SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030
INTRODUCTION Professor Michael Harkin Vice-Chancellor and Principal The past year has seen us lay firm foundations for sustainable development across University College Birmingham, culminating in this strategy which brings that work together with clarity and purpose. Building on our Strategic Plan 2025–2030, sustainability is now a core strand of delivery: shaping our campus, informing our curriculum and guiding how we work with our wider community. Birmingham faces challenges familiar to many cities – from flooding and heatwaves to air quality, noise, and unequal access to green space. As an institution rooted in this region, we feel these issues directly, and our responsibility to respond. Our role in developing future talent has never been more important. As the economy transitions, cleaner and greener industries will increasingly define high-quality employment, and will guide the work-readiness and character needed for our graduates and college leavers to succeed. Vocational training and practical skills will sit at the heart of this shift. We are well-placed to equip our students with the technical and academic capability, and personal character, needed to thrive in a changing labour market, while enabling them to live and learn sustainability as part of their everyday experience at University College Birmingham and beyond. This strategy sets out our progress and next steps on that journey. This strategy will guide University College Birmingham from 2025 to 2030 and applies across the full breadth of our activity, including teaching, professional services, operations, campus facilities and student accommodation. Our sustainability strategy supports a number of ambitious strategic goals across the organisation. Therefore, it has been shaped with reference to sector standards set by membership and framework bodies, such as the Universities UK Accommodation Code, the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, the Association of the University Director of Estates to ensure a responsible and consistent approach. CONTENTS OUR JOURNEY SO FAR 02 OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD 04 OUR SUSTAINABILITY AMBITION 2025-2030 08 WHAT ARE THE UNITED NATIONS SDGs 10 OUR STRATEGIC PLAN – SUSTAINABILITY AS A CORE DRIVER 12 SUSTAINABILITY – EMBEDDED AND THREADED 14 CAMPUS 16 CURRICULUM 18 COMMUNITY 20 GOVERNANCE 24 MEASURING IMPACT 26 STRATEGY IN ACTION 28 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 01 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030
First student-led Sustainability Project funded and delivered – a courtyard sensory garden on campus Creation of Sustainability Steering Board – the governance structure for cross-institutional decision-making and oversight Joined Sustainability West Midlands (SWM) Developed first baseline and roadmap (with SWM) Our first whole-institution baseline on carbon, waste, travel, procurement and community impact – evidence that underpins our first sustainability roadmap Sign up to WMNZ 2041 Business Pledge Hired our first Sustainability Manager SDG Accord signatory committing to embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals across teaching, research and operations Reinstated Combined Heat and Power and rainwater harvesting in our BREEAM Excellent McIntyre House, built in 2015 Carbon Benchmarking on our Campus in support of our pledge to be operationally net zero carbon by 2041 Opted in to Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Estates Management Record – to facilitate consistent data collection across the estate Signed Race to Zero Pledge New waste management contract tendered – meaning we now get real-world waste data First biodiversity analysis, in collaboration with Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust SDG mapping becomes mandatory for all course revalidations in Higher Education Our Guild of Students launches its Sustainability Reps and Champion Framework Sustainability keynote at staff Learning and Teaching Conference on Digital Horizons in Education We hosted the Midlands’ first ever SUSTAIN Unconference – bringing students, sta and community together to co-design solutions in our role as a civic convenor Our sustainability team becomes two! Sustainability embedded in our Teaching and Learning Strategy and Digital Transformation Strategy Staff CPD – sustainability becomes a part of all sta inductions Joined Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP, formerly IEMA) as a corporate partner We rank 10th globally in the SOS SDG Teach In Our best attended community clean to date! A student, sta , Suez and Jewellery Quarter BID collaboration in name of the Million Mile Clean with Surfers Against Sewage Became an ISEP Accredited Training Center Our Sustainability Construction Centre (formerly James Cond printworks) shortlisted at Midlands Sustainability Excellence awards Our Business School signs up to the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Management Education Sustainable Construction Centre work begins – Transforming the Art Deco former James Cond print works, into a flagship low-carbon construction skills and retrofit facility Sustainability West Midlands Strategic Roadmap published Set out priority actions for decarbonisation, nature recovery and responsible operations Headlines sponsor of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s Good Business Series – their flagship campaign on business environmental responsibility We host the second Sustain UnConference We host our first Green Careers Day with our HIRED team 2022 2023 2024 2025 OUR JOURNEY SO FAR GOVERNANCE CAMPUS COMMUNITY CURRICULUM 2026 We launch our Sustainability Strategy This our first sustainability strategy, building upon recent progress which enables us to accelerate action up to 2030. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 03 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 02
Our sustainability ambition is strengthened by the organisations we work alongside. Aligned with the Strategic Plan’s three spheres – our community, transformative learning and the workplace – our partners across the region, the UK and internationally recognise the role University College Birmingham plays in developing future talent, supporting the economic transition and contributing to a more resilient, low carbon society. Their perspectives reflect both the opportunities ahead and the importance of our role, as we put knowledge to work for a more sustainable future. OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD REGIONAL Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Partners since 1989 “The transition to net zero is a major growth opportunity for Greater Birmingham, building on our industrial heritage, world-class automotive cluster, leading business services and emerging strengths in clean tech. University College Birmingham has been a longstanding partner of the Chamber, sharing invaluable expertise on sustainability and skills. Through initiatives like our Business Growth Studio, we are working together to equip local firms with the tools, insight and support they need to decarbonise and thrive. A key part of this will be providing invaluable resources, actionable insights, and hands-on workshops to help local firms of all sectors and sizes to decarbonise their operations and progress in the journey towards net zero.” Raj Kandola, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Find out more about our work with the Chamber: • Sustainable Business Series (partner and sponsor) • Business Growth Studio (partner) • West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (key contributor) WHAT DOES INDUSTRY SAY? REGIONAL Sustainability West Midlands Members of SWM since 2022 “Recent research shows that growth in the Midlands’ strongest low-carbon subsectors is up to three times the UK average, with the sector expected to generate more than 700,000 jobs by 2050. At SWM, we bring together over 200 members to support this transition through collaboration and evidence-led action. We are proud to see our valued member, University College Birmingham contributing to the region’s progress through the publication of its sustainability strategy.” Beck Collins, Senior Sustainability Adviser Find out more about SWM’s regional insights: • About SWM and Kmatrix’s research into the Midlands’ low carbon and environmental goods sector, on behalf of Midlands Net Zero Hub • Regional sustainability progress through the West Midlands Sustainability Roadmap to 2030 • The work of local authorities to benchmark and improve climate action in Midlands Climate Action Benchmark, funded by Midlands Net Zero Hub. EDUCATION IS BOTH A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CLIMATE, NATURE AND INEQUALITY CRISES, AND A VITAL PART OF THE SOLUTION. UNIVERSITIES ARE MAJOR EMPLOYERS, LANDOWNERS AND PURCHASERS, AS WELL AS DRIVERS OF LEARNING, INNOVATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE. Charlotte Bonner – Chief Executive, Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 05 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 04
THE UK GREEN ECONOMY GREW THREE TIMES FASTER THAN THE OVERALL ECONOMY IN 2024 (CBI). DID YOU KNOW? IN 2024, GREEN JOB ADVERTS ROSE BY 9.2% WHILE THE WIDER JOB MARKET CONTRACTED BY 22.5% (PWC). IT GENERATED £83 BILLION AND SUPPORTED NEARLY A MILLION JOBS WITH ABOVE-AVERAGE WAGES. NATIONAL Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) Members since 2023 “Universities across the UK are stepping up their sustainability efforts – not only to meet regulatory expectations, but because it improves outcomes. Education is both a contributor to the climate, nature and inequality crises, and a vital part of the solution. Universities are major employers, landowners and purchasers, as well as drivers of learning, innovation and social change. Their role in shaping a fairer, greener future has never been more urgent. The most ambitious institutions are rethinking curricula, restoring nature, reforming procurement and decarbonising campuses. Sustainability is increasingly a shared endeavour across the whole university community. There is still much to do, and the path ahead won’t be linear, but sustainability must remain a core commitment as the sector plans for the future.” Charlotte Bonner, Chief Executive Helpful guidance: • Sustainability champions learning pack • Making the business case for sustainability GLOBAL Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP, formerly IEMA) Members since 2024 “The sustainability sector is a cornerstone of the UK’s economic and employment landscape. According to the CBI, the green economy generated £83 billion in gross value added, employing nearly a million people with an average wage of £43,000 – significantly higher than the national average. However, the rapid growth of green jobs is creating an urgent need for a skilled workforce. According to research from PWC, green job adverts rose by 9.2% in 2024, even as the broader job market contracted by 22.5%. Universities like University College Birmingham play a pivotal role in closing this gap by preparing students with the knowledge and capabilities to succeed in this dynamic sector.” Sarah Mukherjee MBE, Chief Executive Officer OVERALL ECONOMY UK GREEN ECONOMY GREEN JOB MARKET WIDER JOB MARKET +9.2% –22.5% £83 BILLION UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 07 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 06
OUR SUSTAINABILITY AMBITION 2025-2030 To change our city and our world, our graduates and college leavers need knowledge, but also resilience, courage and radical optimism. Character isn’t separate from sustainability – it is what enables real change and develops people who are ready to live and shape greener, fairer futures. This is why sustainability is threaded through our curriculum, and our campus plans which bring issues to life through our students’ lived experience. Rebecca Tigue, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Sixth Form Principal and Student Support) NO ONE WILL PROTECT WHAT THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT; AND NO ONE WILL CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED. Sir David Attenborough OUR PRINCIPLES OUR VISION OUR PURPOSE OUR GRADUATES AND COLLEGE LEAVERS WILL HAVE A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY; LIVE HEALTHILY; THINK CRITICALLY; AND TAKE ACTION TO ACHIEVE CHANGE. University College Birmingham Strategic Plan 2025-2030 Cultivating stewards of everyday sustainability who can create meaningful change across their industries and communities. To embed sustainability across our campus, curriculum and community. We approach this work with: compassion connection inclusivity authenticity joy resilience UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 09 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 08
WHAT ARE THE UN SDGs? Shortform for UN Sustainable Development Goals – a shared global blueprint for ending poverty, improving health and education, reducing inequality, and protecting the planet. Adopted by all UN member states, they underpin policies and sustainability commitments worldwide. Our curriculum is aligned with the SDGs, helping students connect their learning to real-world global challenges. The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a shared framework that shapes how sustainability is understood and how it informs learning, decision-making and impact across the university. This common language for staff, students and partners helps us connect local priorities with global challenges and remain accountable to the wider system we operate within. Actions we’ve taken: • Incorporated UN SDG visuals across our teaching campus to help build familiarity for our students and staff. • Embedded the SDGs into course revalidation processes ensuring sustainability is considered as programmes evolve. • Participate in national Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS UK) SDG Teach In initiatives to strengthen sector-wide practice. HOW THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SHAPE OUR WORK UCB ranked top 10 in the SOS UK SDG Teach In 2026, where 26 sta pledged to incorporate SDGs into their teaching. We also added sustainability signage across our campus buildings. DID YOU KNOW? The SDGs Wedding Cake A new way of viewing the Sustainable Development Goals Speaking at the Stockholm EAT Food Forum 13 June 2016, former Director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Johan Rockström and board member Pavan Sukhdev, pushed for a new way of viewing the economic, social and ecological aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The illustration describes how economies and societies should be seen as embedded within the biosphere. This vision is a move away from the current sectoral approach where social, economic, and ecological development are seen as separate processes. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 11 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 10
Our Sustainability Strategy sets a whole-institution approach to embedding sustainability across our campus, curriculum and community, underpinned by clear governance and aligned with the University’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030. OUR STRATEGIC PLAN – SUSTAINABILITY AS A CORE DRIVER Our five-year strategic plan sets out key principles underpinning our sustainability strategy. IT INFORMS OUR THREE SUSTAINABILITY PILLARS: THE COMMUNITY Social action, civil purpose and corporate citizenship Our students will engage in social action during their time with us, learning the value of community contribution and the wider benefits of post-16 education. Our curricula will align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, preparing learners to contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and resilient future – both locally and globally. TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING Focused on ‘future work’ and the workplace Every student should be able to augment their abilities through the application of AI in their future career, and to contribute to a more sustainable future for the world. We will equip learners to contribute by embedding sustainability, systems thinking and future-skills development across all programmes. THE WORKPLACE Career readiness, real-world learning and employer engagement Students will build the professional networks, confidence and capabilities needed to succeed in a changing labour market. Through placements, live briefs, industry partnerships and hands-on experiences – including in emerging green and low-carbon sectors – learners will graduate ready to put knowledge to work and shape a more sustainable world. COMMUNITY Culture change is never simple, but momentum is building across the organisation through the progress and drive of our Sustainability Steering Board. With chairs now established to lead and own activity across our Campus, Curriculum and Community pillars, we have added depth, experience and conviction to our ambitions. This strategy guides us and sets a clear, ambitious path for the next five years – rooted in who we are as a university, our vocational strengths and driven by our commitment to lead by example. It works in tandem with our published Strategic Plans, and sustainability is explicitly interwoven into our overarching Strategic Goals, our Digital, Data and AI Strategy and our Learning and Teaching Strategy. CAMPUS CURRICULUM GOVERNANCE CAMPUS COMMUNITY CURRICULUM Ashlea Mallett, Head of Sustainability and Campus Services UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 13 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 12
ANCHORED IN THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS Our approach is guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, giving staff, students and partners a shared framework for addressing local and global challenges, keeping us accountable and focused on contributing to healthier, fairer and more resilient communities. Through the Race to Zero Universities and Colleges network, the Sustain UnConference event and community programmes, we contribute our voice and leadership to the city’s transition. STEWARDS OF THE FUTURE This strategy is about creating the conditions for our students and staff to thrive now and in the future – developing agency, nurturing character and enabling people to become thoughtful stewards of the places and professions they will shape. We are proud of our progress so far: greener buildings, a stronger delivery team, and a curriculum that reflects the world our learners will inherit. We know there is more to do, but this strategy can help us build a university that not only teaches sustainability, but demonstrates it every single day. EQUIPPING FUTURE TALENT As the economy transitions, demand for green skills and climate-aware professionals is reshaping what high-quality employment looks like. Around 80% of students believe their place of study should actively promote sustainable development, and 60% want to learn more about it. By embedding sustainability throughout our curriculum, from SDG mapping to industry-focused modules and specialist Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP, formerly IEMA) accreditation routes, we strengthen our students’ future prospects and help unlock the green skills premium. Our Centre for Sustainable Construction is already preparing learners to lead in retrofit, low-carbon building and circular-economy practices – skills our region urgently needs. Sustainability informs everything we do – from the retrofit of our award-nominated Centre for Sustainable Construction, to minimising food waste in our restaurant and learning practice, to our growing use of biodiversity analysis to inform how we design and protect green spaces across our campuses. It is also lived daily by students taking part in community projects, staff sustainability forums or international experiences that build resilience, curiosity and a sense of global citizenship. Sustainability is not a standalone workstream at University College Birmingham – it’s an organising principle that helps to shape how we educate, how we operate our estate and how we contribute to Birmingham and beyond. STUDENT ETHNICITY PROFILE – 2025-26 A B C D E F A = Asian 48% B = Black 17% C = White 21% D = Mixed 6% E = Other 5% F = Not Given 3% SUSTAINABILITY – EMBEDDED AND THREADED We are certified by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) – formerly known as IEMA. Providing globally recognised validation of skills in environmental management and sustainability. DID YOU KNOW? This gives us both an opportunity and an obligation to ensure sustainability is relatable, empowering and grounded in the real challenges and aspirations of our community. Sustainability is rooted in who we are and who we serve. As a dual further and higher education institution at the heart of one of the UK’s youngest and most diverse cities, we have a responsibility to act with purpose. We attract many students from groups historically under-represented in sustainability conversations – 65% of our students are from Black or Asian ethnic backgrounds. Around eight in ten UK students now say their university or college should actively promote sustainable development – and 60% want to learn more about it. DID YOU KNOW? UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 15 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 14
CAMPUS Following our biodiversity analysis in 2024 we will redevelop all our green spaces to create accessible and biodiverse rich areas for our community by 2030 0% Sustainable food policy in place by 2026 Undertake an estate wide decarbonisation study by 2026 CREATING GREEN SPACES FOR ALL GREEN IT FEEDING THE FUTURE INVESTING IN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY ESTATE DECARBONISATION AND NET ZERO SUPPORTING TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT Landfill (Pledged) Reduction of waste by by 2030 Increase recycling rate by Establish a carbon reduction plan by 2027 Seek to appoint an Energy and Data Officer by 2025 Improve pollution monitoring across campus Work with IT to establish a robust sustainable IT framework Undertake digital decluttering initiatives Undertake a travel and transport analysis by 2026 Establish a Sustainable Travel Policy and relevant guidance for staff and students 25% 15% Our campus is a living demonstration of our sustainability values. The changes we make to our buildings, green spaces and operations influence not only our environmental footprint, but the wellbeing and behaviours of our whole community. We are committed to creating a more accessible, biodiverse and low-carbon estate – improving how we manage waste, energy, travel, water and construction, while planning a clear pathway to net zero. Progress so far has shown what’s possible; the next phase will deepen our impact, get clear on measurement and data reporting and strengthen University College Birmingham’s role as a sustainable anchor institution for Birmingham. Supporting the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust’s goal to create more green and wild spaces where nature thrives and where everyone has an equal opportunity to access nature in their daily lives CAMPUS Creating an environment that reflects our vision and values, inspiring our community to model our sustainability principles beyond campus boundaries. I’m honoured to lead University College Birmingham’s Campus Working Group and help turn our Sustainability Strategy into tangible action. Our role is to make sustainability visible and achievable across the estate – from greener spaces to everyday operational improvements. Our campus reflects our commitment to our students’ experience and bringing together different voices to make sure our decisions reflect the needs of our whole community. Our work will foster greater awareness, engagement and accountability, empowering individuals to contribute to meaningful environmental and social change on campus. Benjamin Pithouse, Executive Director of Student Support and Wellbeing and Campus Working Group lead for our Sustainability Steering Board LOOKING AHEAD 2025-2030: A SELECTION OF ACTIONS WE’RE TAKING ACROSS OUR CAMPUS CASE STUDY Centre for Sustainable Construction, formerly James Cond Printworks The Centre for Sustainable Construction brings our sustainability ambitions to life. Housed in a restored 1920s Art Deco printworks in the Jewellery Quarter, the centre showcases what responsible retrofit looks like in practice: from solar panels generating over 16MWh of energy annually, to original Crittal windows adapted rather than replaced to improve thermal efficiency without losing their heritage character. Live energy monitoring at the entrance lets any student observe the building’s energy use in real time. With 100% of construction waste diverted from landfill, the teaching facility exemplifies circular economy in practice – preparing students for retrofit, low-carbon building and circular-construction techniques that are in critical national shortage. Or BNG as it’s often referred to – it requires developments in England to leave nature in a measurably better state than before. It became a legal requirement in 2024, meaning most new developments must deliver at least a 10% biodiversity improvement. This is influencing planning, construction and land management across England. WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN? UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 17 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 16
CASE STUDY Can tourism in the Global South ever be truly sustainable? Hospitality and Tourism Senior lecturer, Simon Faulkner, challenged his students to take a clear position: does tourism in a Global South destination help to advance the UN’s SDGs on decent work, reduced inequalities and responsible consumption, or does it reproduce the inequalities it claims to tackle? Three students rose to the challenge, publishing their arguments on the Good Tourism Blog, a global platform amplifying diverse and marginalised voices in sustainable travel. Calliope, Prashanna and Regan drew on analysis from Kenya, Zanzibar and Morocco respectively, bringing critical, evidence-led thinking to a question that sits at the heart of sustainable development. CURRICULUM Establish student and staff sustainability resource hubs by 2026 SDG MAPPING SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH CURRICULUM FOR THE FUTURE EMPOWERED LEARNING AND TEACHING All senior management levels certified in Sustainability Management by 2027 Explore Specialist Status in Education for Sustainable Development (ETF × EAUC) in 2026 Seek to appoint ESD manager by 2026 Sustainability is now a core part of the learning experience at University College Birmingham. Our curriculum helps students understand the world they are entering and the contribution they can make to it, building the confidence, knowledge and agency needed for a more sustainable future. We are embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals across all programmes and introducing an Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) framework spanning Further Education (FE), Higher Education (HE) and apprenticeships. Staff will be supported through tailored CPD and specialist resources, while students benefit from ISEP-accredited modules, live briefs and practice-based research – developing the critical thinking and technical expertise required for an inclusive, green economy. CURRICULUM Enhancing everyday education and inspiring innovative thinking by providing education for sustainable development. Embedding the Sustainable Development Goals across our curriculum empowers students to critically engage with global challenges and actively contribute to sustainable solutions. Innovative approaches to integrating the SDGs are already emerging across our programmes, and we will continue to champion these practices, support their cross-disciplinary dissemination, and evaluate their impact on student engagement and sustainability learning. Michelle Callanan, Deputy Dean for Quality Assurance and Enhancement Curriculum Working Group lead for our Sustainability Steering Board LOOKING AHEAD 2025-2030: A SELECTION OF ACTIONS WE’RE TAKING ACROSS OUR CURRICULUM Conduct an ESD Impact Assessment Establish an Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) framework across HE, FE, Sixth Form, apprenticeships and all new provisions by 2026 All HE courses SDG-mapped by 2027 SDG criteria embedded within product quality evaluation management processes Aiming for continuous improvement on mapping scores Support students’ projects on sustainability across all academic provisions Establish an Open Science Framework (OSF) depository for sustainability research We’re an ISEP Accredited Training Centre, meaning our sustainability modules meet professional industry standards. Our Business School has also signed up to two internationally recognised frameworks: PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education), a UN-supported initiative embedding ethics and sustainability into business education worldwide; and BGA (Business Graduates Association), a global accreditation body that focuses heavily on responsible management, sustainability, and a measurable positive impact on students, employers, and local communities. Together, these commitments signal that the way sustainability is taught is recognised and held to account by the bodies that set the standard. DID YOU KNOW? UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 19 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 18
COMMUNITY At University College Birmingham, sustainability is shaped by our community. As a university rooted in Birmingham, and a part of one of the UK’s youngest and most diverse cities, we aim to build environmental citizenship, deepen belonging and support wellbeing across campus. Students take part in ambassador roles, volunteering, community projects and naturebased activities that reinforce sustainability as part of everyday life. Our partnerships with local organisations and our commitment to achieving the University Mental Health Charter are helping create a healthier, more connected and resilient community. Together, these experiences will equip learners to contribute confidently to sustainable change in their city and beyond. Channelling our resources to create a positive impact throughout our community locally and globally. I feel really fortunate to lead this group – it’s a chance to turn commitment into action. We work together to cut our environmental impact, champion sustainable behaviour and empower others to get involved. From waste-reduction projects to campus-wide campaigns, our work strengthens University College Birmingham’s resilience and contributes to the wider effort to address the climate crisis and build a fairer, more sustainable future. Mark Godwin, Director of Strategic Partnership Projects Community Working Group lead for our Sustainability Steering Board LOOKING AHEAD 2025-2030: A SELECTION OF ACTIONS WE’RE TAKING ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY COMMUNITY Working continuously to establish robust and sustainable governance as a foundation for a resilient institution. COMMUNITY AND BELONGING AS MECHANISMS FOR CHANGE SUPPORTING OUR AMBITION TO ACHIEVE THE UNIVERSITY MENTAL HEALTH CHARTER (UMHC) DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CITIZENSHIP Establish a Sustainability Ambassador programme Establish a sustainability events calendar Create a sustainability awards programme Become a Plastic Free Community by 2026 Support communities through sustainability upskilling Support and empower our community to deliver additional sustainability events Promote healthy behaviours around food, drink, smoking, vaping and substance use by 2027. Continue to establish and work with sustainability partners Address consumeristic behaviours affecting wellbeing and understand inequalities in access to sustainable living by 2030 Foster belonging, social integration and meaningful work by 2030. CASE STUDY Installing reused acoustic baffles in the BRIG cafe BRIG (Birmingham Race Impact Group) café is a community space at The Warehouse in Digbeth and Birmingham Friends of the Earth’s home for environmental community work. It hosts wide-ranging events, but its acoustics were challenging, impacting attendees’ experiences. Our sustainability team stepped in to help, suggesting some acoustic baffles, and then sourcing some baffles which were in need of a new home. We reached out to our commercial refurbishment partners, Intex Projects, who had expressed a strong interest in supporting community projects. Intex installed the baffles in the space, improving acoustics and the experience for everyone who uses it. A small act with real impact: keeping materials in use, supporting a community space where climate activism and social justice meet. Why is sustainability a key part of achieving the University Mental Health Charter? Sustainable environments, green spaces and connected communities are increasingly recognised as fundamental to mental health and wellbeing. The University Mental Health Charter, developed by Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, sets out what good practice looks like across a whole university community, requiring institutions to evidence that wellbeing is genuinely embedded in culture, curriculum and campus life. At University College Birmingham, that means access to nature, healthy behaviours, a sense of belonging and dignity on campus, all of which our sustainability commitments are directly designed to deliver. Introduce a Period Dignity Policy via the Women’s Network by 2026. Enable opportunities to engage with nature and outdoor spaces, recognising the wellbeing benefits, by 2026. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 21 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 20
COMMUNITY In 2025, the UCB Guild committed to the National Union of Students’ Sustainable SUs Charter, reflecting our commitment to embedding sustainability throughout our work and into the plans to develop our services further. As part of the Charter, we commit to: • Adopt sustainable practices, including championing local sustainability groups and causes via advocacy and events • Fostering collaboration and innovation, including the creation of a student-led Sustainability Society and collaborative campaigning with other students’ unions • Offering sustainable food and beverage options alongside the introduction of a community pantry • Advocating for policy change, including capturing student insights on their experiences of sustainable practices at UCB • Promoting environmental education and awareness, including through our campaigning framework and by inviting guest speakers to campus. As a student-led organisation, we’re proud of the many contributions that our Officers have made to shaping the conversation on sustainability issues. Elected Officers have championed issues such as accessible public transport, ethical investments, renter rights, gender equality and trans inclusion, and more – including at a national level in Parliamentary groups. GET INVOLVED If you’re a student at UCB, we’d love to be working with you too on sustainability, climate justice and environmental action. At the UCB Guild: you can get in touch with us any time to start a campaign or a student group with our support. • Become a Sustainability Rep • Join our Sustainability and Climate Justice Society • Bid for our Sustainability Project Fund Here in Birmingham: you can volunteer with organisations such as Birmingham Friends of the Earth and other charity groups, taking part in activities from climate campaigning and conservation to food redistribution and reuse projects. Nationally: People and Planet and Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS UK) support student led campaigns on social and climate justice, offer training, and help students build active campaign groups on campus. Sustainability isn’t just about recycling or saving energy; it’s about fairness, opportunity and wellbeing, now and in the future. For example, poor air quality often affects poorer or more vulnerable first – such as those living near busy roads. And if people don’t have secure housing and income, they may have fewer choices about living sustainably. This graphic demonstrates Donut Economics; it is a great resource to learn more about how more people can live well, without damaging the planet. HOW DO SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES CONNECT? At the UCB Guild of Students, we’re very grateful for our ongoing partnership with colleagues across UCB covering a wide range of sustainability issues, and we’re excited to support the University College Birmingham Sustainability Strategy. Alex Harden Way, Managing Director of UCB Guild of Students Sustainability is a reality of every student’s present and future. To prepare learners for the challenges ahead, we must give them the critical thinking and problem-solving skills to live and work sustainably – and the confidence to contribute to stronger local and global communities. Soham Chougale, UCB Guild of Students Education Officer Our Head of Sustainability & Campus Services, Ashlea Mallett, was once our Student Communities O icer (2019-2020), Trustee & Society leader, here at the University College Birmingham Guild of Students. Small actions can change the course of people and place. We strive to empower and support our community to champion the future you want to see locally and globally. DID YOU KNOW? UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 23 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 22
