Courses

Resources

Everything

Suggested

Suggested

Psychology Business & management Graphic design Online courses Engineering

Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner Apprenticeship

Level 4

Summary

Study level

Undergraduate

Award

Apprenticeship

Part time

15 months, plus end point assessment

Location

Nationwide

Download Brochure

What makes Arden University special?

Education for everyone, everywhere

Whether you're constrained by location, cost, time, or other life commitments, we're passionate about giving you access to higher education that fits into your busy, modern life.

You decide how and where to study

We offer a wide range of flexible undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both our online and blended study modes.

Full support both online and on-site

We're also proud to offer non-standard entry, meaning your work experience and previous qualifications are taken into account when assessing your application.

Strong focus on employability

You will gain in-depth subject knowledge and transferable skills that employers from a huge range of industries will value. Many of our courses at Arden are also accredited by leading professional bodies in the UK.

Course Overview

This Level 4 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner Apprenticeship is designed for individuals responsible for supporting sustainability initiatives, ESG activity, social value, responsible business practices or organisational change.

Through real workplace learning, apprentices will develop the skills to engage stakeholders, support sustainability strategy, improve ESG reporting, influence positive change and deliver initiatives that create measurable social, environmental and organisational impact.

The Empowering Change in Sustainable Practice Level 4 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner Apprenticeship is a workforce capability programme designed to help organisations embed sustainability, social value and responsible business practices into everyday operations.

Increasingly, sustainability capability is becoming a commercial requirement, not a “nice to have”. Organisations are under growing pressure to evidence ESG commitments, deliver against net zero ambitions, improve social value reporting and demonstrate responsible business impact.

This apprenticeship helps turn sustainability ambitions into practical organisational action.

The programme develops the capability to embed Environmental, Social and Governance principles across business operations, strengthening organisational performance, improving reporting and governance, and building long-term resilience.

Apprentices will develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to support sustainability initiatives, engage stakeholders, contribute to responsible business strategy and deliver measurable social and environmental impact in real workplace contexts.

By the end of the apprenticeship, learners will be able to support and deliver sustainability and corporate responsibility initiatives that align business performance with social and environmental value.

This apprenticeship is suitable for individuals working in, or moving into, sustainability, ESG, social value, responsible business, culture change or organisational improvement roles.

The programme is also suitable for employees who are already supporting ESG initiatives, carbon reduction activity, sustainability reporting, stakeholder engagement, community projects, volunteering, wellbeing, social value or responsible business practices. It is rarely just for sustainability specialists. It is designed for people across organisations who need to turn sustainability goals into practical, measurable delivery.

Quick tools

Explore your brochure

Download the course brochure to take a look at your course modules and syllabus content.

Download brochure

Speak to an advisor

Want to speak to one of our subject experts? Our advisors are ready to answer your questions! Click below to get started.

Career development resources

You'll have online access to a huge range of career development tools from the day you start studying.

Learn more

Course details and modules

This apprenticeship is delivered through a structured learning journey, progressing through five defined phases.

The programme builds capability from strategic sustainability awareness through to applied ESG delivery, stakeholder leadership, project implementation and assessment preparation.

Modules

You’ll be introduced to the apprenticeship and begin developing the core professional and academic skills needed to operate effectively within modern organisational environments.

This includes understanding programme expectations, building confidence in communication and collaboration, and developing essential professional behaviours.

You’ll also explore the purpose and impact of corporate responsibility and sustainability, including the shift from philanthropy to a strategic business priority.

You’ll begin developing your role as a social conscience within your organisation, understanding governance structures, organisational responsibility and how sustainability aligns with commercial objectives.

Phase 1: The Strategic Navigator – Understanding Global ESG Foundations

Months 2–4
You’ll develop a strong understanding of the external frameworks and internal structures that shape sustainability strategy and performance.
You’ll explore ESG legislation, industry best practice, governance models and organisational responsibilities, gaining a clear understanding of how sustainability is embedded at both strategic and operational levels.
You’ll learn how to analyse risks and opportunities, identify sustainable practices that create value for both the organisation and society, and apply horizon scanning techniques to identify emerging trends and innovations.
You’ll also begin contributing to strategic thinking, supporting the development of frameworks that guide organisational sustainability activity.

