COURSE
L4 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner
Corporate Responsibility & 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.
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.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a variety of internal and external stakeholders at different levels and across one or multiple sites/countries. They facilitate change by helping others to understand how different roles fit within the strategy and how everyone’s contribution can impact the greater good.
Practitioners may also reach out to the community in order to work collaboratively, and in some cases to understand the views of external organisations such as charities, social enterprises, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), or local and central government. Furthermore, CR&S Practitioners are often ambassadors for their organisations, championing their CR&S strategy and expanding their network of influence in order to bring about a positive impact.
CR&S Practitioner will be responsible for contributing towards, and in some cases ownership of CR&S, campaigns, projects and events, making sure these are embedded by facilitating delivery. Depending on the size of the organisation, the CR&S Practitioner may be expected to contribute towards strategy design, internal and external communications and reporting, data management, research and horizon-scanning, and supporting budget management. Ultimately, they will be responsible for helping to ensure their organisation acts to embed The Strategy into every-day business practices and in turn managing risk and reputation.
This is not a routine office job; the CR&S Practitioner will typically be working on multiple initiatives covering a variety of geographies, focus areas, and stakeholders. For example, managing employee volunteering initiatives, fundraising for charities, human rights, carbon reduction, waste management, energy efficiency etc. Therefore, the CR&S Practitioner’s day-to-day responsibilities will vary depending on circumstances and in turn means they could work independently, in a team, or collaboratively with multiple stakeholders The CR&S Practitioner is also expected to be adaptable, able to thrive in a changeable environment, and support others through the process.
It is vital for a CR&S Practitioner to be passionate about social and environmental change, and strive to role model ethical behaviour and values. It is also imperative for the CR&S Practitioner to understand their business, the landscape and industry it operates in, and demonstrate the value of CR&S to the business.
Job Roles this qualification is suitable for:
Examples of a green job role this qualification is suitable for but not limited to are:
- Community Investment Coordinator
- Corporate Citizenship Administrator
- Corporate Responsibility (CR) Administrator
- Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
- Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Administrator
- Philanthropy Coordinator
- Responsible Business Coordinator
- Social Impact Administrator
- Sustainability Coordinator
Entry Requirements:
- Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment.
- For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3.
- British Sign Language qualification is an alternative to English qualification for whom this is their primary language.
How long will it take to complete?
The qualification takes around 36 months on-programme plus 6 months EPA to complete. The apprentice must be on-programme for at least a year excluding the end-point assessment duration.
Aims of this qualification
The aim of this qualification is to support the apprentice’s understanding of the 3 key areas covering Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours by focussing on the following occupational duties of the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner:
- Duty 1 Own and deliver initiatives and campaigns that contribute to the Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability (CR&S) strategy.
- Duty 2 Identify and build internal relationships in order to foster buy-in to existing and future CR&S initiatives with the aim of integrating ethical policies and behaviour into everyday business practices.
- Duty 3 Act as a business contact by actively engaging with community organisations (charities etc.) in order to drive social and environmental impact.
- Duty 4 Contribute to regular communications to promote initiatives and update colleagues across the business on CR&S best practice.
- Duty 5 Contribute to the development of the business’ CR&S strategy. Work with colleagues to devise a strategy that builds on the business’ existing social and environmental impact.
- Duty 6 Collect and input CR&S data from across the business in order to contribute said data to industry and mandatory reporting requirements e.g. Modern Slavery Act, Gender Pay Gap etc.
- Duty 7 Help organise CR&S events that engage internal and external stakeholders by owning the administrative and logistical aspects.
- Duty 8 Quality-assure internal and external projects and campaigns, both in the UK and where applicable in other countries, to ensure that CR&S activities are compliant with regulatory standards.
- Duty 9 Identify relevant social and environmental risks to the business and escalate internal and external stakeholders accordingly. Recognise risks to own organisation’s corporate reputation, whether through action or inaction, recommending actions to remedy the issue.
- Duty 10 Keep abreast of developments to ensure the business is aware of current and future opportunities and challenges in relation to social & environmental issues by representing the business at CR&S events and conferences.
- Duty 11 Monitor spend on CR&S activity in order to achieve targets within spend. Escalate budgetary risks to senior leaders.
- Duty 12 Help to ensure that all colleagues, where appropriate, are trained on the practical application and integration of CR&S to their daily duties.
- Duty 13 Contribute towards the business submitting to industry/topic-specific rankings and relevant memberships to third-party accreditations which measure the social and environmental impact of the business; examples include but not limited to Business In The Community (BITC) Responsible Business Tracker, United Nations (UN) Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), Social Mobility Employer Index, Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, GivX.
