United Kingdom · Compliance, quality and safety · Director/VP (16-20 years)

Director of Environmental Affairs

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

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Where should we send it?

One email: what AI is changing in this job, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandDirector/VP (16-20 years)
  • Direct reports3-8 reports
  • Reports toChief Operations Officer (or similar C-Suite Executive)
  • UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as VP Environmental Compliance · Head of ESG & Environment · Environmental Strategy Director

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

ABBE Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Conservation Awarding Body for the Built Environment · Level 6 · covers 1 of 10 standards
Pearson Edexcel Level 5 NVQ Diploma in Construction Management (Sustainability) Pearson Education Ltd · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management City & Guilds Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 5 Award in Leadership and Management City & Guilds Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Principles of Leadership and Management City & Guilds Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management City & Guilds Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Monitor the implementation of development policies in planning and conservation ABBE Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Conservation
Planning Conservation Activities in Construction and the Built Environment Pearson Edexcel Level 5 NVQ Diploma in Construction Management (Sustainability)
Improving and maintaining the organisation’s environmental performance City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management

The future skills this job leans on

Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
Sustainability Fluency building care for people and planet into the work
Foresight Fluency seeing round the corner
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Trust Fluency keeping the digital world safe
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Director of Environmental Affairs

3 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Monitor the implementation of development policies in planning and conservation Awarding Body for the Built Environment · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 6
  2. Planning Conservation Activities in Construction and the Built Environment Pearson Education Ltd · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
  3. Improving and maintaining the organisation’s environmental performance City & Guilds Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Director of Environmental Affairs?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) & Nature-Based Solutions
  • Advanced Climate Scenario Planning & Adaptation
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Director of Environmental Affairs plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

3What this role really is

This role sets environmental strategy for a business unit, going beyond compliance to shape how it operates. It covers environmental strategy, investment decisions, and protecting the licence to operate and reputation. It carries weight, with real influence over performance and standing in the market.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Enablon/Intelex/Cority (EHS & ESG Platforms) Strategic/Architect

Leads platform selection, defines enterprise-wide data governance, ensures integration with ERP/GRC systems, and uses executive dashboards for strategic decision-making and board reporting.

Esri ArcGIS Pro / QGIS (GIS & Mapping) Strategic/Architect

Defines the enterprise GIS strategy for environmental risk mapping, site selection, and visualising long-term environmental impacts for strategic planning and stakeholder engagement.

Power BI / Tableau (Data & Analytics) Strategic/Architect

Defines key environmental KPIs, oversees the development of executive-level ESG dashboards, and uses data visualisations to present strategic insights to the C-suite and Board.

Bloomberg Law / Enhesa (Regulatory Intelligence) Strategic/Architect

Uses regulatory intelligence to inform lobbying efforts, anticipate long-term strategic risks, and guide the business unit's proactive response to emerging environmental legislation.

Diligent Boards / Nasdaq Boardvantage (Board Reporting) Strategic/Architect

Prepares and presents environmental risk and performance reports directly to the Board of Directors and Audit/Sustainability Committees, ensuring clear, concise, and impactful communication.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Environmental Strategy & Policy Follows established policies; escalates any deviation. Proposes minor policy adjustments; consults manager on strategic alignment. Designs and implements new environmental policies for specific programmes; recommends strategic direction to leadership.
Capital Expenditure for Environmental Projects No authority; identifies needs and reports to supervisor. Recommends small-scale equipment purchases (up to £5K); requires manager approval. Manages project budgets up to £50K; requires Director approval for overspend or new projects.
Regulatory Engagement & Negotiations Supports data collection for regulatory submissions; no direct engagement. Manages routine permit renewals; communicates directly with regulators on minor issues. Leads negotiations for complex permits or minor non-compliances; consults Director on significant issues.
Team Structure & Hiring No authority. Provides input on team needs. Interviews junior staff; makes recommendations to manager.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Absolute GHG Emissions Reduction (Scope 1 & 2)
The year-on-year reduction in our direct and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions across the business unit.
Target · Achieve a 10% reduction against a science-based target baseline within 3 years.