Phase 2: The Human Lever – Culture Change and Social Impact

Months 5–7
You’ll focus on embedding sustainability through people, culture and behaviour.
You’ll develop the practical skills to deliver corporate responsibility and sustainability initiatives that engage colleagues, build awareness and drive meaningful participation across your organisation.
You’ll design and deliver training, support communication of sustainability priorities and lead initiatives such as community projects, social value activity and fundraising programmes.
You’ll also evaluate organisational culture and identify opportunities to strengthen impact through continuous improvement and innovation, recognising that lasting change is driven by people as much as processes.

Phase 3: Digital ESG in Practice

Months 8–10
You’ll develop the technical capability to manage, analyse and report on ESG performance data to support informed decision-making and organisational accountability.
This includes working with complex data sets, interpreting performance metrics and producing high-quality reports for internal stakeholders and external requirements.
You’ll learn how to identify risks and escalate issues effectively, manage competing priorities and support compliance with organisational and regulatory expectations.
You’ll also explore how digital tools and emerging technologies, including AI, can improve efficiency, automate reporting and strengthen data-driven sustainability governance.

Phase 4: Stakeholder Leadership and Project Implementation

Months 11–13
You’ll build leadership capability, enabling you to plan, deliver and evaluate corporate responsibility and sustainability initiatives that create tangible organisational and societal impact.
You’ll manage the full lifecycle of sustainability campaigns and projects, from planning through to delivery and evaluation.
You’ll develop skills in stakeholder engagement, communication and influence, working with internal teams and external partners to achieve shared goals.
You’ll also explore how sustainability strategy links to brand, workforce engagement and organisational reputation, ensuring that your work delivers both measurable outcomes and long-term value.

Phase 5: Assessment Events

Months 14–15
In the final phase, you’ll consolidate your knowledge, skills and behaviours and apply them within real workplace and assessment contexts.
You’ll demonstrate how you contribute to sustainability strategy, engage stakeholders and deliver initiatives that create measurable social, environmental and organisational impact.
As part of assessment preparation, you’ll produce a portfolio of evidence, complete a workplace project and prepare for assessment events.
This phase supports readiness for the professional discussion, work-based project, report, presentation and Q&A.

Final Apprenticeship Assessment

Assessment is designed to show that apprentices can apply corporate responsibility and sustainability principles in a practical organisational context.

Apprentices will demonstrate how they contribute to sustainability strategy, engage stakeholders and deliver initiatives that create measurable social, environmental and organisational impact.

Assessment includes:

A professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
A work-based project, report, presentation and Q&A

The assessment provides clear evidence that apprentices can embed sustainability into organisational practice and deliver meaningful, long-term impact.

Study options

Your apprenticeship is supported through four key online platforms, each designed to help you learn, apply, and track your progress effectively:

BUD – The central hub for your learning journey. Here you will follow the Diagnose, Develop, Demonstrate, Debrief cycle, apply your learning in the workplace, and build your portfolio of evidence over time. BUD is also where you will record your off-the-job hours.

iLearn – This platform hosts key learning content and interactive knowledge checks that mark the end of each monthly learning cycle. iLearn helps you consolidate your learning throughout the programme and provides links to live workshops and pre-recorded webinars.

Zoom – All live workshops and Academic Skills sessions are delivered via Zoom, giving you interactive, real-time learning experiences.

Teams – Your orientation, first day of learning, and ongoing coaching sessions take place on Teams, providing a space for collaboration, support, and communication with your coaches.

During your orientation, you will receive a full introduction to each platform, ensuring you know how to access and make the most of the tools available throughout your apprenticeship.

his apprenticeship is delivered through online learning, live virtual teaching and workplace-based application.

