A new training course aimed at those working in the building industry who have little or no knowledge of sustainability will officially launch on Monday.
An
Introduction to Sustainability and the Built Environment is part of the
Sustainability Training and Education Programme (STEP), a new initiative from the
UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC). It is aimed at any professional working in the property and construction sector and, according to the UK-GBC, has been designed in response to a lack of existing high quality foundation courses tackling sustainability in the
built environment. It will be followed later in the year with a course in Sustainability Leadership specifically tailored to those working in the built environment.
The STEP foundation course has been designed in partnership with the College of Estate Management (CEM) and is a two-week course delivered virtually. It covers
regulation and legislation, as well as issues such as climate change, water use, responsible sourcing of materials and impact on
biodiversity. It also provides guidance on technical solutions and stakeholder management. Although not a formal qualification it is in the process of being
certified by the CPD (Continuing Personal or Professional Development).
Career change
"It is designed for any professional working across the property and construction industry, but will also be appropriate for a young graduate looking for a career in the built environment or someone seeking a career change," said UK-GBC’s John Alker.
The course, which has already been piloted, has around 20 people registered for 'early bird’ access, while a number of leading construction and retail firms, including M&S, Kingspan and Skanska, have expressed an interest in applying for block bookings, said Alker.
The Leadership programme is aimed at senior executives and is being run in partnership with the University of Cambridge’s internationally recognised Programme for Sustainability Leadership. Its stated aim is to "create a network of influential leaders that work collaboratively to drive transformational change".
UK-GBC's first foray into training
The STEP programme is UK-GBC’s first foray into training and follows the publication of interim findings of the Low Carbon Construction IGT review from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which highlighted the need to upskill people in all the parts of the
supply chain.
However, Alker said STEP was not attempting to compete with existing training initiatives, but "bridge gaps. Our research shows us that there are gaps at opposite ends of the training spectrum – introductory and leadership – and this is why we are launching these two courses now," he said.
Over time, however, UK-GBC expects to introduce a number of other courses, including more technical ones. "We will look to partner with other training providers, as well as signpost to other courses, provide user feedback and possibly give ratings for other courses," said Alker.
Introduction to Sustainability in the Built Environment is available to book now and costs £199 for UK-GBC members and £249 for non-members.
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Related content:
www.step.ukgbc.org
www.bis.gov.uk