- Duty 14 Contribute CR&S information and news towards internal and external communication channels such as internal newsletters or social media posts.
- Duty 15 Contribute to fundraising activity that enables internal and/or external CR&S projects.
How is it delivered?
Apprentices will be allocated a qualified tutor to support the full completion of the apprenticeship and prepare them for the end-point assessment (sometimes 2 tutors will be required at different times for teaching different elements). The tutor will undertake engaging and interactive teaching, learning and support sessions with the apprentice on a regular basis (at least every 4-5 weeks) remotely via Zoom or in the workplace if appropriate to conduct teaching, learning and assessments. These will be planned with the apprentice and employer.
The tutor will manage a portfolio of evidence using an online electronic system called OneFile and give regular updates about progress. Apprentices can contact their tutor in-between visits to discuss any aspect of their qualification and will be able to access their online portfolio 24/7.
Learning Outcomes:
- Level 4 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner
- Level 2 Functional Skills in English
- Level 2 Functional Skills in maths
On Programme Learning:
On-programme assessment of knowledge, skills and behaviours will lead to the final synoptic end-point assessment.
Assessment Gateway
Before the apprentice is adjudged ready to undertake the end-point assessment by their employer and training provider, they will need to:
- Achieve Level 2 in English and maths Functional Skills.
- Receive confirmation from the employer that the apprentice is working consistently at or above the level set out in the Level 4 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner apprenticeship standard.
- Submit a portfolio of evidence for the professional discussion. The portfolio of evidence should contain 16 discrete pieces of evidence. Evidence sources may include workplace documentation/records, witness statements, annotated photographs and video clips.
- Submit the project title, brief summary and terms of reference to be agreed between the employer, the apprentice and EPAO for the work-based project followed by a report and a presentation with questions and answers.
The purpose of the end-point assessment is to test (in a synoptic way) the skills, knowledge and behaviours of the apprentice as set out in the apprenticeship standard.
The end-point assessment provides apprentices with a showcase opportunity to provide oral and documentary evidence of their knowledge, skills and behaviours developed throughout the apprenticeship. Enables the independent assessor to assess the skills and behaviours of the apprentice by observing the apprentice in the course of their normal work. Tests the knowledge acquired by the apprentice throughout the apprenticeship.
End Point Assessment
The end-point assessment will comprise two assessments. All assessments must be individually passed for the apprentice to be deemed competent:
- Professional Discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence:
A professional discussion is a 60 minutes formal two-way conversation between an independent assessor and an apprentice. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to make detailed and proactive contributions to confirm their competency across the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The professional discussion will take place at the EPAO’s or employer’s premises or by video conferencing. The apprentice may refer to their portfolio during the professional discussion.The independent assessor will ask at least 10 questions. Follow-up questions are allowed. The purpose of the independent assessor’s questions will be to assess the following four themes:
- CR&S business structures & opportunities
- CR&S relationships
- CR&S strategy and management
- CR&S principles
- The CR&S learning agenda
Grading for Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence: Pass/Distinction
- Work-based project followed by a report and a presentation with questions and answers:
The work-based project is designed to ensure that the apprentice’s work meets the needs of the CR&S employer, is relevant to their role and allows the relevant KSBs to be demonstrated for the EPA.
This assessment method includes two components: - a project report – the project report of 5000 words (plus appendices, references, diagrams etc.) is compiled and delivered after the apprentice has gone through the gateway and completed the work-based project.
- a presentation with question and answer component to ensure the apprentice is assessed against their evidence – Apprentices will prepare and deliver a presentation that appropriately covers the KSBs assigned to this method of assessment. The presentation must be completed after the gateway and once the project report has been completed and submitted. The presentation will last for 20 minutes followed by 25 minutes of questioning. The presentation and questioning will take place at the EPAO’s or employer’s premises or by video conferencing.
The presentation will be based on the project report and will cover:- a summary of the problem, recurring issue or idea/opportunity
- methodology – why the apprentice adopted their chosen approach
- high-level findings
- recommendations
- a summary of the project’s conclusion and plans for evaluation.
Grading for Work-based project followed by a report and a presentation with questions and answers: Pass/Distinction
Overall apprenticeship standard grade: Pass/Distinction
Progression routes:
On completion of the Level 4 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner Apprenticeship, you can progress onto the Level 4 Policy Officer or Level 7 Senior Leader apprenticeship standard.