Featured Work
Client: ICRS, Amazon
Project: Assessment and creation of the industry report: Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) Apprenticeship Review 2023
In partnership with Amazon UK and the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS) Warrior Group was hired to review the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) apprenticeship standard using our data-led cultural intelligence tool to assess impact of the standard for both employers and apprentices. Warrior Group has published the resulting report and an inclusive practice toolkit to support apprentices to thrive in the workplace (both available on ICRS website as of 10/20/23) as means of promoting the CR&S apprenticeship standard to employers considering participating in the apprenticeship as an impactful way of driving social mobility within corporate responsibility.
Diversity of thought is essential for the future of corporate responsibility and sustainability. It brings innovative solutions, adaptability to change and ensures equitable representation across all important decisions.
For the CR&S apprenticeship to be a successful driver in social mobility, employers need to be supported to recruit apprentices from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, or target individuals who otherwise would not have an opportunity to study or work in CR&S. As CR&S becomes an essential part of core business operations - via legislation, consumer pressure or social consciousness - developing a diverse pipeline of talent with that expertise is critical.
Our research with 30% of participating employers and 45% of participating apprentices showed the CR&S apprenticeship standard led to higher team capacity, genuine progress in equality, diversity, and sustainability goals, and better implementation of sustainability knowledge. It also offers a route to building diverse teams through hiring from pools of candidates not usually sought after by employers.
This is the inaugural survey capturing diversity statistics and impact of the CR&S apprentice standard and recommend the survey to be repeated annually to track diversity data and impact over time. At time of publishing the number of participating employers has increased from 80 to over 90, and 117 apprentices to more than 140.
"It's critical that we bring more diverse thinking into the CRS profession and ensure representation from those communities most marginalized/ impacted by climate change and social inequity. The CR&S apprentice standard has been a great leap forward in ensuring that social and environmental impact careers are accessible to ALL. However, diversity and social mobility in these entry-level positions will only be successful if supported by an active effort from both employers and training providers when embedding equity and inclusion into apprentices' lived 'on the job' experiences."
Beth Knight
Director, Sustainable Leaders Ltd.
(Ex-Amazon Sponsor of CRS Apprentice Cohort)Warrior Group specialises in building inclusive cultures. We believe diversity of thought is key to reimagining how we live and work, driving forward a more just and sustainable society.Download Report
View the report and inclusive practice toolkits on the ICRS website