Training

• The programme is delivered by leading experts on sustainability at the University of Surrey, as well as guest industry speakers and UNITAR keynote addresses.
• Participants will receive the prestigious UNITAR executive certificate of completion, which effectively includes participants into CIFAL Surrey and UNITAR Alumni cohort.

Sustainability that works: practical training for real business results

Sustainability for SMEs is about staying competitive, adaptable, and future-ready. This hands-on training series is built for busy small and medium enterprises that want to become resilient, engage stakeholders, and tell their sustainability story with confidence. 

Over 5 self-standing modules, you will learn how to:

• Understand sustainability: find what sustainability dimension matters and adds value to your business
• Harness sustainability wins: spot opportunities that save money, attract customers, and strengthen your reputation
• Design strategies that work: learn to use sustainability to assess, strategise, and grow your business
• Engage stakeholders that matter: build stronger relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, and the community
• Tell your story: turn your everyday actions into a compelling, authentic sustainability narrative that builds trust and brand loyalty.

Each module is practical, based on applied learning, and designed for SMEs with limited time and resources. Participants will walk away with ready-to-use tools, templates, and an action plan to put into practice immediately. Each session will be followed by an accountability and implementation session 30-days after the learning.

Each module is self-standing and can be taken by itself or in conjunction with the other modules. Participants to each module are offered in-person hands-on training, online follow-up action plan, and ongoing support through the CIFAL Surrey exclusive SMEs sustainability peer-to-peer learning group.

Learning highlights

• Self-standing hands-on modules that meet participants where they are
• 3 hours in person training at the Centre for Training for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL) and the University of Surrey
• 1 hour online ‘accountability and implementation’ follow-up session, 30 days after the module
• Permanent access to the learning materials
• Ongoing support through the CIFAL Surrey exclusive SMEs sustainability peer-to-peer learning group
• UNITAR certificate for professional development, upon successful completion of the module
• Access to a calendar of events held by CIFAL Surrey and the Institute for Sustainability at the University of Surrey
• Access to further consultancy, support, and co-designed bespoke training (on-demand).