Estates

The University is developing a new programme for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), this is included within the Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

The University is actively encouraging our Academic Staff to include sustainability elements into their courses and the Sustainability Team is available to support these initiatives. Academic staff are invited to contact Rebecca Forster, Sustainability Manager, if they are interested in having one of the team deliver a lecture, seminar or workshop for students.

Staff and Students can undertake a number of different courses delivered through the University, including:

• Carbon Literacy Training
• Introduction to Sustainability at the University
• Waste Management, and
• Workshops delivered during the Climate Action Festival Week

Click here for further details of these training opportunities. 

You can find details regarding our Environmental Management System strategy here.

In 2019 we achieved ISO14001 certification and EcoCampus Platinum Award for environmental management.

We have recertified for these standards in both 2020 and 2021; the next audit is scheduled for winter 2022.

The University currently has no investments in fossil fuels or arms. Further details on ethical investment can be seen here.

» Ethical Investment Policy

The Ethical Investment Policy links closely with the University’s Code of Ethics, which also addresses environmental issues.

Read more about the University of Lincoln Governance and Finances.

We have ten full-time dedicated members of staff who are committed to improving environmental sustainability within the university, improve waste & recycling procedures, manage parking and travel, and reducing its energy consumption. With a further five members heavily involved in the management of the external environment of the Estate by improving biodiversity on campus and developing sustainable farming procedures for our Riseholme campus.

In addition to this, we have over 30 members of staff who are our Staff Sustainability Advocates (SSA). These colleagues work within different Colleges and Profession al Service departments across the university and aim to embed sustainable practises.

Our Union members are also represented within the Sustainable Advocate network, which feeds into the Environmental Sustainability Committee. In  addition, the Sustainability Team have a quarterly meeting with Unison representative to discuss any upcoming projects and take on feedback from their members.

The Environmental Sustainability Committee meets once a quarter to discuss environmental and energy issues within the university and, how they can be addressed and overcome. This is a sub committee the University of Lincoln Senior Leadership Committee.

Committee members currently include:

Chairperson – Prof Libby John, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Head of College of Science and Engineering
Secretary – Tory Cliffe, Secretariat Officer
Rebecca Forster, Sustainability Manager
Elaine Ruff, Energy Manager
Dr Claire May, Senior Lecturer
Meghan Batty, Membership Services Manager
Grant Anderson, Head of Space Strategy, Planning & Sustainability
Simon Parkes, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Finance & Infrastructure
Jena Arnold, Procurement Category Manager
Tracey Turton, Sustainability Projects Officer
Rosie Damarell, Engagement Officer
Mark Slocombe, Deputy Director of ICT, Head of Technical Services
Communications & Development Representative
Technicians Representative
Riseholme Representative
Holbeach Representative

Student body representative:

Nat Kirchin, Students’ Union VP Environment and Campaigns
TBC, ECO Society President
TBC, Environmental Officer

Each year the University allocates a ‘Environmental Sustainability’ budget that can be spent on behaviour change initiatives, informative workshops and other items to support the department’s needs. There is also funds for the SSAs to delivery projects within their teams.

Learn how staff can get involved in other in Sustainability Initiatives.

The Environmental Sustainability Strategy includes Staff and Student Engagement

As part of the induction process each new staff member at the University receives an email which includes information on sustainability and they attend the ‘Lincoln Welcome’ which includes a presentation on the Estate and the ways they can help reduce the University’s carbon footprint.

Our social media and internal communication channels allow the Environmental Sustainability team to effectively engage with staff and students about projects, events and initiatives.

There are frequent opportunities for both staff and students to be involved in events. Highlights this year have been Dr Bike, Climate Action, Kitchen Garden, Hedgehog Friendly Campus and Fairtrade Fortnight.

Our Get Involved page has more information about activities staff and students can get involved in.

At the University of Lincoln we’re striving to incorporate sustainable food within its structure. We have edible gardens throughout the campus including apple trees and the eventual veggie patch, free drinking water available throughout the campus and we actively encourage our catering department to be more sustainable in their food procurement.

You can learn about our different initiatives here: Sustainable Food Guide.

We also work closely with the following SU societies who have a vested interest in sustainable food:

• Vegetarian & Vegan Society
• E.C.O Society

FoodLinc Catering ensure that there are daily vegetarian or vegan options on the menu.

Drinking water is available for free in all our catering outlets and drinking water fountains are available throughout the campus.

The University now has a vegetable garden on campus allowing staff and student to learn new skills and grow vegetables that they can take home (surplus products are donated to Mint Lane cafe).

The University receives monthly updates on general waste and recycling volumes generated around the Campus. These are recorded and any discrepancies are investigated. Read more about the current waste strategies the university has.

The university is constantly changing and expanding, as part of this a waste management strategy, including hazardous and WEEE, has been put in place.

We currently pay more than the Living Wage – but are not accredited. You can see sample grade scales on the University Current Vacancies page on the main University website: https://jobs.lincoln.ac.uk/

The University of Lincoln is proud to be a Fairtrade University

More information regarding our procurement strategy can be found on our Policies and Reporting pages.

The University of Lincoln is part of the North Eastern Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC).