Carbon Impact Project inspires students to help seven organisations – including charities, an architectural design consultancy and global law firm – reduce their carbon footprint.
In October 2021, as part of an innovative sustainability project, the University of Westminster’s Careers and Employability Team joined forces with the Sustainability Team to plan and run a pilot Carbon Impact training programme in collaboration with Speak Carbon. The initiative, delivered between January and March 2022, saw students engage directly with employers to develop business-focused solutions to real-life sustainability challenges. It was one of just three initiatives shortlisted by the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) for the 2023 Sustainability Impact Award.
More sustainable business practices
The overall aim of the project was to use work-based learning as a vehicle to bring students and organisations together to raise awareness of sustainability and help reduce carbon emissions. To identify businesses for students to work with, the University enlisted the support of the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance, which works with organisations and universities to bring about more sustainable recruitment practices. It has since signed the Alliance’s pledge to cut waste, reduce carbon and be more sustainable.
The first phase of the project involved a multidisciplinary cohort of 48 undergraduate and postgraduate students attending a one-day certificated Carbon Literacy Project course in January 2022. Following this, thanks to funding from the Quentin Hogg Trust, the students participated in a series of paid knowledge exchange activities between January and March, in which they responded to ‘live’ briefs from seven employers seeking to become more sustainable.
The employers were: Arcadis, RSPCA, Brodies, SR Group, Taylor Wessing, Change Ahead and Gately. One of the challenges included running a survey to collect information on business travel, estimating CO2e and then suggesting sustainable alternatives to help off-set emissions. Another involved delivering recommendations for in-person recruitment events, making them sustainable in delivery or allowing them to off-set the carbon costs. While evaluating the social and carbon impact benefits of urban hydroponic farming was the focus of another challenge.
Ben Powell, Work Based and Placement Learning Project Manager, from the University’s Careers and Employability Team, explained: “To fulfill the brief, the students were each given a designated role, such as project manager or carbon impact consultant, within their teams. They presented their findings to the employers and prepared detailed reports to take the ideas forward within their organisations. The students not only developed much sought-after project management, teamwork and networking skills, but some have also moved onto job roles, such as research interns.”
Raising awareness of the climate crisis
Reducing emissions relies on every single person in an organisation being aware of the carbon impacts of their choices, and feeling motivated and supported to act. The project has enabled Speak Carbon to raise awareness of Carbon Literacy and spread the word both through training our students and within and across the organisations who took part.
Michelle Marks, Co-founder and Trainer from the Speak Carbon Collective, explained: “Working with these students was a highly worthwhile experience. For us as trainers, it’s rewarding to see the energy and motivation develop among the learners for taking significant carbon-reducing actions. Linking climate awareness training to employability in this way also encourages students to consider the organisations they can continue to influence once their studying is complete and careers begin.”
What the employers say
We enjoyed working with the students from the Westminster Carbon Impact Project. They were incredibly engaged, and the project was well thought out. We came away with some ideas that we may implement ourselves and are hoping to collaborate again in the future.
Lawrence Barnes
Responsible Business Sustainability Manager, Taylor Wessing (Global Law firm)
Thank you very much to you and the team for your work on the project. There were some really useful insights and definitely some areas for us to consider as we move forwards in our journey.
Steffi Ballmann
Emerging Talent Manager, Gateley
What our students say
Through this programme, I have started living more sustainably which has had a positive effect on my wellbeing.
Aabha khaparde
Level 4 Biomedical Science BSc, University of Westminster
As someone who was passionate about sustainability but lacked knowledge and skills, the programme was a game-changer for me. The comprehensive training and resources provided me with a solid foundation in carbon literacy and sustainability, which I was able to apply in my personal and professional life.
Aruna Venkatesa Selvan
Media Management MA, University of Westminster
Committed to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society
As a signatory to the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges’ (EAUC) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Accord and the London Higher sustainability pledge, the University of Westminster has pledged to integrate the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into our teaching, research and operations. The Times Higher Education (THE)’s Impact Rankings 2022 placed us in the top 200 – of over 1,400 universities worldwide – for our contribution to achieving the SDGs.
Would you like to get involved?
We regularly bring together employers, professionals and businesses to share knowledge and exchange ideas with our 3,840 staff, over 19,000 students and 180,000 graduates. Our 180-plus industry partners include large corporates, SMEs and charities, many of whom offer placements and work experience to our students and jobs on graduation.
To find out how to support or get involved with events and other activities run by the Careers and Employability Team, please contact us at [email protected].
Alternatively, if you would like to learn more about the ways in which we demonstrate our commitment to sustainability, please email the University’s Sustainable Development Goals Coordinator Dain Son Robinson at [email protected].
