Awarding Sustainability Excellence
Since 2004
Green Gown Awards are sponsored by
Awarding Sustainability Excellence
Since 2004
Stage 1 of the 2024 Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland are now closed.
Applicants will be informed of their status on 16 July.
We always acknowledge receipt of applications, so if you have submitted an application and not heard from us, please contact us directly to check we have received it.
The Green Gown Awards are open to all post-16 educational institutions (further or higher education institutions, work-based or adult and community learning providers) in the UK and Ireland.
Click here for the categories and criteria.
Applications are also encouraged from third parties such as catering suppliers, waste companies, transport providers, accommodation providers, architects etc. Third party organisations working or partnering with post-16 educational institutions may enter on behalf on an institution, but an institution employee must approve the application. Any such listings, including the Award, will use the institution's name and not to the third party organisation, unless when filling out the application form, and working with a third party, you have stated how the partnership should be named in the communication, if selected, as a Finalist.
AND REMEMBER:
The Green Gown Awards is a two stage application process. The benefits of a two stage process are to make it easier for applicants; to enable a feedback process to achieve a more uniform quality in the applications seen by the full judging panel; and to allow recognition of a greater number of initiatives (through publication of a considerable number of finalist entries).
Stage 1 involves a short application form*. A panel of sector experts will assess these to produce a list of finalists for each category. These finalist entries will then be invited to submit a fuller application for stage 2 and the deadline for submission is Friday 6 September 2024. These will then be assessed by a larger judging panel with experts from both inside and outside further and higher education at a special judgement day. This panel will select winning, and highly commended, entries for each category from the finalists. The Awards will be announced and presented at the Green Gown Awards Ceremony to be held in November 2024, venue/format/date to be confirmed.
*Note: Sustainability Institution of the Year follows a different application process. See category description for more.
The stage 1 application process will involve consideration of a large number of entries, many of which are likely to be on similar topics. Applications which stand out through their clear signalling of achievements and succinct descriptions of work done and benefits achieved, will have a greater chance of progressing to stage 2.
Top Tips:
Other than the application form, no other background materials, web links or appendices etc. will be accepted or examined for either stage 1 or stage 2 applications, so please do not send. Shortlisted stage 2 applicants (the finalists) will be invited to submit their institution's logo and one project image as well as being encouraged to produce a short 2-minute animation (in the form of a video, vlog, infographics or other) to support the dissemination of their project.
To make a strong application please provide facts and figures to support your application and meet all the criteria within your chosen category. You should also include the following generic criteria:
Use the Organisational/Institution General application form, for all organisational categories with the exception of the Sustainability Institution of the Year and Reporting with Influence categories, which can be found further down.
Please cover the following topics in your application:
Cover Page - General Information: If the application is being made by a third party, or other non-academic body, please obtain prior approval from the institution, and provide a contact at the institution. This is not part of the judging process.
Cover pages include:
General contact details, social media links and a few questions.
Sustainability Development Goals (SDG): Please select the top ONE SDG that your application particularly delivers against. As educators for future generations of leaders, post-16 education has a critical responsibility for the successful implementation and realisation of the SDGs. Education is a transformational element in realising all goals. This is NOT a part of the judging process but will be used in various marketing communications and campaigns as a collective of all applications to illustrate the role of applicants in delivering the SDGs. Click here for more information on the SDGs.
Top 3 learnings from implementing your project: Please write in the “first person” (i.e. I, we, our etc.). This is NOT a part of the judging process but will be used in various marketing communications and campaigns as well as the online showcase of finalists and winners etc. Please include your institutions / nominee’s / teams top 3 learnings from implementing the project in 3 short bullets. This can act as words of advice to others who may be starting out on their projects. Please keep these short – max. 15 words per item. The Awards Team reserve the right to shorten this if submitted text is too long. For ideas of what to include, visit the 2023 showcase and look at the top 3 learnings sections.
Marketing specific questions: How did you hear about the awards; why did you apply and if relevant, numbers of staff/students/community involved in your project.
Declaration: By submitting this application form, you are agreeing to our T&Cs and GDPR / Conditions of Entry as outlined on this website.
Project Title and Summary: Please make it as ‘catchy’ and descriptive as possible. If you are selected as a Finalist, this text will be included in the Finalists’ online presence. We receive many applications – a catchy name helps you stand out from the crowd.
Organisational Profile: You must provide the relevant information and include a short profile of your organisation. These figures are used, if selected, in the finalists’ and winners’ online presence.