Delivery includes:

Self-guided online learning
Recorded webinars
Live virtual teaching sessions
1:1 coaching and support
Progress reviews
Workplace-based project application

Apprentices are expected to complete an average of 8 hours of off-the-job learning per week to support completion of the programme requirements.

It’s been absolutely brilliant. The development days allow us to bounce ideas off each other and gain experience from people with different backgrounds. It really brings our online learning to life. I really look forward to attending these.

Rob Wyatt

Senior Leader Masters Degree Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.

What you need to study with us

Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study in a flexible and convenient way. That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you'll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing thousands of ebooks, as well as tools for creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course.

Eligibility

Be in employment in a job with responsibilities aligned with the apprenticeship standard

Have evidence of funding eligibility from their employer

Hold a GCSE Grade A*-C /9-4; OR a have completed recognised Access Programme or equivalent. Please note:

All applicants will undertake an initial assessment in English and Maths competency
Applicants must achieve a minimum of Level 1 to demonstrate readiness to study and ensure appropriate support to succeed on programme

Meet DfE apprenticeship funding residency requirements

Remain in contracted employment for the duration of the apprenticeship, including EPA

English and Maths Requirements for Apprentices

To help you succeed in your apprenticeship, it's important you have the right level of English and maths. Here’s what you need to know:

If you're aged 16 to 18 and don’t already have, or cannot provide evidence of, a Level 2 qualification (GCSE or equivalent) in English and/or maths, you’ll be required to study these subjects as part of your apprenticeship. This is a mandatory part of your training.

If you're 19 or older and don’t already have, or cannot provide evidence of, a Level 2 qualification in English and/or maths, your employer will decide whether you need to take standalone qualifications during your apprenticeship. This offers more flexibility based on your role and development needs.

Course fees and funding

The apprenticeship funding band for this programme is £14,000.

For levy-paying employers, the full cost of the apprenticeship can be covered through the apprenticeship levy.

For non-levy paying employers, a proportion of the programme cost is paid by the employer, with the majority funded through government co-contribution, subject to the latest apprenticeship funding rules.

Find your country

I am a student from

Use the dropdown above to find course fees and funding information for your country. If you can’t find information for your country in the dropdown, visit our International support page.

Meet the faculty

Here at Arden University we strive to provide a fresh and unique approach to your business and management education. With ideas and experiences taken from employers and thought leaders across the world, we give you the opportunity to put proven business skills and techniques into practice during your studies. I look forward to welcoming you to the Arden University family.

Professor Dilshad Sheikh

Dean of the Faculty of Business

Career prospects

related courses

This apprenticeship supports progression into sustainability, ESG, corporate responsibility, social value and responsible business roles.

Successful apprentices may progress into roles or development pathways linked to:

Sustainability Coordinator
ESG Coordinator
Corporate Responsibility Officer
Social Value Officer
CSR Officer
Responsible Business Coordinator
Sustainability Advisor
ESG Reporting Assistant
Environmental or Sustainability Support roles
Community Impact Coordinator
Supply Chain Sustainability roles
People, culture or DEI roles with responsible business focus

The programme helps learners build a strong foundation for long-term careers in sustainability and responsible business, while also supporting internal progression for employees taking on ESG or social value responsibilities as part of a wider role.

Industry skills

Throughout the apprenticeship, learners will develop practical workplace skills in:

ESG and sustainability strategy awareness
Corporate responsibility practice
Social value delivery
Stakeholder engagement
Internal and external communication
ESG data, reporting and governance
Risk identification and escalation
Culture change and employee engagement
Sustainability project delivery
Community and social impact activity
Responsible business practice
Digital tools and emerging technologies in ESG
Reflective practice and portfolio evidence development

Professional recognition

Successful completion of this apprenticeship demonstrates occupational competence against the Level 4 Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship Standard.

Apprentices will be able to evidence their ability to apply project management principles in a real workplace context and contribute to successful project outcomes, service improvement, operational performance and organisational transformation.