Members of the BSMS Green Impact team celebrating with their recycled slate Gold award

Over the course of the last year, the University of Sussex has been taking part in Green Impact – a programme offered by the charity SOS-UK which supports and enables organisations, universities, colleges, community institutions and students’ unions all over the country to create more sustainable working environments.   

At Sussex, the bespoke Green Impact toolkit provides a comprehensive roadmap to economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Teams of staff and students across the University have been making positive changes in their work environments across areas such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, biodiversity and ethical procurement. Enthusiastic students volunteered to be Project Assistants, helping their assigned teams to excel by providing project management expertise, fresh insight, and plenty of encouragement. 

On 20 June, the outstanding teams gathered to receive their awards, honouring and celebrating the significant positive changes and efforts made by numerous individuals. Excitingly, everyone that submitted their toolkit won an award, with 15 School and Department teams picking up recycled slates for their hard work! An additional five Special Awards were also handed out to celebrate individuals and teams who have shone through as sustainability champions. 

The award winners are:  

Gold Awards

• Brighton and Sussex Medical School 
• Educational Enhancement 
• Social Sciences 
• Sussex House 
• School of Life Sciences 

Silver Awards

• SussexSport 
• Innovation and Business Partnerships 
• UK Recruitment 
• Estates 
• Team Product Design 
• Media, Art, and Humanities 

Bronze Awards

• School of Psychology 
• Comms, Public Affairs and DCM 
• The University of Sussex Business School 
• Thermo-fluid Mechanics Research Centre 

Special Awards 

• Sustainability Hero - Kristy Flowers
• Innovation for Engagement - Sussex House
• Environmental Improvement - Educational Enhancement
• Community Action - Team Product Design
• Student Leadership - Jihyun Choi

Martha Knott, Sustainability Engagement Manager at the University of Sussex, says: “We had been looking forward to revealing all the prizes at the awards ceremony, so it was brilliant to celebrate the amazing efforts made by so many people at the University and reward our Green Impact teams. We're pleased to see so many actively engaged members of the community, dedicated to making positive changes and supporting our efforts to make Sussex one of the most sustainable universities in the world.”  

For more information on the awards ceremony or Green Impact, please get in touch with Holly Jenkins on 07919323639 and Holly.Jenkins@sos-uk.org.