Which Environmental Course Is Best for Managers?

Effective management is integral to any organisation's environmental and sustainability strategy. Organisations must prioritise appropriate training for management and leaders so that they can guide their respective teams in the right direction. Training via IEMA environmental courses is the perfect way to do this.

Are IEMA Courses Worth It for Managers?

Absolutely. Managers hold the unique responsibility of guiding teams, making critical decisions, and setting long-term strategies that impact an organisation’s environmental footprint.

The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) offers a range of qualifications tailored to managerial roles, helping leaders at all levels take a proactive approach to environmental management and sustainability. There are several key reasons why IEMA courses are worth it for managers to complete:

• Strategic Decision-Making: IEMA courses provide managers with the expertise to understand and integrate sustainability directives into core business activities, helping organisations stay ahead of regulatory changes and industry trends.
• Leadership in Compliance: Managers are often responsible for ensuring their departments or organisations meet legal and regulatory standards. IEMA qualifications provide the essential knowledge needed to navigate complex environmental legislation for your specific role and level of responsibility.
• Driving Organisational Change: Managers can become champions of sustainability, motivating teams and embedding environmental goals across the company’s culture and operations.
• Enhanced Reputation and Innovation: Businesses that prioritise environmental management gain a competitive edge. Managers trained in IEMA courses can lead sustainability innovations, improving resource efficiency, reducing waste, and driving eco-friendly processes.

The Best IEMA Courses for Managers

IEMA offers a full suite of qualifications that cater specifically to managers or individuals in leadership roles. These courses not only cover key environmental management principles but also dive deeper into the strategic and legislative aspects crucial for those overseeing teams and departments.

IEMA Sustainability Skills for Managers

This 2-day course is specifically tailored for those in specifically in managerial positions. The IEMA Sustainability Skills for Managers course focuses on developing leadership skills that integrate sustainability into decision-making processes.

Participants will learn how to influence and implement sustainable practices within their teams and departments, helping drive the wider corporate sustainability agenda. Perfect for those wanting to learn the essential elements.

Key topics covered include:

• Identifying sustainability opportunities within operations.
• Understanding environmental performance metrics.
• Embedding sustainable development goals (SDGs) into business planning.

This course is ideal for managers who are not environmental specialists but want to better understand sustainability, its implications for their organisation and how to embed them in their respective teams.

IEMA Leading with Environmental Sustainability

Aimed at senior leaders and decision-makers, the Leading with Environmental Sustainability course is designed to empower managers to embed sustainability into their organisation’s senior management.

This more advanced-level training focuses on how environmental sustainability impacts corporate governance, risk management, and strategic planning.

The course covers:

• The role of leadership in bettering sustainability efforts.
• Strategic environmental management and corporate governance.
• Risk management and resilience in the face of climate change.

By the end of this course, managers will be equipped to lead their organisation’s sustainability strategy, innovation and long-term resilience.

IEMA Certificate in Environmental Management

The IEMA Certificate in Environmental Management is a comprehensive qualification that provides managers with an in-depth understanding of environmental issues, governance, and legislation. Ideal for those in leadership roles and are looking to develop a skillset as an environmental professional. The Certificate is considered one of the premiere environmental qualifications.

This course equips participants to assess and manage environmental risks, design sustainability strategies, and ensure organisational compliance.

Key areas covered include:

• Environmental law and policy.
• Risk management.
• Sustainability strategies.
• Environmental impact assessments.

By completing this course, managers will be able to apply environmental management principles at a high strategic level, leading initiatives that align with corporate sustainability goals.

Recommended Learning Methods for Managers

At Astutis, we recognise that managers often juggle busy schedules, which is why IEMA courses are available in a variety of formats to suit your needs and time constraints. These include:

• Online Learning: Managers can complete their IEMA courses at their own pace, fitting the training around their work commitments. This also saves on potential hidden costs such as travel, food and accommodation expenses.
• Virtual Classrooms: This option allows managers to benefit from live instruction without the need to travel, creating an interactive learning environment similar to a classroom while maintaining flexibility.
• On-Site Training: For organisations looking to train multiple managers at once, on-site courses can be delivered directly at your workplace, ensuring that learning is directly tailored to your organisation’s unique challenges and goals.

IEMA courses, like the Sustainability Skills for Managers course below, offers invaluable training for managers looking to lead their organisation towards a more sustainable future. By equipping managers with the knowledge and tools to integrate environmental initiatives into business strategy, these qualifications enable leaders to reduce risks, drive innovation, and enhance corporate reputation.