HOLISTIC POLICY AND STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT • Sustainability Policy (2025) • Environmental Sustainability Strategy with SMART targets ETHICAL FINANCE AND INVESTMENT • Establish an Ethical Investment and Banking Policy by 2028 • Initiate a clear divestment policy and strategy, including responsible reinvestment of divested funds by 2030 OUR PEOPLE • Ensure that the total reward offer to employees supports living costs and is fair and accessible for all • Mandatory all-staff sustainability training, awareness and empowerment plan (aligned with UUK Accommodation Code) • We aim for our staff to feel empowered and demonstrate a Shared ownership sustainability across all roles and responsibilities – much like the goals for our students from strategic plan • Sign up to the Can’t Buy My Silence Universities Pledge • The University will work to provide opportunities for volunteering to all staff, as part of curriculum and civic responsibilities • Sustainability within the job descriptions and as a part of the hiring process of all accommodation staff and all staff working on sustainability initiatives SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT • Establish a Sustainable Procurement Policy • Develop an achievable procurement action plan to meet our sustainable procurement goals in collaboration with finance. POLITICAL AND SOCIAL STEWARDSHIP • Maintain an active role in local and national sustainability conversations • Establish an ethical careers policy for partner companies DECISION MAKING • Establish a Climate Risk Register, including climate adaptation and resilience considerations • Introduce a Sustainability Impact Assessment process for decision making GREEN MARKETING • Review marketing materials and volumes • Provide education on avoiding greenwashing • Review digital practices: explore greener web hosting, removal of outdated documents, and lower-impact web design GOVERNANCE New roles including a Head of Sustainability and Campus Services and a Sustainability and Campus Services Coordinator have strengthened our capacity to drive change and ensure consistent progress across the institution. This structure enables us to channel our resources effectively, align our policies and practices with our values, and hold ourselves accountable to the commitments we have made. A new Energy and Data Officer role starts in 2026. Through strengthened policies, ethical investment principles, improved procurement standards, specialised training and emerging tools such as a climate risk register, we are building a culture where sustainability shapes everyday operational and strategic decisions. Transparent monitoring (see next section) – including KPI dashboards, surveys, annual reporting and external audits – will ensure we track our impact and continually improve. Together, these governance arrangements provide the clarity, leadership and accountability needed to deliver meaningful, long-term change for our university and our wider community. Strong governance underpins our entire sustainability strategy. At University College Birmingham, responsibility is shared across senior leaders, specialist working groups and the Executive Management Team to ensure sustainability is embedded in every decision we make. Our three working groups – Campus, Curriculum and Community – are chaired by senior managers who lead cross-university action, with overall strategic direction provided by the Sustainability Steering Board, chaired by Rebecca Tigue. They might sound technical, but they shape the world around us. They’re global guidelines that help organisations work safely, efficiently and sustainably. From environmental management (ISO 14001) to energy use (ISO 50001), many employers use them to improve sustainability performance – you may end up working with them sooner than you think. EVER HEARD OF ISO STANDARDS? UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 25 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 24
Identifying what measurable impact looks like is a primary goal for the Sustainability Steering Board over the next year. Meaningful impact requires robust methods, transparency and an ongoing appetite to learn and improve, and we recognise we are still at an early stage in this part of our journey. This is a critical year for establishing baseline metrics, putting reporting structures in place and embedding accountability across the institution. With our sustainability leadership and governance now in place, through the Sustainability Steering Board and our Campus, Curriculum and Community working groups, our focus is on building a clear, consistent approach to understanding what success looks like and how we hold ourselves accountable for delivering it. We want to hear from you. Staff, students and partners all have a role in shaping what success looks like, including how we measure and report our progress. Get involved at sustainability@ucb.ac.uk. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE OUTCOMES • A combination of tangible and intangible sustainability outcomes • Clear articulation of intangible success, aligned to the Sustainability Strategy statement MONITORING AND KPIs • Action Plan KPI dashboard to track delivery and progress MEASURING IMPACT SURVEYS AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS • Guild of Students survey: student satisfaction with sustainability • HESA data ratio improvements • Institutional carbon footprint reporting • People and Planet University League performance • SDG Accord results and performance • Ability to apply for Green Gown Awards and other relevant sustainability awards EXTERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY • Considering sustainability assurance upon mobilisation of this strategy and action plan with consideration to necessary annual reviews • Five-year environmental audit covering waste, transport, water, procurement, energy, construction and biodiversity (2027) BOARD OF GOVERNORS Health and Safety Committee Reporting Environmental Sustainability Executive Management Team The chair of our steering board is an active member of EMT Senior Management Team The chairs of our working groups are active members of SMT Sustainability Steering Board Our steering board and working groups consist over diversified and evolving members to maximise collaboration and the ownership of a shared vision. Campus Working Group Curriculum Working Group Community Working Group Guild of Students CHAIR OF THE SUSTAINABILITY STEERING BOARD Head of Sustainability and Campus Services Our Sustainability Team sits at the core of our estates operation, driving the large-scale operational changes needed to make our sustainability ambitions a reality. Energy and Data Officer Sustainability and Campus Services Coordinator Education for Sustainable Development Officer* * To be recruited UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 27 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 26
University College Birmingham's Battery Manufacturing Skills Pathway (B-MSP) is the UK's first fully accredited programme of its kind, developed in direct response to the growing demand for green skills in battery technology. Built in partnership with Cranfield University, RAVMAC and WMG at the University of Warwick, and funded by UKRI's Faraday Battery Challenge, the programme equips trainees with nationally recognised qualifications across automotive, marine, defence and construction sectors. Launched in 2025 with the Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero in attendance, it positions UCB at the forefront of the UK's transition to sustainable manufacturing, with trainees gaining practical experience with live batteries. STRATEGY IN ACTION BATTERY MANUFACTURING SKILLS PATHWAY – ENGINEERING AND STEM The launch of our Level 6 Sustainability in Aesthetics module is matched by action on the ground. In partnership with estates, the Aesthetics team has introduced a British Beauty Council and MYGROUP take-back scheme for hard-to-recycle cosmetic empties, giving students and staff a way to responsibly recycle plastic packaging and beauty products on campus. Waste is recovered and repurposed by the MYReFactory team, giving products a second life. Curriculum and campus working together to embed sustainability and make it a tangible reality for students. SUSTAINABILITY IN AESTHETICS – CREATIVE INDUSTRIES Three University College Birmingham final year Culinary Arts Management BA (Hons) students won the Least Waste Award at Zest Quest Asia (2024) for their low-waste, climate-smart cooking. Their menu used energy-efficient preparation techniques that cut kitchen waste. All waste went to compost at a farm which produced 87% of the restaurant’s ingredients. Matteo, one of the participants said “We decided as a team not to use single use plastics or sous vide vacuum pouches. We didn’t leave the taps running or leave the hobs on. We became so conscious about it and got our waste down to almost nothing.” ZEST QUEST ASIA – CULINARY ARTS MANAGEMENT Six students from the Department of Hospitality and Tourism worked directly with Malvern Hills District Council to help shape a new sustainable tourism strategy for the area. The brief was to attract a younger generation of visitors aged 18–35, while respecting the rural environment and the communities who live there. Working across digital campaigns, youth-focused events and place marketing, the students applied their studies to a live challenge with a real client and real outcomes. As Victoria Carman, Visitor Economy and Towns Manager at the Council put it: the district offers genuine opportunity for tourism growth, and UCB students are helping to unlock it. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM – HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM Level 4 Food and Nutrition students put sustainability theory into practice with a guest lecture from Food Sustainability Consultant, Matthew Unerman, on food security and planetary health, followed by a kitchen session designing and delivering a no-food-waste menu. This session got students thinking about sustainability and the impact they can make from the very start of their degree. Students were challenged to question whether existing food systems serve people or planet, then demonstrate an answer through their cooking. The waste produced across the entire three-hour session was down to a single bowl, with students proposing it be dried for fibre fortification. FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY – HEALTH AND NUTRITION APPENDIX To learn more about our work and keep up to date with out latest progress head to our website: www.ucb.ac.uk/about-us/sustainability-at-universitycollege-birmingham/ KEEN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY? Try these educational resources: • https://sdgacademy.org • https://doughnuteconomics.org/about-doughnuteconomics • https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org • https://www.unprme.org • https://www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk • https://small99.co.uk • https://www.isepglobal.org • https://www.eauc.org.uk • https://www.sas.org.uk UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 29 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY 2025–2030 28
WE WANT TO HEAR IT! Whether you’re a student, staff member or partner with an idea or project, or you’re just curious about sustainability and what it means for you – please reach out. There are plenty of ways to get involved, from student societies, project funding, sustainability reps or our upcoming Sustainability Ambassador roles. GOT AN IDEA FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM? sustainability@ucb.ac.uk Summer Row, Birmingham B3 1JB 0121 604 1000 ucb.ac.uk SUPPLIERS SUPPORT OUR SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
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