Futureproof Apprenticeships: sustainable skills, strategic impact

About

Recognising the important role sustainability has in the development of any apprentice’s workplace-specific skills, the Apprenticeships team devised a novel method of delivering Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in their teaching and learning – interactive ‘escape room’ sessions. These tasks, consisting of puzzles and challenges, form part of a wider personal professional development (PPD) strategy focussing on financial sustainability, the carbon footprint calculator, sustainable fashion, and incorporating sustainability into SMART targets. They create an engaging, gamified environment for apprentices to apply their developing knowledge of sustainability to real-world scenarios.

Apprentices are also provided with Carbon Literacy training in line with the College’s award-winning approach to ESD. One current apprentice has progressed to a facilitator role, allowing them to deliver training to their peers and colleagues. The array of sustainability education on offer for Barnsley College apprentices goes well beyond what is expected of training providers, and cements the College’s reputation as sector-leading.

Top 3 learnings

1. By understanding their actions’ broader implications, apprentices can make informed choices in their workplace.
2. Apprentices can become informal ‘sustainability ambassadors’ in their organisation.
3. ‘Gamifying’ sustainability supports a values-driven commitment to sustainability and fuels motivation to act.

What is means to win

Winning a Green Gown Award would be recognition of our transformational approach to equipping apprentices with the skills, knowledge and behaviours to become sustainability champions in the workplace. It would create an inspiring, motivational moment encouraging apprenticeships staff to continue their work towards making sustainable education more accessible, engaging and preparatory for the world of work that apprentices will find themselves transitioning towards after College. Our programme was designed to challenge traditional delivery models by placing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at the heart of apprenticeship training. From Carbon Literacy and SDG-aligned personal development to immersive escape rooms built from recycled materials, we've tried to create memorable, experiential learning experiences. Our apprentices aren’t just learners – they’re change-makers. They've become facilitators, sustainability ambassadors, and active voices for more ethical, climate-conscious workplaces. This application is our opportunity to celebrate their achievements and share a replicable model that’s already delivering measurable, meaningful impact across multiple industries.

Sustainable Development Goals