Green Skills Bootcamps

Level 3 and 4 in Agroecological System Design – Level 3 January start, Level 4 late December start

Aimed to help people in growing and farming to upskill and implement agroecological regenerative design methods on their land, in their jobs or business, and upcoming projects and prospects.

Topics we aim to cover during the courses:

– Permaculture in Practice as a Design Methodology
– Permaculture in Practice: The Built Environment
– People and Permaculture
– Business Planning, Local Sales and Marketing

What is the difference between the Level 3 and the Level 4 Skills Bootcamp in Agroecological System Design?

The Level 3 incorporates a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC), while the Level 4 focuses on advanced design methodology, the product of which can be counted towards a Permaculture Diploma or Certificate in Applied Permaculture Design.

The Level 3 spends more time on Permaculture as it goes through the entire syllabus for the PDC and incorporates business skills, while the Level 4 focuses on the advanced design aspects of Permaculture and spends more time on both strategic and operational business skills and business development.

Read from Jo, who completed a Skills Bootcamp at the Apricot Centre, “I have a degree in something unrelated but that course was one of the most valuable courses I’ve done for a very, very long time. It was good quality, well done and very relevant to what I was looking for.”

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This Ecology and Conservation Skills Bootcamp will provide introductory knowledge and understanding of ecology and ecosystems focusing on the broad range of environmental settings in North Devon. The nature of ecosystems and the populations within them will be reviewed in theory and in practice with learners engaging in field work to gather appropriate data.

Learning Outcomes:
-Demonstrate a broad understanding of ecosystems and their dynamic nature, exploring the mechanisms and ecological implications of evolution.
– Analyse human and wildlife interaction and to identify and explain factors affecting population dynamics
-Identify and evaluate conservation strategies for wildlife and their habitats
-Work effectively as part of a group

The skills level will be equivalent to Level 4. Learners are likely to move into the following occupations on successful completion of the Bootcamp: Community ranger, Countryside ranger, Estate ranger, Estate supervisor, Park ranger, Ranger, Recreation ranger, Reserve or countryside warden.

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The Future Climate Leaders Skills Bootcamp is designed to equip learners with the skills, tools and knowledge needed to drive sustainability within their organisation. It prepares learners to be proactive, informed and influential in tackling environmental challenges, making them champions of a sustainable future.

By the end of the course, you will have a well-developed sustainability project ready to implement as well as a robust action plan, leadership skills and a recognised certification that underscores your expertise and commitment to climate leadership.

This course is open to those aged 19+ in employment and based in Devon. It will be run through a blended approach (four in-person full days and ten online half days) where learners will explore hands-on environmental challenges, work through a science-based curriculum and develop a sustainable action plan to implement at work.

This course is open to employees from any sector at any level, as long as they are passionate about making sustainable changes to their organisation. A requirement of this course is for the learner to be given an additional responsibility or role at work, e.g., sustainability lead.

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This Level 2 Regenerative Agriculture Skills Bootcamp provides a solid grounding in, and introduction to, a wide range of topics around organic regenerative farming, from soil and plant ecology to agroforestry and agroecology.

Units we aim to cover:

• Soil & plant ecology
• Agroforestry
• Introduction to Permaculture
• Agroecology
• Non-farming land-based diversification

September cohort includes holistic livestock management, Biodynamics and business skills. January cohort includes practical horticulture and plant care.

September cohort filling up, intake is continuous until the course start!

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This fully funded Sustainability for Senior Leaders Skills Bootcamp is designed to equip senior leaders, managers, and business decision-makers with the knowledge and tools to embed sustainability into organisational strategy and operations.

The course explores the environmental impact of business activities and provides practical methods for reducing carbon emissions, aligning with national and global sustainability goals. Participants will engage with current frameworks, tools, and best practices to support meaningful and measurable change.

Key topics include:

• Introduction to Sustainability
• The Climate Emergency – The Science
• Measuring and Reducing Carbon
• The Greenhouse Gas Protocol
• Digital Emissions
• Behaviour Change
• Leadership and Change Management
• Communication and Marketing
• Sustainability Certifications
• Future Trends and Planning

Designed to support both employed and self-employed individuals, the programme prepares participants to lead effective sustainability initiatives, improve organisational resilience, and adapt to emerging environmental demands.