Leading Sustainability
Overview
The world is on track for a catastrophic 2.7C of global heating by the end of the century. We have just passed 1.5C for the first time. How clear are you on what this means for you as a leader, for how your business is positioned, and for the system-level shifts needed across the built environment industry?
Capturing insights and knowledge from UKGBC’s sustainability leadership programmes, Leading Sustainability is a four-week short-course that conveys the key concepts and take-aways required to deepen your understanding, expand thinking, and drive behaviour change at individual, organisational, and system level. It is designed to empower participants to lead progress, whatever their job title.
This course is perfect for busy leaders who want to get started in their role as a leader for sustainability, or for those already more well-versed leaders in need of a boost of inspiration and to refine their skills alongside a cohort of passionate peers.
Outcomes
Format
Leading Sustainability content is delivered over four weeks via three methods to suit all learning styles, enable peer discussion, activate thinking, and inspire you as you manage your busy jobs:
1. Sustainability Leadership Companion
An easily accessible written guide addressing the case for action, leaders’ purpose and key attributes, innovation, storytelling, systems change, and more. It delves into what’s needed at organisational level, giving practical examples and cases at project and personal leadership level. It is designed to:
Participants will also be directed to various resources from UKGBC’s learning library and granted access to our Sustainability Essentials email course in order to upskill on key sustainability topics within the built environment in their own time.
2. Leading Sustainability WhatsApp course
Over four weeks, this digital course explores core sustainability leadership concepts through compact and manageable learning insights, each summarised with practical actions and next-step suggestions. Learnings are deployed through WhatsApp messages, with a 1-2 hour per week time commitment for reading and reflection, and UKGBC facilitators helping guide participants to share thoughts and experiences. It is designed to:
3. Online and face-to-face* group discussion and facilitated learning
The course offers two online and one in-person group check-ins and learning opportunities for delegates to meet each other and the course facilitators. The conversations bring together learnings and reflections from the course to:
When and where
- 29th May 2025 – virtual kick off (1h30)
- 12th June 2025 – face-to-face session (5-6h London)*
- 18th June 2025 – Reflection session
The Sustainability Leadership Companion and access to other learning materials will be issued in the weeks before course commencement. The WhatsApp course will begin on Monday 26th May and conclude on Friday 20th June 2025, with 1-2 hours of time anticipated per week.
Exact timings and location confirmed neared the time.
*For those who are unable to attend the face-to-face session, a discount can be applied and an alternative 1 hour online check-in with course facilitators provided.
Who should take part
Every one of us has the potential to act as a leader within our spheres of influence, regardless of position or job title. This course will support you think through your own agency and help build your confidence in leading for sustainability. It is open to sustainability and non-sustainability professionals, with some self-directed sustainability literacy and knowledge included. Leading Sustainability may particularly benefit those in their mid-level career stages, but will benefit anyone who is:
Cost
- UKGBC member full course – £125
- Non-member full course – £300
- UKGBC member online only – £65
- Non-member online only – £180
- Keystone member – 15% discount
Get involved
Related
UKGBC Leadership Lite
Future Leaders 2023 – Summer
UKGBC Leadership Lite – May 23
UKGBC Leadership Lite – January 23