Sustainability, climate and responsible business

Many graduates want a career that ‘makes a difference’ to people’s lives and 'sustainability' is a popular area – you may be studying a relevant degree programme, or it could be something important in other parts of your life. In this section we will explore roles linked to helping organisations reduce environmental impact, report on sustainability, and respond to climate-related expectations.

There is no single environmental or sustainability profession: sustainability encompasses a wide range of technical and non-technical jobs in industry, local and national government and voluntary organisations.

Key terms to know

  • Sustainability - Meeting today's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. In practice, this means balancing environmental, social and economic considerations.
  • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) - This is a framework used by organisations and investors to assess how environmental, social and governance issues are managed. ESG is typically more formal, measurable and data-driven than CSR, driven by mandatory compliance and codes of conduct. Find out more about ESG
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) - Refers to the ways organisations seek to have a positive impact on society and the environment, often through voluntary initiatives, community engagement and ethical business practices. CSR highlights values and cultures and is typically an internal mechanism to guide operations.
  • Net Zero - A target set in UK law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible and balance any remaining emissions by removing an equal amount from the atmosphere by 2050.
  • UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - A set of 17 global goals created by the United Nations to help countries work together on challenges such as climate change, protecting the environment, and creating a fairer, more sustainable future for everyone. Find out more about the UN's SDGs

Sustainability and ESG are increasingly embedded across organisations rather than confined to specialist roles. Consider how your values align with these issues and how you could contribute to positive change in your future career.

How to find out about an organisation’s sustainability policies, actions and commitment

Many organisations will host information about their CSR, ESG and sustainability activities on their website and social media.

  • Learn how The University of Manchester uses the UN Sustainable Development Goals to inform activities.
  • Windō (formerly CSRWindo) is useful for ideas about what ESG/CSR can encompass at different organisations and also if their values match yours.
  • Find A B Corp is a searchable database of 'Certified B Corporations' across the world. These are businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and aim to use their business to create positive benefits for people and the planet as well as making a profit.

Explore job roles

It is possible to work in consultancies, in-house ESG/sustainability teams, social enterprises, charities, campaigning groups and think tanks or government.

Tip: Job titles vary and may also include ESG or sustainability in the title e.g. ESG analyst, Sustainability coordinator/practitioner, Responsible investment executive, Climate change analyst, Carbon management officer or Ethical supply chain manager.

Use the job profiles below to find out about skills, entry routes and experience

Tip: Use the information about skills in the profiles to help you build a tailored CV.

Building skills and experience

Supplement your study with volunteering and work experience to evidence your knowledge of and commitment to ESG and sustainability and to build practical skills.

Masters level courses exist but are not always a prerequisite for entering the field.

Relevant experience could include volunteering to assist a charity with a sustainability project, a related internship or a period of work shadowing in an ESG department or consultancy. You can also demonstrate your commitment, skills and experience by influencing policies and actions in any organisation to be more environmentally sustainable or socially responsible.

Gain relevant experience and skills while you study

There are many opportunities to show your commitment to sustainability/ESG and to gain relevant experience during your degree. This could be as part of your degree programme or as an extra-curricular activity.

  • Students - University Living Lab Affect change for sustainable development through your University assignments!
  • The Environmental Sustainability Team at the university has a brilliant list of suggestions, including becoming an environmental rep for your hall and engaging with sustainability via the Student Union. Environmental Sustainability advocates in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health.
  • Explore opportunities on the Volunteer Hub - previous opportunities included facilitating climate change workshops in schools.
  • Discover sustainability initiatives, which will also contribute towards the Stellify Award and the UCIL unit ‘Leadership in Action’. UCIL also offers ‘Creating a Sustainable World: 21st Century Challenges and the SDGs’
  • Complete a formal placement as part of your course (if this is an option for your degree) or look for summer and other short-term internships in relevant organisations.
  • Use coursework as an opportunity to build relevant knowledge and skills e.g. module choices and linking a project or dissertation to your interests. Information interviews and surveys present a great opportunity to meet with relevant environmental professionals and policy makers. You could link it to a specific employer or environmental organisation - what better way to demonstrate your potential employability than undertaking a viable and relevant piece of research?
  • Use LinkedIn to explore the career paths of Manchester graduates. Create a profile and connect to people you already know, as well as those you meet at Manchester and at events. Follow organisations and join groups to interact with people in the sector.
  • Spread your wings and engage with organisations in the wider Northwest area or even further afield. NB. It is important to differentiate between volunteering and unpaid work experience – check out our advice to help you consider some of the issues and understand your rights.
  • Groups like the ones listed below may offer local opportunities to gain practical experience. Some wildlife jobs require the holder to have a licence to work with protected species or require field skills; as an active volunteer you may be able to access training: The Conservation Volunteers, National Trust, Wildlife Trust, Groundwork Trust
  • Environmental regeneration organisations with volunteering opportunities across the UK: Bumblebee Conservation Trust, People’s Trust for Endangered Species

A number of UK organisations offer internships and experience (and some are paid):

Tip: Being an active member of organisations and supporting their events and initiatives can make you stand out if they later have paid opportunities.

Finding and applying for jobs

Some advertised vacancies in ESG and sustainability are not always suitable for recent graduates, so you may need to build up experience first. Some organisations may only advertise roles to people who already work in the business (internal candidates) so consider joining a company in a different role to make a sideways move later on.

  • Though graduate opportunities exist with larger employers (typically the larger multidisciplinary consultancies and oil/utility companies), entry-level jobs can sometimes be hard to find.
  • Many organisations in this sector are SMEs (small to medium sized) and they can recruit differently. Some jobs fall into the ‘ongoing recruitment’ category, advertised as they come up in response to work coming in to the business.
  • An effective strategy is to target organisations that interest you: research their current opportunities on their website or consider making a speculative application.

Find vacancies

Tip: You can use the contact information in job ads to make a speculative approach and the person specification to confirm what experience you need for your target career area. Find out more about job hunting strategies.

Further resources

links

Next steps

When planning your next steps you may have additional questions or want to explore certain aspects in more detail: