2024 Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland Finalists

We are delighted to share with you the Finalists for the 2024 Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland, in association with UKRICongratulations to our 133 Finalists representing 84 institutions. Reflecting on this year's impressive finalists, we hear from Charlotte Bonner, EAUC and Susan Simon, UKRI.   

"As EAUC celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, so too does the Green Gown Awards. The Awards continue to recognise, celebrate, and share the most impactful and innovative sustainability action across the post-16 education sector. We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland, showcasing the exceptional sustainability initiatives from our higher and further education institutions. This year, we saw a remarkable increase in applications, highlighting the growing commitment to sustainability across the sector. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of these institutions at our Awards Ceremony on November 13 at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh."
Charlotte Bonner, CEO, EAUC

“The Green Gown Awards are consistently demonstrating the commitment of the research community to tackling the impact of science on the environment.  Each year we are presented with new, innovative and inspirational projects nominated for these awards. We look forward to following the progress of another exceptional set of projects tackling this important global issue.”
Susan Simon, UKRI Environmental Sustainability Programme Director

Finalists are now invited to submit their stage 2 applications with judging taking place in October. Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony which will take place on Wednesday 13 November at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh. Ticket sales are now open with early bird offers available until 6 September. You can find all the Awards Ceremony details here.

In early September, we will be launching a showcase of the finalists' work which will include project write-ups and top three learnings. Watch this space!  

2024 Finalists - at a glance

2030 Climate Action

Category Supporter: The Energy Consortium

  • Arts University Bournemouth - Travel to AUB
  • Derby College Group - Coal to the atmosphere’s soul!
  • Leeds University Union - #PlasticFree2023
  • London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Assembling the puzzle – our journey to Net Zero
  • Morley College London - Carbon Literacy Training
  • Morley College London - Green Hub: Cultivating unconscious competence
  • Queen’s University Belfast - Investing in sustainability for a greener campus and community
  • Sheffield Hallam University - Climate Action in Action!
  • Technological University Dublin - Decarbonising-by-District: How TU Dublin are pioneering two district heating projects
  • The Bedford College Group - The Bedford College Group Decarbonisation Journey
  • University of Lincoln  - Our roadmap for reaching Net Zero by 2040
  • University of the West of England, Bristol - Breaking boundaries with Purdown View: The largest Passivhaus scheme in the UK

Benefitting Society

  • Aston University - Enactus Aston - Enactus Aston: Chance for change - take the chance be the change
  • Cardiff Metropolitan University - Connections & Community – Cardiff Mets’ free repair cafe 
  • Edinburgh College - EC Sessions
  • Fife College - FCSA Unicorn Trail 
  • Lancaster University - ReStore Lancaster: Sustainable innovation in retail
  • Queen’s University Belfast - Inspiring and Empowering Climate Action through the Arts - Reach’24: Sustainability and Arts Festival
  • Queen’s University Belfast - Open Botanic Research and Festival; Pedestrianisation for a shared multicultural public space
  • The University of Edinburgh - Edinburgh BioQuarter: Being good neighbours
  • The University of Nottingham - Nottingham Student Living Strategy
  • The University of Winchester  - A clean air cycle to school
  • University of Kent - Kent stands for the right to food
  • University of the West of England, Bristol - MAKERS – Making and Knowledge Exchange for Repair and Sustainability
  • University of West London - Nourish Ealing: Sustaining our community and the planet through food partnerships
 

Campus Health, Food & Drink

  • Cardiff University - Cardiff University Food – green shoots is growing the future
  • Forth Valley College - Social impact auditing
  • Imperial College London - Imperial’s beef with beef
  • University of Cambridge - Darwin College - Darwin College Kitchens: Leading by example for planet-conscious dining 
  • University of Liverpool - A ‘picnic’ of sustainable food and drink initiatives
  • University of Southampton - Feeding sustainable change
  • University of Sussex - Greens & Grains: Food Journey to low-carbon meals
 

