Free business help to build a sustainability strategy is available through a short university-led programme starting this month, which is already helping rail and infrastructure companies.
Aston University’s Green Advantage programme aims to support organisations responding to increasing demands from customers, regulators and investors. Recent cohorts have included a wide range of companies supplying construction, power and transport.
Six sessions are delivered by experts both online and in Birmingham to help delegates understand the transition to a circular economy, improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, embed wellbeing and design new business models. Individual support is provided from external specialist coaches around the country to apply that learning at work.
There’s a welcome event on Wednesday 20 May with the first module on Wednesday 3 June 2026.
One of the external team is Rail Forum member Gerard Davies, of Contented ESG, a sustainability auditor and leadership coach who has supported more than 50 delegates since the programme launch in 2022.
“Participants vary from CEOs to apprentices, covering anything from metal fabrication to train operations, as well as professional services, charities and government,” he said. “The main output is a strategic roadmap, and people often want help working through a diagnostic or thinking through some of the challenges in developing business or implementing change.”
The programme was shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Awards 2025 for its contribution to environmental leadership.
Further details are available here:
https://www.aston.ac.uk/business/acee/grow/green-advantage or Gerard is happy to respond to questions to [email protected] about the programme or sustainability in general.
https://www.aston.ac.uk/business/acee/grow/green-advantage or Gerard is happy to respond to questions to [email protected] about the programme or sustainability in general.