Sustainable Development Committee Update

The Sustainable Development Committee (SDC) is pleased to provide an update on its activities in the past year. The SDC has made significant progress in all four of its focus areas: campus, collaboration, culture, and careers.

Campus

• The College has continued to prioritise reducing energy consumption and investing in energy-efficient technologies.
• New buildings will be designed to be BREEAM compliant, ensuring high energy efficiency ratings.
• Adaptations to campus infrastructure are also being considered to address the impact of climate change, such as increased frequency of heavy rainfall.
• The College has upskilled staff in carbon management and completed the Streamlined Energy Carbon Report for 2021-22.
• The College is reporting a Net tonnes (t) of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent (e) (TCO2e) value of 407.04, which is a starting point for monitoring and managing operational emissions.
• The committee is working to improve its data capture and reduce Scope 3 emissions, which make up approximately 77% of overall emissions on average.

Collaboration

The SDC has actively sought collaborations with various stakeholders, including:

• The Surrey University Sustainability Institute
• Borough Councils
• Regional FE providers
• The College is a member of The Alliance of Sustainable Leadership in Education.
• The SDC is also a member of the Association of Colleges (AoC) sector steering group and the Local Skills Improvement Partnership (LSIP).

These collaborations are helping the College to share best practices, access resources, and influence policy.

Culture

• The SDC launched the Take the Jump initiative to foster sustainable behaviour change among staff and students. The initiative aims to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and nudge individuals towards more sustainable practices.
• The SDC is also working to incorporate sustainable development into formal college governance structures and provide opportunities for staff and students to get involved.

Careers

• The College is investing in technology and facilities to support the green economy transition.
• Provision for apprenticeships in electrical installation is being prioritised, as this is a key skill for the green energy transition.
• The College has also established an electric vehicle centre, which benefits both students and external employers.
• The SDC is also working to provide staff with the skills and knowledge they need to embed sustainable development in their teaching and practice.