Skills Bootcamps – Leadership in the Green Economy

The Event

Businesses are operating in a period of rapid economic and environmental change. The Skills Bootcamp: Leadership in the Green Economy will help organisations to understand these changes and respond strategically rather than reactively.

This bootcamp is locally tailored and delivered by a mix of university academics and industry professionals, covering everything from emerging sustainability challenges and decision-making to policy and regulation, funding opportunities, and how to use sustainability as a competitive advantage. Participants leave with a practical action plan tailored to their organisation’s needs.

What it is:

• A 10-week course running every Thursday from 3 September to 13 November 2026, delivered by Keele University.
• Delivered by university and industry professionals, covering sustainability challenges, policy and regulations, funding opportunities, and sustainability as a competitive advantage.
• Participants leave with a Certificate of Achievement in Skills Leadership for the Green Economy, plus a structured organisational action plan ready to implement.

Who it’s for:

• Open to SMEs, larger employers, and self-employed or unemployed individuals: Must be based in the West Midlands and over 19.

The cost :

• Free for self-employed or unemployed learners; just £390 for those employed in an SME; £1,170 for those in larger organisations.
• Bursaries are available on a case-by-case basis, with SMEs, non-profits and VSCEs particularly invited to apply.

Part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee and part-funded by the Department for Education, organisations contribute just 10–30% of the cost depending on their size, making it an accessible and high-value opportunity for businesses across the region.

Keele was awarded Global Sustainability Institution of the Year 2021, and their bootcamps were rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023.