Skills Bootcamp: Future Climate Leaders

A ten-week course for Devon-based individuals looking to support sustainable business practices within their organisation
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About this course

The Future Climate Leaders course is designed to equip learners with the skills, tools and knowledge needed to drive sustainability within their organisation. It prepares learners to be proactive, informed and influential in tackling environmental challenges, making them champions of a sustainable future.

What you'll learn

Through an innovative, science-based curriculum, inspiring case studies and hands-on environmental challenges, learners will explore the levers of climate change, develop sustainable leadership skills and discover how to implement practical solutions for a healthier planet and a thriving organisation.
By the end of the course, you will have a well developed sustainability project ready to implement as well as a robust action plan, leadership skills and a recognised certification that underscores your expertise and commitment to climate leadership. This course aligns with UNESCO competencies for sustainable leadership.
Close up of young plants / crops growing in a field.

  • ?Create actionable strategies

  • ?Feel empowered to lead change

  • ?Connect with like-minded professionals

  • ? Develop essential leadership qualities

  • ?Gain insights from leading experts in sustainability

  • ?Learn how to implement sustainable practices

 
 

Course content
* Doughnut Economics: Inspired by Oxford scholar Kate Raworth, this innovative approach redefines economic growth by balancing human needs within planetary boundaries.
2 Systems Thinking and the Circular Economy: Gain a new perspective with Systems Thinking, building on Donella Meadows' work, and explore the Circular Economy’s potential to eliminate waste and redefine value.
b Policy, Regulation, Mitigation, and Adaptation: Examine the influence of global, national, and regional policies on regulations, shaping the mitigation and adaptation strategies in response to climate challenges.
x Problem Solving, Strategic and Critical Thinking: Enhance your ability to develop innovative solutions, craft effective strategies and identify critical pathways for sustainable success.
] Business for Good and Funding: Discover how purpose-driven businesses secure funding while delivering measurable social and environmental impact.
. Internal Communication: Learn how effective internal communication fosters alignment and builds momentum for sustainable change.
A Visioning and Mental Imagery: Join psychologists Jon Rhodes and Jackie Andrade in a session that draws on their expertise with elite sports teams, health, and addiction, using visioning and mental imagery to create bold, inspiring goals for a sustainable future.
{ Culture and Change: Discover how embedding change within culture drives lasting transformation toward sustainable goals by understanding what culture is and why change is adopted.

Key course details
Dates: Dates to follow – if you’d like to be part of our next cohort, please complete the expression of Interest form and we’ll be in touch.
Duration: This course runs one day a week for ten weeks in total. Each session is six hours in length (60 hours contact time overall).
Format: In person.
Location: Sustainability Hub, University of Plymouth, Drake's Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA.
Course Fee: Thanks to Skills Bootcamps funding from Devon County Council, the course is up to 90% funded. SMEs (fewer than 250 employees) contribute 10% (£205 plus VAT) of the course fee per learner while large companies contribute 30% (£615 plus VAT) toward the course fee. To be eligible for funding, employers must give learners additional responsibility upon completion, e.g. Sustainability Lead.
Certificate: Learners receive a Certificate of Completion issued by the University of Plymouth.

Eligibility
This course is open to employees working in organisations of any size or sector in Devon, including manufacturing, engineering, agriculture, hospitality, retail, social enterprises, charities, etc. This course is for employees at all levels who are passionate about making sustainable changes to their organisation.
To be eligible for this course, learners must be aged 19+, in employment and based in Devon.
Additional eligibility criteria include:
  • basic understanding of climate change
  • at least one year of work experience
  • passion for sustainability
  • committed to driving sustainability initiatives in their organisation
  • proactiveness and willingness to actively engage
  • open-mindedness
  • learners must be given an additional responsibility at work upon completion, e.g. Sustainability Lead.

Assessment and certification
The Future Climate Leaders course assessment is designed to be practical and directly applicable to your current work. Throughout the course, we will focus on developing a comprehensive sustainability project that you can implement within your organisation. This will involve the following components:
  • Weekly action plan development
  • Final presentation
  • Certification.

Weekly Action Plan Development
  • Integrating key lessons. Each week, learners will draw on the key lessons learned to build and refine their action plan.
  • Incremental progress. Learners will continually develop their sustainability project, incorporating new insights and strategies covered as we progress through the weekly modules.
  • Feedback sessions. Each week there will be a dedicated feedback session where learners present their progress and receive constructive feedback from both instructors and their peers. This iterative process ensures continuous improvement and practical application of the course material.

Final Presentation
  • Project presentation. At the end of the course, learners will present their completed sustainability project to the group. This presentation will showcase their action plan, their implementation strategy and expected impact on their organisation.
  • Peer review. The final presentations will be followed by peer review sessions, offering additional perspectives and suggestions for enhancement.

Certification
  • Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion of the course and submission of the final project, participants will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. This certificate recognises the learner's dedication and the skills they have acquired throughout the course.
  • 60 Continued Professional Development (CPD) hours.

Apply for a place
If you would like to apply for place on this course, please complete the expression of interest form.
 
 

Course benefits

Enterprises

  • Improve your organisation's sustainability goals, enhancing its reputation, efficiency, and resilience.
  • Develop an employee to become your organisation's sustainability lead.
  • Tackle an existing sustainability challenge within your workplace or get guidance on which sustainability challenges to start tackling.

Employees

  • Have a positive environmental impact through your work.
  • Position yourself as a sustainability leader within your organisation, opening up new roles and responsibilities and future career opportunities.
  • Learn about tools for driving environmental change in your organisation.

Staff List

 

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