLP Trainer (face-to-face or telephone)
Online learning courses and/or group sessions
Building an electronic portfolio of work-related evidence
Maths and English Level 2 (if not previously achieved)
6 hours a week spent working towards your apprenticeship.
End Point Assessment by an external examiner to complete the qualification, consisting of a resourcing project assignment and a professional discussion

To achieve the qualification, within which you can either get a result of Pass, Distinction or Fail, you will be assessed both throughout the period of your apprenticeships, as well as in the final stages with an End Point Assessment (EPA).

End Point Assessment:

The EPA period will only start once the employer is satisfied that the apprentice is consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard. In addition, the apprentice must have completed the following gateway requirements prior to beginning EPA:

Functional Skills Qualification (if required to do so).

The end point assessment process which typically takes 3 months and is carried out by Academy 4 PM, consists of two components:

Project Report

Apprentices complete a 16-week project independently, guided only by the employer and EPAO, producing a 5,000-word report and subsequent presentation, with the EPAO scheduling the presentation at least two weeks after report submission, allowing assessors five days to review.

Presentation with Question and Answer

A presentation based on a problem, whereby the apprentice will have to propose solutions and reasonings for this. This presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.

The combined score of these two methods will provide the final grade for the apprenticeship.

APPRENTICESHIP

Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner

Be a social conscience for the organisation, helping innovate and drive ambitions for social and environmental change.

Level

4

Duration

24+months

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LINKS TO OUR PATHWAYS

This Apprenticeship Standard is also linked to our

Leadership and Sustainability Pathway

providing amazing career progression opportunities.

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Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner

4

24+months

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