Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

In Brief

Start Date / Duration

There are multiple enrolments throughout the year for this course. This course can take up to 42 months to complete, made up of up to 36 months of on-programme learning and a six month End-point Assessment period.

Entry requirements

You will need to:

Be at least 16 years of age.
Find an employer to employ you as an apprentice in a role that will allow you the opportunities to develop all the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the standard. Please see our Apprenticeship Vacancies for the latest opportunities. Individual employers will set their own entry requirements and selection criteria for their apprenticeship job role.

Achieve Level 2 English and Maths prior to taking the End-point Assessment. If you hold an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and Maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.

You will achieve

You will achieve Level 4 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner Higher Apprenticeship Standard.

Course overview

Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioners are now 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.

The broad purpose of this apprenticeship is to be a social conscience for the organisation, helping innovate and drive ambitions for social and environmental change and making these a reality that is embedded and implemented across the organisation.

As an apprentice in your organisation you will be responsible for contributing towards, and in some cases taking ownership of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability campaigns, projects and events, making sure these are embedded by facilitating delivery.

Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner Apprentices are passionate about social and environmental change, and strive to role model ethical behaviour and values. It is also imperative for the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner to understand their business, the landscape and the industry it operates in, and demonstrate the value of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner to the business.

Course content

You will complete a number of duties in this apprentice role, for example:

Own and deliver initiatives and campaigns that contribute to the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability strategy.
Identify and build internal relationships in order to foster buy-in to existing and future initiatives with the aim of integrating ethical policies and behaviour into everyday business practices.
Act as a business contact by actively engaging with community organisations (charities etc.) in order to drive social and environmental impact.
Contribute to regular communications to promote initiatives and update colleagues across the business on best Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability practice.
Contribute to the development of the business’ Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability strategy.
Work with colleagues to devise a strategy that builds on the business’ existing social and environmental impact.
Plus much more.

Throughout your practical learning period, you will be guided by your Trainer to build a portfolio of evidence which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and behaviours you have developed. Once the 36 months of on-programme learning is complete, you will prepare for your End-point Assessment.

The End-point Assessment period will last for six months and there are two assessments that will take place at the end of this six-month period:

Assessment method 1: Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
Assessment method 2: Work-based project followed by a report and a presentation with questions and answers
Performance in these assessments will determine the overall apprenticeship standard grade. The overall grades available are: fail, pass or distinction.

You will need access to a computer or laptop to complete work when not at College.

You will study within the workplace and attend classes at Barnsley College’s Old Mill Lane campus, Church Street, Barnsley, S70 2YW.

On successful completion, you could also explore the opportunities around the Sustainability Business Specialist (Level 7) Apprenticeship standard or enter the industry and secure skilled employment within this area.

Business and Management