If our baseline was 50,000 tonnes CO2e, we'd expect to see 45,000 tonnes by year 3, validated by external auditors.

ESG Rating Improvement
Our performance in key environmental criteria as assessed by major ESG rating agencies.
Target · Improve our MSCI or Sustainalytics environmental rating from 'A' to 'AA' within 3 years.

Moving from an 'average' performer to a 'leading' performer in environmental management, which directly impacts investor confidence.

Capital Secured for Environmental Projects
The total investment secured and deployed for strategic environmental initiatives (e.g., decarbonisation, water recycling, waste-to-energy).
Target · Secure and deploy £5M+ in capital for high-impact environmental projects annually.

Successfully championing and funding a £7M project to install advanced water recycling technology at a major manufacturing site.

Zero Significant Environmental Incidents or Fines
The absence of major environmental non-compliances that result in significant fines (e.g., >£1M) or severe reputational damage.
Target · Maintain zero significant environmental incidents or fines (>£1M) across the business unit.

Avoiding any enforcement actions from the Environment Agency that lead to a public prosecution or a fine exceeding £1M.

Board and Investor Confidence
The level of trust and confidence the Board and key investors have in our environmental risk management and sustainability strategy.
  • Regularly invited to present to the Board and investor calls without prompting. Proactive consultation on major capital projects with environmental implications. Positive feedback from investor relations on environmental disclosures and strategy. No unexpected questions or concerns raised by board members or investors regarding environmental performance.
Cross-Functional Strategic Influence
Your ability to influence and align senior leaders across different departments (Operations, Legal, Finance) on environmental priorities and investments.
  • Environmental considerations consistently integrated into business unit strategy and capital planning. Operations proactively seek your input on new processes or equipment. Finance allocates budget based on your environmental business cases. You're seen as a trusted advisor, not just a compliance gatekeeper.
Regulatory Relationship Management
The strength and effectiveness of our relationships with key environmental regulatory bodies.
  • Proactive engagement with regulators on emerging legislation or complex permitting issues. Positive feedback from regulators on our transparency and responsiveness. Avoiding adversarial relationships and resolving issues collaboratively. Being seen as a credible and trustworthy counterpart by the Environment Agency.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Driving Enterprise-Wide Transformation

You'll be leading large-scale programmes to reduce our environmental impact, influencing major capital investments, and seeing tangible changes across dozens of sites. It's about shaping the company's future.

Successfully implementing a business-wide decarbonisation roadmap that results in a 15% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions within two years, impacting every operational site.

Protecting and Enhancing Brand Reputation

Your work directly safeguards our company's standing with investors, customers, and the public. You'll be the one ensuring our environmental claims are robust and our performance is transparent.

Presenting our annual ESG report to investors and receiving positive feedback on our environmental disclosures, which helps to attract sustainable investment funds.

Solving Complex, Multi-Dimensional Problems

You'll be tackling challenges that involve regulatory ambiguity, technical feasibility, financial constraints, and cultural resistance. It's never a simple answer, always a puzzle to solve.

Developing a strategy to manage emerging 'forever chemical' (PFAS) risks across our supply chain, involving R&D, Legal, Procurement, and Operations, with no clear regulatory precedent.

What frustrates people
  • Constantly battling for significant capital investment for environmental projects with long payback periods against other business priorities.
  • The sheer scale of data collection and verification, often from disparate systems across multiple sites, can be a monumental headache.
  • Navigating the ever-changing and often conflicting landscape of global environmental regulations and trying to apply them consistently.
  • Dealing with the C-suite and Board's often high-level, sometimes naive, understanding of the practicalities and costs of environmental compliance and sustainability.
  • Being the public face when a major environmental incident occurs, even if the root cause was an operational failure outside your direct control.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, predictable work environment with clear, unchanging directives.
  • The luxury of focusing solely on technical environmental solutions without significant commercial and political considerations.
  • The ability to dictate operational changes without extensive negotiation and buy-in from site leadership.
  • A role where you're always popular; you'll often be the bearer of challenging news or the advocate for costly but necessary changes.

8Who you work with

This role directly shapes the environmental performance and strategic direction of an entire business unit. You'll be responsible for ensuring we meet all our legal obligations, mitigate significant environmental risks, and deliver on our public sustainability commitments. Your decisions influence capital allocation, operational procedures, and ultimately, our long-term viability and shareholder value. It's about protecting the business from significant liabilities while also creating new opportunities through sustainable practices.

Inside the business
  • C-Suite (CEO, CFO, CLO)
  • Board of Directors (especially Audit and Sustainability Committees)
  • Heads of Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain
  • Legal and Public Affairs teams
  • Investor Relations
Outside the business
  • Environmental Regulators (e.g., Environment Agency, DEFRA)
  • Investors and ESG Rating Agencies
  • Industry Associations and Trade Bodies
  • External Auditors and Consultants
  • Local Communities and NGOs

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Extensive experience (16-20 years) in environmental management, regulatory affairs, and sustainability leadership within a complex, multi-site industrial or corporate environment.
  • Proven track record of leading and developing large teams of environmental professionals, including managers and specialists.
  • Demonstrable experience in setting and executing enterprise-level environmental strategies that deliver measurable results.
  • Significant experience presenting to and influencing C-suite executives and Board members on environmental risks, opportunities, and investments.
  • Deep expertise in at least one major environmental regulatory framework (e.g., EPR, Clean Air/Water Act, REACH) and a broad understanding of others.
  • Experience managing significant environmental budgets (multi-million £) and making capital allocation decisions.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Digital Twin & IoT Integration for Environmental Monitoring

Real-time, granular environmental data from IoT sensors, integrated into 'digital twin' models of our facilities, will revolutionise how we monitor compliance, predict incidents, and optimise resource use. This moves us from reactive to truly predictive environmental management.

IoT sensor deployment and data acquisition protoco · Digital twin modelling for operational assets · Predictive analytics for environmental performance · Data visualisation and dashboarding for real-time · Cybersecurity for connected environmental systems

  • This month: Research leading industrial IoT platforms and their applications in environmental monitoring.
  • Next quarter: Identify a pilot site for deploying advanced real-time monitoring sensors for a critical environmental parameter (e.g., effluent discharge, air emissions).
  • Within 6 months: Work with Engineering and IT to develop a proof-of-concept for a digital twin application for environmental optimisation.
  • Within 12 months: Evaluate the scalability and ROI of integrating IoT and digital twin technologies across the business unit.

Quick win: Start by exploring how existing operational IoT data (e.g., energy meters, flow rates) can be repurposed for environmental insights. You might find hidden gems already there.

Generative AI for Policy Analysis & Scenario Modelling

While we're already using AI for basic drafting, advanced generative AI will soon be able to analyse complex policy documents, simulate the impact of proposed regulations on our operations, and even generate 'what if' scenarios for environmental investments. This will dramatically speed up strategic analysis.

Advanced prompt engineering for policy analysis · AI-driven regulatory impact assessment · Generative AI for environmental scenario modelling · Ethical considerations and bias in AI policy analy · Validation and verification of AI-generated insigh

  • This month: Experiment with advanced LLMs (e.g., GPT-4, Claude 3) to summarise and analyse complex environmental white papers or draft legislation.
  • Next quarter: Work with our Legal team to test AI's ability to identify key compliance obligations from new regulatory texts.
  • Within 6 months: Explore specialist AI tools designed for regulatory foresight and policy impact assessment.
  • Within 12 months: Develop internal guidelines for the responsible and effective use of generative AI in environmental strategy and policy analysis.

