Aston Centre for Growth Empowers Coventry Businesses to Go Greener with Sustainability Bootcamp
Experts at Aston Business School say with the urgent need to address climate change and meet net zero targets, businesses are increasingly feeling the pressure to implement sustainable practices. However, not all companies have the knowledge, skills, and resources to make meaningful progress towards sustainability.
To bridge this gap, Aston Centre for Growth has launched the Green Advantage Skills Bootcamp. The 12-week programme equips businesses with the tools and insights they need to create a clear sustainability roadmap and make a positive impact in their workplace.
Delivered by industry experts and leading academics from Aston University, the course covers a range of topics including understanding the environmental impact of business operations, identifying opportunities for sustainable practices, and creating a sustainability strategy.
Participants will benefit from interactive workshops, one-to-one coaching, and peer learning, helping them to develop practical and effective solutions that will benefit both their businesses and the environment.
The Green Advantage Skills Bootcamp is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority and is designed to be accessible to businesses of all sizes. A mix of online and in-person workshops are available to accommodate participants' needs.
The course has already delivered three highly successful cohorts since October 2022, with participating companies including Mars UK, Handelsbanken, National Grid, Shrewsbury Town Council, Mills & Reeve and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, alongside many successful small businesses from across the West Midlands.
Paula Whitehouse, director of Aston Centre for Growth, said:
“We recognise that many businesses face challenges in implementing sustainable practices, so the Green Advantage Skills Bootcamp is designed to help businesses overcome these obstacles by providing practical tools, expert guidance, and peer learning opportunities.
“Our goal is to empower business leaders to take meaningful action in a way that aligns with the overall vision and strategy of their organisation and contributes to a greener, more sustainable future.”
Rose Gardner, social impact & social enterprise specialist at Make an Impact CIC which was among the first to participate in the course when it launched in October 2022, said:
“Having a chance to discuss and to hear from others was really valuable.
“The workshops were excellent in terms of speakers and content but what I loved most was the peer learning.
“Some of the challenges and solutions shared by peers on the programme really helped to inform my own thinking.
“It is not often that you get 30 people in a room, from such diverse organisations, all keen and committed to improving the sustainability of their organisations.”
Michael Lee, is founder of Go Points and joined the course at the start of 2023 for cohort 2, and said:
“We were able to get very specific and tailored advice on our companies, business models, strategies and implementation methods, and how our company can become more sustainable.”
Find out more about the course here.
