The CR Academy

Background & Purpose

The CR Academy was initiated by the Department of trade and Industry (now BIS) and in 2007 BITC were approached as their preferred organisation to lead this project.  Supporting individuals to help them integrate responsible business practice is at the heart of what BITC does and our own members survey tells us that this is a continual priority.  Consequently, in November 2008 BITC convened a one-day workshop with 15 of its leading members to identify the most relevant and valuable role that the CR Academy could fill to support those working to integrate responsible business practice.

The consultation identified two key roles for the CR Academy, firstly to provide a signposting service to help individuals find quality training, support and advice on CR and secondly to provide CR practitioners and their employers with a competency map to help them structure CR roles and their own professional development.  

Courses

• Introduction to Corporate Responsibility
• Engaging Employees through CR
• Driving Change for CR
• CR Risk and Materiality
• CR Professional Development Workshop
• Introduction to Community Investment

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• Stakeholder Engagement
• Building the Business Case 
• Buying Sustainably: An Introductory Workshop
• Environment impact Workshops
• Engaging Employees through volunteering
• Leading on Sustainability
• Responsible Business in Developing Countries

If you are interested in multiple courses you may like to consider the CR Foundations Programme

"Corporate Responsibility has developed rapidly over the last ten years so the CR Academy provides an excellent resource to help HR professionals and others find out about the breadth of skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to help their organisations excel - it helps them 'know what they don't know". Paul Pritchard, UK Head of Corporate Responsibility, RSA Insurance Group

Competency Map

The Competency Map is a tool to help CR practitioners identify the knowledge, behaviours and resources to help them overcome the challenges they face. It also helps practitioners to identify their strengths and development needs in relation to their current CR role and potential future roles and select appropriate personal development activities.

The Map also enables HR professionals to support CR practitioner development and structure CR roles, career paths and in-house CR practitioner / leadership development programmes.

The Map is publicly available and free to use, you will be asked to register your email address to view it in full. 

Start using the Map

CR Practitioner Competency Map Survey - Results 

Signposting service

The CR Academy offers a signposting service helping people find quality learning resources to improve their skills, knowledge and ability to integrate responsible and sustainable practices into their company’s operations. Resources identified encompass a variety of providers, formats and levels of expertise, as well as BITC's own short courses and structured training programmes.