Businesses, governments and communities are taking on the practical challenges that come with creating a sustainable future. Innovation is a big part of overcoming these challenges thinking differently, and finding new ways to reconcile the needs of people and businesses with those of our planet. Sustainable development is now a mainstream agenda, with implications for every area of society: Businesses and organisations ensuring sustainability informs every aspect of their operations, from the environmental and social impacts of product design, logistics, manufacturing and waste management, to communicating with shareholders, the workforce and consumers. Governments, policy makers and NGOs to create the frameworks of innovation that will ensure pro-sustainability changes. Individuals making better choices about things like food sourcing and waste, to energy use, transport and buying goods and services.

In the 2010 Business in the Community survey, 70% of businesses said they expected the gap in sustainability knowledge and skills to become one of the most pressing challenges facing UK businesses in the next five years. This course offers the blend of skills, knowledge and thinking to develop your career in a wide range of private and public sector businesses and organisations. You might choose to lead change in multi-national corporations, international organisations, national, regional and local governments, or to plan and implement sustainable development with organisations in specialist sectors, such as business, environmental or project management, or in planning, transport, construction, waste or energy. You could get involved in campaigning, development or aid work, or as an advisor in bodies such as the UN, EU or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Or you might want to help develop government policy, set up your own consultancy, go on to a PhD, or go into teaching.