Credibility, confidence and collaborative focus: The impact of studying for a sustainability apprenticeship at Cranfield

For participants on Cranfield’s Sustainability Business Specialist Apprenticeship, it doesn’t take long for their studies to start to have an impact, with that impact ranging from personal growth and career progression, to organisational effect at the highest levels.

The course – a part-time Level 7 apprenticeship designed in consultation with industry – aims to deepen knowledge of the theory and practice of organisational sustainability and help students build the personal competencies needed to lead and manage change towards improved sustainability performance.

Katie’s story

For second-year student Katie Barrett – Energy Project Manager at high street retail bank NatWest – the course has helped her to identify and overcome a ‘laser focus’ that had become a necessity as a working mum to three children and embrace a broader range of ideas and information supporting improved solutioning.

She said: “I’ve really enjoyed the course, and it has helped me not only to grow my knowledge, but also to think in a very different way to how I would have done before.”

“It has improved my confidence when communicating to senior stakeholders by enabling me to think critically, and to understand where I can get credible information from.”

“Before, I would have questioned if I had the most up-to-date, correct information, if I really understood it, or if someone else knew more. That meant I struggled to verbalise my thoughts to senior stakeholders as I didn’t have confidence in what I was saying.”

“I’ve also learned the importance of building a network that includes other experts,” she added. “Being able to draw on other people’s expertise and understand how they are applying sustainability in their industry and company is so powerful.”

“Not all the challenges we face are ours alone, and sometimes we need to partner with others to achieve our objectives.”

 Dave’s story

For fellow second-year student Dave Roffey – Director of Projects and Sustainability at the Bedford College Group – his first year of study at Cranfield contributed to a prestigious award win for his employer.

The Group scooped top prize for its commitment to decarbonisation and sustainability across its campuses in the 2030 climate action category at the 2024 Green Gown Awards, which recognise best practice in sustainability initiatives across the further and higher education sectors.

For Dave personally, participating in the apprenticeship has unlocked access to better data sources, improved his confidence and influence, and given him better understanding of his strengths and weakness, as well as those of others around him.

He said: “When I joined Cranfield, I wondered what I had let myself in for. I was 53, with no academic or university background, doing a Master’s degree.

“But there are some great lectures and lecturers. The cohort is amazing; there are so many different people from different companies and specialisms and backgrounds. There’s always someone that’s able to help you or be helped by you.”

“[Participating in the course] has helped me push sustainability up the agenda,” he added. “It is now a key pillar of our strategic plan, with every teaching area asked to include sustainability within its curriculum.

“I’ve become a better sustainability advocate, speaking at conferences, webinars and events, including with my local MP. It’s made me believe in myself and helped to fulfil one of my goals for the Group to become a leader within the sustainability sector.”

 Ana’s story

Studying for the apprenticeship has also been a positive experience for Ana Sanséau-Blanchard, Product Sustainability Manager for industrial coatings at AkzoNobel.

Using her new-found knowledge gained on the course, she has been able to better understand not only her own company’s ESG reporting, but also those of its customers.

She said: “I now know how to find and understand information about our customers, which I can use when I engage with them. This enables me to address sustainability topics which are relevant to them and discuss how these align with our ambitions.”

“We can have a much more open conversation, rather than trying to push our sustainability agenda at them. We can talk about how we can work together on common goals. It’s a way of working that I think is a lot more constructive.”

Learning about different carbon accounting methods has allowed Ana to help her company’s R&D team incorporate supplier data to calculate the carbon footprint of its newest, bio-based products, as well as keep a more critical eye on supplier claims and how they would impact AkzoNobel’s products.

Meanwhile, she is also engaging in a further project to try to understand the impact of solvents on the environment beyond carbon emissions, and how that information may be used to influence customers to switch to solvent-free or water-based products.

 Creating impact

For the course director and Associate Professor of Sustainability Dr Rosina Watson, the impact and influence of studying sustainability at Cranfield is in no doubt.

Speaking to students at a recent event about her passion and pride in being instrumental to the Cranfield sustainability trajectory since 2019, she said:

“There’s no better time to be studying sustainability at Cranfield. The scale of what we’re doing is accelerating and we’re having a big impact.

“All across the UK and beyond, students from this course are making waves and having an influence, which is fantastic to see.”

Indeed, Cranfield is ranked in the top 10% of universities in the world for its contribution towards achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals, with its partnerships with industry to drive real change a key part of its success (Source: Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024).

The university was also shortlisted for a 2024 Green Gowns Award, with the Sustainability Business Specialist Apprenticeship’s contribution to green skills recognised in the Tomorrow’s Employees category. Meanwhile, the course team’s innovative Exploring Sustainable Futures game recently won a Financial Times Responsible Business Award for its contribution to teaching.

About the Sustainability Business Specialist Apprenticeship

The Sustainability Business Specialist Apprenticeship incorporates a Sustainability MSc and equips participants with professional recognitions as a Registered Environmental Practitioner and either Practitioner Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) or Chartered Environmentalist depending on their level of experience prior to attending the course. Participation may be part-funded by eligible employers’ apprenticeship levy payments.

The course is primarily delivered online, with participants coming together annually for a three-day residential at Cranfield where they also get the chance to hear from previous and current students about their successes at work.