Quick win: Use generative AI to quickly summarise lengthy environmental reports from competitors or industry bodies, giving you a rapid overview of their strategies and challenges.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attending and speaking at industry conferences and forums (e.g., IEMA, CBI Environment Conference) to stay abreast of emerging trends and build your professional network.
  • Participating in executive leadership programmes or an MBA to further develop strategic business acumen and C-suite influencing skills.
  • Engaging with relevant government committees or advisory boards to help shape future environmental policy and regulation.
  • Mentoring junior environmental professionals, both within our organisation and externally, to foster future talent.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) & Nature-Based Solutions

With increasing focus on nature positive outcomes and mandatory BNG requirements in the UK, understanding and implementing these across our operational footprint will become critical for permitting and land management. Investors are also increasingly scrutinising nature-related risks.

  • BNG metric calculations and methodologies
  • Nature-based solutions for water management and ca
  • Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures
  • Ecological restoration and habitat creation
  • Supply chain impacts on biodiversity

Advanced Climate Scenario Planning & Adaptation

Beyond basic TCFD, the complexity of climate change impacts means we'll need more sophisticated modelling to understand physical risks (e.g., flooding, heat stress) to our assets and supply chains, and to develop robust adaptation strategies for the long term. This directly impacts business continuity and insurance costs.

  • IPCC climate pathways (e.g., RCPs, SSPs)
  • Physical climate risk assessment methodologies
  • Climate resilience strategies for infrastructure a
  • Integration of climate data into capital planning
  • Insurance and financial implications of climate ri

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Design & Governance
  • Advanced Regulatory Framework Analysis & Foresight
  • Enterprise GHG Accounting & Decarbonisation Strategy
  • Sustainability Materiality & ESG Reporting Leadership
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Integration

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Head of Environmental Affairs (Level 5) at a large organisation

    3-5 years in previous role

    Skills to master

    • Managing a significant environmental function, leading a team of managers, developing divisional environmental strategy, and regular engagement with senior leadership.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully delivered a major environmental programme (e.g., significant emissions reduction, waste minimisation) across multiple sites.
    • Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional senior leaders (e.g., Operations Directors, Finance Heads) on environmental investments.
    • Experience presenting environmental performance and risks to executive committees or sub-committees of the Board.
  2. 2

    Senior Environmental Consultant (Partner/Principal level) at a leading firm

    5-7 years in consulting

    Skills to master

    • Strategic client advisory, managing large-scale environmental projects for diverse clients, business development, and thought leadership in environmental strategy.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Led significant environmental strategy engagements for Fortune 500/FTSE 100 clients.
    • Proven ability to translate complex environmental challenges into actionable business solutions.
    • Strong network within the environmental regulatory and industry landscape.
  3. 3

    Senior Regulatory Official (e.g., Head of Permitting, Policy Lead) at a key environmental agency

    7-10 years in regulatory roles

    Skills to master

    • Deep understanding of regulatory development and enforcement, policy interpretation, and engaging with industry on compliance and best practice.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Led the development or implementation of significant environmental regulations or policies.
    • Extensive experience in negotiating complex permits or enforcement actions with large industrial operators.
    • A strong, credible reputation within the regulatory community.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to board-level non-executive roles focused on ESG. It can also lead to a global ESG or impact investing role in financial services. Another route is a senior advisory position with a think tank or policy body.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Director of Environmental Affairs is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Monitor the implementation of development policies in planning and conservation, worked against Director of Environmental Affairs.

Monitor the implementation of development policies in planning and conservation Level 6

Applied to your work in Director of Environmental Affairs

The objective of this unit is to enable learners to monitor the implementation of development policies within planning and conservation projects. Learners will understand the methods used for monitoring, analyse collected data, and evaluate the effectiveness of these policies.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Director of Environmental Affairs
  • Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Design & Governance
  • Advanced Regulatory Framework Analysis & Foresight
  • Enterprise GHG Accounting & Decarbonisation Strategy
  • Sustainability Materiality & ESG Reporting Leadership
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Integration
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Director of Environmental Affairs is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. VP, EHS & Sustainability / Chief Sustainability Officer (Level 7)

    3-5 years in current role

    Enterprise-wide strategic leadership, C-suite reporting, Board governance, investor relations, and public representation.

