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Corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioner

Alternative titles for this job include Corporate responsibility administrator, sustainability officer

Corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioners make sure that businesses work in an ethical way.

Average salary (a year)

£24,000 Starter

to

£50,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

35 to 39 a week

You could work

days / nights / weekends occasionally

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioner

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship

University

You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification that includes units on corporate responsibility and sustainability, for example:

  • environment and sustainability
  • energy and engineering
  • transport and logistics
  • economics
  • community development
  • business management

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

College

You could take a course in environmental sustainability or business management.

This may help you get some of the knowledge and skills you need to apply for trainee or apprenticeship roles.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could begin by doing a:

  • Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Sustainability Business Specialist Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship

These apprenticeships can take between 2 and 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Volunteering

An understanding of the role of sustainability is highly valued by employers and you may have an advantage if you have experience of fundraising, working with volunteers or volunteering yourself.

You can find opportunities through the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT.

More Information

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) or Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability to:

  • gain professional recognition
  • find training opportunities
  • make industry contacts

Further information

You can discover more about sustainability work and training through the Green Careers Hub.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to use your initiative
  • leadership skills
  • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
  • the ability to work well with others
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • business management skills
  • persistence and determination
  • customer service skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Restrictions and Requirements

You may need a driving licence for some jobs.

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In this job, you could:

  • plan a corporate responsibility and sustainability strategy for your company
  • persuade internal departments, partners and community groups of the benefits of your plans
  • assess the likely impact of your organisation's projects
  • stay up to date with policy and legislation and promote best practice
  • manage a budget
  • write internal and external communications

We've identified this as a green job

As a corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioner, you'll make sure that the business you are working for operates in an environmentally friendly way. This can have a positive impact on the environment.

Find out more about green careers

Working environment

You could work in the community, from home or in an office.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

You could work for private companies, non-government organisations, charities or public bodies.

With experience you could move to more senior positions either within your own organisation or by switching to a larger company.

You might also work as a consultant, specialising in particular regulatory areas, such as net zero, modern slavery, or social and environmental impact assessments.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Sustainability Advisor

  • Wage: Competitive Annually
  • Location: Canary Wharf, London, England

Sustainability Apprentice

  • Wage: £14,500 a year Annually
  • Location: Bradmarsh Business Park, Mill Close Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

L1 Award In Environmental Sustainability (ASCENTIS) (T2D)

  • Provider: SOUTH THAMES COLLEGES GROUP
  • Start date: 07 January 2025
  • Location: MORDEN

Award in Environmental Sustainability Level 2

  • Provider: Adult Learning
  • Start date: 28 April 2025
  • Location: Not known
Find courses near you

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