Creating Impact

Category Supporter: The Scottish Funding Council

  • Birmingham City University - BCU Volunteering Programme
  • Chelmsford College - Project Nexus: Pioneering sustainable education for a greener tomorrow
  • Derby College - Riding towards a greener future: Implementation of the Novel Equine Carbon Calculator 
  • Durham University - 93 to 19 – The Odorbac Initiative
  • Edge Hill University - Interview Clothing Collection - No smart wear? No problem! Our approach to circular economy
  • Falmouth University - Swap ‘til you drop – creating a resource redistribution movement on campus
  • Glasgow Caledonian University - #MyClimatePledge - cutting business flights with “Nudge” Campaign
  • Hull College - Rising Tides, Rising Minds: Hull’s green education revolution
  • Lancaster University - Lancaster University bike hire: Upcycling the cycles
  • Nottingham Trent University - The big clear out
  • Robert Gordon University - Creating inclusive cycling culture at RGU 
  • The Students’ Union at UWE and UWE Bristol - Year-long campaign on Ethical Consumption and Sustainable Fashion 
  • University of Aberdeen - Student Relocation Travel Emissions Calculator
  • University of Lincoln  - A festival for the future

Digital Futures

Category Supporter: Jisc 

  • Luminate Education Group - Building Intelligence
  • University of East London - Living Lab IoT Platform
  • University of Worcester - Change today protect tomorrow – 10 years of digital publishing

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability

  • Cardiff University & WWT - Generation Wild: Connecting children from disadvantaged communities with nature 
  • University of the Arts London - London College of Fashion - Decolonising fashion and textiles: Design for cultural sustainability with refugee communities
 

Money for Good

  • New City College - Effective decision making on sustainability investments
  • Nottingham Trent University in partnership with NETpositive Futures - The Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool
  • University of Salford - Friends of Energy House 2.0: Sustainable philanthropy in action!  
  • West Lothian College - All hands to the heat pumps
 

Nature Positive

  • Aberystwyth University - Woodland Creation Project
  • Coventry University - Transforming Coventry – urban grey morass into a green oasis, for people and wildlife
  • Nottingham Trent University - Great Crested NewT(U)
  • The University of Nottingham - Nature, nurture, reflection and wellbeing in a Memorial Woodland Walk
  • University of Glasgow - Wildlife Revival: Educating and restoring nature
  • University of Oxford - Going beyond for biodiversity - embedding nature positive principles
  • University of the West of England, Bristol - UWE Bristol Beeline
 

Next Generation Learning & Skills

  • Fircroft College of Adult Education - Green Changemakers 
  • Keele University - Bridging the skills gap: Supporting climate change CPD across the West Midlands
  • Kingston University  - Fostering sustainable leaders and change-makers through student-staff partnerships
  • New City College - Green skills revolution
  • North East Scotland College - National Energy Skills Accelerator in collaboration with Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen - NESA building skills for a just energy transition
  • Nottingham Trent University - Empowering tomorrow’s changemakers: Promoting sustainability in childhood
  • Technological University Dublin - Sustainable shelter sleep-out for homelessness
  • University of Salford - Production managing the planet - using agile assessment to embed sustainable film and television production practice in an HE setting
  • University of Salford - The first UK MSc in Sustainable Air Transport
  • University of Southampton - The Meliora Podcast – collaborating and celebrating the inspirational sustainability research work of our students, staff and alumni
  • University of the Arts London - London College of Fashion - Centre for Sustainable Fashion’s Fashion Values Online Courses: Nature, Economy, Society, Cultures
  • Wrexham University  - Sustainable skills for brighter futures
 

Reporting with Influence

Category Supporter: HI Group 

  • Edge Hill University
  • Royal College of Music
  • University of Aberdeen

Research with Impact - Institution

Category Supporter: PraxisAuril

  • Nottingham Trent University - Feed of the future: Developing sustainable poultry feed 
  • University of East London - Sugarcrete®
  • University of Lincoln - Green steel for change 
  • University of Plymouth - Sources, effects, solutions – alerting the world to microplastics
  • University of Salford - Energy House 2.0- Helping on the road to Net Zero

