College awarded £2.6m to fund green drive

Nottingham College has been awarded a grant of over £2.6m to fund decarbonisation and energy efficiency initiatives across its estate over the next two years.

The funding is from the Phase 3c of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is run by Salix.

Some £2m will fund decarbonising work within the Adams Building in the Lace Market, and £660,000 is allocated towards Highfields, part of Nottingham Science Park.

The college will use this funding to make upgrades to the two campuses’ heating, ventilation systems and lighting, as well as to replace boilers, improve insulation and introduce other new measures to reduce water usage and reliance on other consumables.

Nottingham College has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030 as part of its “Zero” campaign.

Work will start on the Adams project in the autumn and take two years to complete, whilst the Highfields project works will begin in 2025 and are scheduled to last for a year.

Janet Smith, chief executive and principal of Nottingham College, said: “We are really pleased to have been successful in our bid for this funding. As a college with a rich heritage and wide range of facilities across the city, this funding will help us on our journey to be carbon net zero by 2030.

“The College’s Zero campaign has seen us make great strides over the past 12 months with a 30% reduction in our carbon footprint so far – but we know there is more to do.

“As an education and employment leader in our city we have a significant part to play in reducing the college’s impact on the environment. To highlight our commitment to this, sustainability is one of the key pillars of our new five-year strategy.

“Nottingham is a city that is taking climate change seriously with the city aiming to be the first UK net zero city through the city council’s CN28 project. As such, funding like this is going to make an excellent contribution to that objective.”

Director of programmes at Salix, Ian Rodger, said: “Nottingham College has an ambitious carbon reduction strategy, and we are looking forward to supporting them to deliver this important Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme project.”