University News Last updated 02 June 2014
Birmingham City University has been awarded a ‘Big Tick’ as part of the prestigious Responsible Business Awards 2014, run by the charity Business in the Community.
The Big Tick is the first level of accolade in the Responsible Business Awards, the UK’s longest-running and most respected awards scheme recognising businesses that are making a positive difference to society and to the environment.
Since 2009 Birmingham City University has led a focused programme of environmental improvements across its campuses with a commitment to improve its environmental performance and raising awareness of key issues amongst staff and students. Many results have already been achieved; including seeing a reduction on absolute reduction of energy, reduced water consumption savings and reduced costs on its waste contract.
Professor Cliff Allan, Vice-Chancellor, Birmingham City University, said: “As a university we have a unique opportunity to impact sustainability locally, nationally and globally through the way we operate day to day in delivering our services, through the education of our staff and students, and the life decisions they go on to make, and through our research activities.
“Focusing on energy use, water consumption, waste production and recycling, plus staff and student awareness, the University is working towards ‘Eco Campus’ status and we are committed to creating a culture in which our staff and students appreciate the relationship between the decisions we make now and the longer-term wider impacts they may have on the environment, their local community and society at large.
“Our Strategic Plan commits to “promoting and securing environmental sustainability in our policies, operations and actions to reduce our carbon footprint”. The University is proud to be in the top 10% of universities in the Carbon Reduction Commitment league table, and we are ranked 27th/143 institutions in the Guardian Green League 2013.”
Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community, added: “All year round, responsible businesses across the UK are contributing towards more resilient communities, stimulating local economies, creating diverse, skilled and healthy workforces and addressing skills shortages - yet these activities rarely get attention. The Responsible Business Awards shine a much needed spotlight on the powerful impact of business. Each of the companies recognised are playing their part to build a new contract between business and society and a more sustainable future for us all. I congratulate Birmingham City University for its Big Tick, which is a powerful symbol of business doing more to bring about change.”
Birmingham City University will be presented with its Big Tick trophy at the West Midlands Responsible Business Awards Gala Dinner on 11 June at Warwickshire County Cricket Club.
For further information about the impact and background to the 2014 successful award stories, visit the Business in the Community website. For more information on the exciting work taking place at Birmingham City University visit our Students' Union Eco pages.