    • Developing integrated ESG reporting frameworks (e.g., ESRS, ISSB) for entire enterprise.
    • Leading M&A due diligence and integration from an EHS and sustainability perspective.
    • Managing global supply chain sustainability programmes and human rights due diligence.
    • Shaping corporate culture around sustainability at an enterprise level.
  2. Director of Operations / General Manager (within the business unit)

    4-6 years in current role

    Broader operational P&L accountability, direct management of manufacturing or service delivery, and wider business unit strategy.

    • Lean manufacturing or operational excellence methodologies.
    • Supply chain management and logistics optimisation.
    • Budgeting and financial management for operational units.
    • Sales and marketing strategy (from an operational support perspective).
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

As Director of Environmental Affairs, your time is precious. You're juggling strategic planning, board reporting, regulatory negotiations, and team leadership. The good news? AI isn't just for junior analysts anymore. It's a game-changer for senior leaders too.

We're not talking about replacing your strategic brain, but giving you a serious boost. Imagine cutting down the grunt work, getting smarter insights faster, and freeing up your schedule to focus on what truly matters: driving our environmental vision. Our AI Productivity Hub shows you how to integrate these tools seamlessly into your daily workflow.

Board Report Automation

Use secure LLMs to draft initial versions of board papers, executive summaries, and investor updates on environmental performance. The AI can pull key metrics from EHS platforms and structure narratives, letting you focus on refining the strategic message and critical insights. This isn't about letting AI write your strategy, but getting the first 80% of the document done in a fraction of the time.

Strategic Risk Foresight

AI-powered tools can analyse global environmental policy shifts, climate models, and market trends to provide early warnings and strategic implications. This helps you anticipate future regulatory changes, identify emerging physical risks (like extreme weather impacts on sites), and proactively adjust our long-term environmental strategy before they become crises. It's like having a crystal ball, but with data.

Complex Permit Strategy & Review

For multi-jurisdictional or highly complex permit applications, AI can review drafts against regulatory requirements, identify potential gaps, and even suggest optimal wording based on past successful submissions. This significantly reduces legal review time and increases the likelihood of smooth permit approvals, which is crucial for our operational continuity.

ESG Investor Briefing Synthesizer

AI can rapidly synthesise vast amounts of internal environmental data and external ESG ratings to generate tailored briefing documents for investor calls or analyst presentations. It highlights our strengths, addresses potential weaknesses, and provides data-backed talking points, ensuring you're always prepared for tough questions from the financial community.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Director of Environmental Affairs?

Common routes in include Head of Environmental Affairs at a large organisation (3-5 years in previous role), Senior Environmental Consultant (Partner/Principal level) at a leading firm (5-7 years in consulting) and Senior Regulatory Official (e.g., Head of Permitting, Policy Lead) at a key environmental agency (7-10 years in regulatory roles). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Director of Environmental Affairs progress to?

This role can lead on to VP, EHS & Sustainability / Chief Sustainability Officer (3-5 years in current role) and Director of Operations / General Manager (within the business unit) (4-6 years in current role), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Director of Environmental Affairs?

Increasingly, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) & Nature-Based Solutions and Advanced Climate Scenario Planning & Adaptation. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 7

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in compliance, quality and safety

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

Skills built as Director of Environmental Affairs transfer to other regulated industries such as energy, chemicals or pharmaceuticals. They also apply to broader ESG leadership roles in financial services or consulting. Managing complex risk and leading strategic change is valued across many sectors.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my Director of Environmental Affairs plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.