Skills Bootcamp: Future Climate Leaders

A 60-hour course for Devon and Cornwall-based individuals looking to drive sustainable business practices within their organisation
Tree seedling ecology

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
Deadline for applications: Thursday 28 August 2025
Dates: 11 September – 18 December 2025
Duration: 60 hours
Format: Blended (four in-person full days and 10 online half days)
Location (for the in-person sessions)
In-person delivery will take place in Cornwall and Devon.
For Devon-based learners: Marine Station (Plymouth), Sustainability Hub (Plymouth) and Liskeard Library (Cornwall)
Or
For Cornwall-based learners: Marine Station (Plymouth), Health & Wellbeing Innovation Centre, Truro (Cornwall) and Liskeard Library (Cornwall)
Course Fee: Thanks to Skills Bootcamp funding, the course is up to 90% funded. SMEs (fewer than 250 employees) contribute 10% (£211.10 plus VAT) of the course fee per learner while large companies contribute 30% (£633.30 plus VAT) towards the course fee. To be eligible for funding, employers must give learners additional responsibility upon completion, e.g. a Sustainability Lead role.
Certificate: Learners receive a Certificate of Completion issued by the University of Plymouth.
Please note Cornwall Skills Bootcamp is subject to funding approval.

Eligibility
This course is open to employed individuals living in Devon or Cornwall (the employer can be any size or sector and must be UK based).

Additional eligibility criteria:
  • Learners must be aged 19 or older.
  • Have the right to work in the UK.
  • At least one year of work experience is required.
  • Upon completion, learners must be given an additional responsibility at work (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 plan to the group. This presentation will showcase their action plan, their implementation strategy and expected impact on their organisation.
  • Peer feedback. The final presentations will be followed by peer feedback 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

  • Connect your organisation’s sustainability ambitions to enhanced reputation, cost savings 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

 
About Skills Bootcamps
Our Skills Bootcamps are funded by Devon County Council and Cornwall Council through the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, helping everyone gain skills for life.
Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and an offer of an interview with an employer upon completion.

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