Solihull College & University Centre is delighted to have been nominated as a finalist in the 2025 Green Gown Awards.
The awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges across the UK and Ireland.
The College has been nominated for its work launching the Green Pioneer Awards which aims to embed sustainability at the heart of teaching and learning at the College.
The pilot project empowered staff, students and community stakeholders in Foundation Learning, Animal Care, Early Years, and A-Level English to become champions of change, integrating eco-conscious principles into their studies and future careers.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Green Pioneer framework turned classrooms into innovation hubs, where learners could explore real-world solutions to environmental challenges.
Students studied topics from industry-specific sustainability practices to ethical leadership, helping them gain knowledge to shape a greener future.
At the heart of Green Pioneer is its tiered awards structure which rewards curriculum areas with Gold, Silver or Bronze status depending on their level of involvement – for example; number of staff having undergone carbon literacy training, amount of sustainability projects implemented in lessons, amount of department green champions identified and more.
Head of Sustainability, Olly Scholefield, comments: “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised as a finalist! This nomination is a testament to the passion and commitment of our students and staff in driving meaningful change and shaping a more sustainable future.
“The aim was to inspire the next generation to lead with purpose and create future-ready changemakers who will drive sustainability in their fields and beyond. “
The overall winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Birmingham in November.