Student Engagement

  • Barnsley College - Catalysing carbon literacy & ESD
  • Barnsley College - Young leaders and changemakers initiate sustainable grassroots programmes 
  • Heriot-Watt University - Student Sustainability Forum 
  • Nottingham Trent University - NTU European Cities Challenge 
  • Technological University Dublin - Enactus - Enactus TU Dublin – from dwindling numbers to international success
  • Trafford & Stockport College Group - Green College Assembly – activists leading the way to a cleaner green future by working in partnership
  • University of Leicester - Food Rescue Volunteers – 1000 sandwiches saved
  • University of Sussex - Empowering student wellbeing: The Sussex Peer Support Project
  • West Suffolk College (part of the Eastern Education Group) - Students Operating Sustainability
  • York St John University - Feeding the Campus: Social and ecological justice in the York St John food system
 

Sustainability Champions

Category Supporter: Salix

Students

  • Cranfield University - Kim Del Kaze
  • Glasgow School of Art - Helena Powell
  • Keele University - Aaliyah Gardner, Emily Stevenson and Charlie Beale
  • Open University Students' Association - Lou Robinson 
  • University of Cambridge - Darwin College - Meg Groom 
  • University of Chester - Laura Tuckey
  • University of Plymouth - Hayley Hill
  • University of Salford - Lizzie King
  • University of Southampton - Enactus Southampton - Samuel Inkster

Staff

  • Aston University - Nasima Mulla
  • Birmingham City University - Rachel Bramwell
  • Cardiff University - ECO Committee School of Healthcare Sciences: Julia Tod, Angharad Barklam, Victoria Blanks, Sophia Griffiths, Jeeo Tediose, James Cassidy and Graeme Paul-Taylor
  • Dundee & Angus College - Christine Calder
  • Edge Hill University - David Fendle
  • Keele University - James McAteer
  • Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts - Production Department
  • London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - The Plus Project: Roly Gosling, Alba McGirr Martin, Joanna Schellenberg and Noreen Seyerl
  • Middlesex University - Dr Noha Saleeb
  • Robert Gordon University - Anne Campbell
  • Technological University Dublin - The Mindful Kitchen Project Team - Annette Sweeney (team lead)
  • The University of Edinburgh - Peter Buckley
  • University of Cambridge - Darwin College - Ivan Higney and Matt Turpie 
  • University of Derby - Miles Richardson
  • University of Leeds - Mike Leonard
  • West Lothian College - Caroline Jarvis

Sustainability Institution of the Year

Category Supporter: EAUC

  • Arts University Bournemouth - Small university, big ambition
  • Durham University - Turning sustainability ambition into action
  • Fircroft College - A small college with big ambitions: Our green pledge
  • South Devon College - Our unbroken green thread – the first 15 years

Tomorrow's Employees

  • Cranfield University - Mastering sustainability: Natural and social scientists unite to bridge the green skills gap through accessible apprenticeship
  • Fife College - Chefs of the future
  • Northumbria University - ReNU: Unlocking cutting edge green skills for clean growth
  • Nottingham Trent University - Retrofitting, future-facing: Enabling the Net-Zero agenda
  • Sparsholt College - Triangulating green skills - A multi-layered approach to encouraging the adoption of green skills and green technologies
  • Technological University Dublin - The IMPACT of NEMOS – An Irish Case-study for developing food sustainability competencies: educator professional development and service-learning as a signature pedagogy 
  • The Sheffield College - GreenGen: Sparking sustainability with IVE
  • Trafford & Stockport College Group - Sustainable futures - elevating tomorrow’s workforce through effective curriculum design
  • University of Leicester - Student Sustainability Advisors: A curriculum innovation to develop student sustainability skills and support local enterprise
  • University of St Andrews - Living lab for a sustainable NHS: An iterative project to develop interacting networks of medical students and staff across Scottish medical schools
  • University of Sunderland - Creative education for a sustainable future
  • University of the Arts London - London College of Fashion - Centre for Sustainable Fashion (Fashion Values programme) x Global Fashion Agenda: Next Gen Assembly