2025 UK and Ireland Green Gown Award winners announced

7th November 2025

De Montfort University and Nottingham College are crowned Sustainability Institutions of the Year

The winners of this year’s UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards delivered by EAUC in association with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have been revealed. 

Now in their 21st year, the awards recognise sustainability innovation and leadership in post-16 education across the UK and Ireland.

This year’s awards saw 112 finalists from 76 institutions shortlisted, with 23 winners and 24 highly commended awards announced at a ceremony at the Library of Birmingham on the evening of 6 November.

De Montfort University and Nottingham College were named Sustainability Institutions of the Year, representing large and small organisations respectively.

De Montfort University was praised for elevating sustainability to the highest governance level. The institution’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sustainability plays a key role in aligning strategy, teaching, research and estates whilst the provision of an innovative SDG Fellows model and externally accredited sustainability training has resulted in high staff engagement.

The university has also put sustainability at the heart of its transnational education partnerships, demonstrating that international work can have positive sustainability impacts.

Meanwhile, the judges were impressed by Nottingham College’s commitment to reaching net zero by 2030, underpinned by a bold approach to removing fossil fuels from its buildings, embedding sustainability throughout the institution and having an impact on its local community. The college was particularly commended for making a difference in a disadvantaged area, having consciously focussed on sustainability initiatives that improve lives.

Ewan Woodley of the University of Exeter and Gary Stubbs of the University of Sunderland were crowned Staff Sustainability Champions, awards sponsored by Salix.

The Student Sustainability Champion Award, also sponsored by Salix, was presented to Charlie Beaudelot from TU Dublin for leading several innovative initiatives and bringing sustainability to new audiences.

Through the management of a sustainable food bank, TU Dublin’s first swap shop and chairing the inaugural youth panel at the Student Climate Summit, Charlie has inspired hundreds of students to take sustainability action.     

Commenting on the results, Charlotte Bonner, Chief Executive of EAUC, said:
"The quality of entries this year was outstanding once again. What’s particularly striking is how mainstream this has become - sustainability isn’t a side project anymore, it’s part of core strategy, teaching, estates and community partnerships for many post-16 education providers.

And that’s happening despite a very challenging funding and policy environment. Yes there's still lots to do but the fact that institutions are still finding ways to innovate, collaborate and deliver real impact, not just commitments, is both impressive and encouraging.

At EAUC, collaboration is one of our core values, and it’s been inspiring to see students, staff, partners and whole communities working together with local partners to make change possible. On behalf of EAUC, warm congratulations to all our winners, highly commended entrants and finalists."

Martin Farley, UKRI Associate Director of Environmental Sustainability Programme, said:  

"We're incredibly proud to partner with the Green Gown Awards in celebrating the outstanding sustainability achievements across the UK education sector. The 112 finalists this year demonstrate the real impact that educational institutions can have in driving environmental innovation and creating positive change.

At UKRI, we recognise that individual and collective sustainable practices are crucial to supporting world-class research and innovation. These awards highlight the creativity and commitment of those who are leading by example, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements at the ceremony in Birmingham." 

2025 Winners
2030 Climate Action, sponsored by TEC
Highly Commended: Newham College London
Winner (small organisation): MidKent College
Winner (large organisation): Lancaster University

Benefitting Society
Highly Commended: Queen Margaret University
Highly Commended: The Open University
Highly Commended: TU Dublin
Winner (small organisation): Bradford College
Winner (large organisation): University of Birmingham

Campus Health, Food and Drink
Highly Commended: Barnsley College
Winner: Harper Adams University

Creating Impact, sponsored by the Scottish Funding Council
Highly Commended: Bishop Burton College
Highly Commended: Fircroft College of Adult Education
Winner: TU Dublin
Winner: University of Sunderland

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Sustainability
Highly Commended: Barnsley College
Highly Commended: Chesterfield College Group
Winner: Glasgow Kelvin College

Digital Futures, sponsored by Jisc
Winner: Fircroft College of Adult Education

Nature Positive
Highly Commended: University of Worcester
Winner (small organisation): Plumpton College
Winner (large organisation): University of St Andrews

Next Generation Learning and Skills
Highly Commended: Bradford College
Highly Commended: University of Reading
Highly Commended: University of the Arts London
Winner (small organisation): Fife College
Winner (large organisation): University of Southampton

Reporting with Influence, sponsored by HI Group
Highly Commended: Queen’s University Belfast
Highly Commended: TU Dublin
Winner: University of Exeter

Research with Impact
Highly Commended: Northumbria University
Highly Commended: The Open University
Winner: University of Lincoln

Student Engagement
Highly Commended: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Highly Commended: University of Westminster
Winner: Barnsley College
Winner: Loughborough University

Sustainability Institution of the Year, sponsored by EAUC
Winner (small organisation): Nottingham College
Winner (large organisation): De Montfort University

Tomorrow’s Employees
Highly Commended: The Sheffield College
Highly Commended: University of Sunderland
Winner: The University of Edinburgh

Sustainability Champion – Staff, sponsored by Salix
Highly Commended: Saroj Saurya, University of Oxford
Winner: Gary Stubbs, University of Sunderland
Winner: Ewan Woodley, University of Exeter

Sustainability Champion – Student, sponsored by Salix
Highly Commended: Clare Collins, University of Hull
Highly Commended: Emily Pink, University of Exeter
Winner: Charlie Beaudelot, TU Dublin

For further details about each project, please see the Finalists’ Showcase.