Organisation’s External Accreditations. Please list here any standards/ accreditations you have that are relevant to your application. Judges are looking for excellent initiatives that go beyond expected good standards and accreditations.
The Initiative: Describe the initiative, covering topics such as the activities undertaken; reasons for doing it; timescale; costs (in cash and staff time); current status (on-going, completed etc.); departments/organisations involved; any external recognition. Include quantitative data/cost data/budget analysis. We recommend you to provide as much evidence and supporting text here as you can. If there is a lot of data you want to include try and summarise it as much as possible. Please do not use links to external websites as judges may not necessarily review all the information so if possible include important elements here. We also want to hear about how the project was funded, what level of funding it received, which partners you worked with as well as any financial benefits gained from the project. For those categories asking for a holistic, whole life-cycle approach, the application must focus on the whole life-cycle and not on an individual campaign(s). Judging: This section has a maximum score of 20 – 10 for the overall initiative and 10 for category specific criteria.
The Environmental and Social Benefits: Summarise the benefits. Benefits may relate to operational outcomes, environmental/social outcomes, sector benefits. Provide as much quantification as possible, making maximum use of normalised measures (e.g. energy per FTE or square metre of floor space) and be consistent in use of units. Be sure to highlight distinctive features (e.g. levels of energy and water efficiency saving, success in reducing car usage). Summarise the sustainable procurement practices – covering initiatives you used and any obstacles you encountered. What procurement practices were put into place as a result of your project? Has this resulted in a positive shift in attitude? Or in future procurement activities? Describe any financial implications as a result of your procurement practices? How were circular economy principles used? What are your project’s legal requirements versus what you have done over and beyond these standard requirements? Judging: This section has a maximum score of 10.
Project Specific Supporting Materials: If your initiative relates to a visual or a virtual campaign you can include a URL and/or images to illustrate this. We will ask judges to view the images/URL, but cannot guarantee all will do so. You must ensure any pertinent information is included as text within your application - this is very important. If not relevant to your entry, do not include. You need to enter the images within the boxes within the application form and not send as separate files. (~See note below on file sizes.)
Use the Sustainability Institution of the Year application form. Questions are as above for Organisational Categories but relates to the Team/Institution and the application (whole institutional approach) rather than a specific project. And continues with:
Leadership and Engagement: How does your application fit within your wider institution’s strategy, value, and ethos? How have you demonstrated leadership in communicating your initiative? What ways you have involved others in your application. This could include other departments/faculties, the local community and industry, as well as what communication about the application has taken place. Judging: This section has a maximum score of 10.
Significance for the Sector: Please summarise what you feel is distinctive about your application e.g. originality; replicability through the sector; outstanding example of best practice; application of new technology, process, or approach; new application of an existing product. Describe learning from the initiative that could be of relevance to other institutions. Evidence of transfer to other institutions should be provided where available. Please Indicate what ways you have involved others in your application. This could include other departments/faculties, the local community and industry, as well as what communication about the initiative has taken place. Where possible include examples of engagement and/or the communication processes. Judging: This section has a maximum score of 10.
Wider Societal Benefits: Please outline the wider societal impact and value of your application. What is the impact of your application to society outside of your institution, staff, and students? What is the legacy of your application as it benefits wider society? Did your project help widen participation? Provide evidence of the impact. Judging: This section has a maximum score of 10.
Learner/Graduate Employer Benefits: Please outline the benefit and value of your application to learner/graduate employers. How has your application improved learner/graduate employability attributes that will attract them to potential employers? What is the legacy of your application as it benefits learner/graduate employers? Provide evidence of the impact. Judging: This section has a maximum score of 10.
“What would it mean to your institution to win a Green Gown Award?” quote: from your VC/Principal.
Project Specific Supporting Materials: as above.
Use the Reporting with Influence application form. For this category we only need your contact details, a web link to your publicly available sustainability report and a short summary as well as a "what it means to win" quote from your VC/Principal. We also ask for some marketing text which will be used if you are selected as a finalist.
Use the Individual/Team category form.
INDIVIDUALS/TEAMS MUST COMPLETE THE FORM THEMSELVES AND BE NOMINATED BY A MANAGER OR PEER. THE NOMINEE IS THE PERSON FILLING OUT THE FORM AND BEING PUT FORWARD FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AWARD. THE PROPOSER IS THE PERSON NOMINATING THE INDIVIDUAL.
IMPORTANT NOTE TO THE PROPOSER: BY SIGNING THIS FORM, YOU ARE VERIFYING THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE APPLICATION ABOUT THE NOMINEE (INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM) IS TRUE TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
Please complete the application in the first person (i.e. I am/I have).
Please cover the following topics in your application:
Cover Page - General Information: Provide details of both the nominee and the proposer as well as marketing contacts and social media links. This is not part of the judging process.
Sustainability Development Goals (SDG): Please select the top ONE SDG that your application particularly delivers against. As educators for future generations of leaders, post-16 education has a critical responsibility for the successful implementation and realisation of the SDGs. Education is a transformational element in realising all goals. This is NOT a part of the judging process but will be used in various marketing communications and campaigns as a collective of all applications to illustrate the role of applicants in delivering the SDGs. Click here for more information on the SDGs.
Top 3 learnings from implementing your project: Please write in the “first person” (i.e. I, we, our etc.). This is NOT a part of the judging process but will be used in various marketing communications and campaigns as well as the Finalists’ online presence. Please include your nominee’s / teams top 3 learnings from implementing the project in 3 short bullets. This can act as words of advice to others who may be starting out on their projects. Please keep these short – max. 15 words per item. The Awards Team reserve the right to shorten this if submitted text is too long. For ideas of what to include, visit the 2023 showcase and look at the top 3 learnings sections.
Marketing specific questions: How did you hear about the awards; why did you apply and if relevant, numbers of staff/students/community involved in your project.
Declaration: By submitting this application form, you are agreeing to our T&Cs and GDPR / Conditions of Entry as outlined on this website.
Individual Summary: Explain succinctly what you have achieved. Please make it as ‘catchy’ and descriptive as possible. If you are selected as a Finalist, this text will be included in the Finalists’ online presence.
Organisational Profile: You must provide the relevant information and include a short profile of your organisation. These figures are used, if selected, in the finalists’ and winners’ online presence.
Organisation’s External Accreditations. Please list here any standards/ accreditations you have that are relevant to your application.
The Individual: Why do you think you deserves to win? What actions have you taken to make you stand out? Include how your actions were over and above the normal requirements. Include any recognition received within and beyond their institution. Describe your actions, covering topics such as the activities undertaken; reasons for doing it; timescale; costs (in cash and time); current status (on-going, completed etc.); departments/organisations involved. Include quantitative data/cost data/budget analysis where available. We recommend you to provide as much evidence and supporting text here as you can. If there is a lot of data you want to include try and summarise it as much as possible. Please do not use links to external websites as judges may not necessarily review all the information so include important elements here. Judging: This section has a maximum score of 20 – 10 for the overall initiative and 10 for category specific criteria.
Impacts and Benefits: Summarise the impact and benefits from your actions. Benefits may relate to positive impacts on their peers, institution, students, local community, workforce or other. Provide evidence of impact, any aspects of positive sustainable procurement outcomes (if relevant) and good leadership/championing practice and how you have engaged and inspired others. How were circular economy principles used? (If relevant.) Include any positive unexpected outcomes from your actions. Describe how you have gone over and beyond standard job requirements? Describe how you have gone over and beyond standard job requirements? Judging: This section has a maximum score of 10
Project Specific Supporting Materials: If your initiative relates to a visual or a virtual campaign you can include a URL and/or images to illustrate this. We will ask judges to view the images/URL, but cannot guarantee all will do so. You must ensure any pertinent information is included as text within your application - this is very important. If not relevant to your entry, do not include. You need to enter the images within the boxes within the application form and not send as separate files. (~See note below on file sizes.)
~File Sizes: IMPORTANT – in order to keep file sizes small, if you do submit any images within your application form, please ensure you do the following: In the Word document, click on an image – select “picture format” from the top menu – “compress picture” – apply to all pictures in the document and tick the “delete cropped areas of pictures”. Save. The file size of the saved document must be under 3MBs. You need to enter the images within the boxes within the application form and not send as separate files.
The Application Form asks for certain types of information which is not a part of the entry but will be used in various marketing campaigns, individually or combined (finalists' and winners' online presence such as finalist and winner showcases, case study pages, website etc.). If successful and going on to become a finalist, applicants will be asked at stage 2, for their institution's logo and an accompanying project/individual photograph. Further information will be provided at stage 2.
The judging will be based on a composite view of the application, taking account of the above criteria within the application form, and the specific criteria of the Award category. You can find more on the judging process here.
For Application Forms, click here.
For Conditions of Entry, click here.
For Categories and Criteria, click here.
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