PHOTO: Nottingham College Adams Building
Nottingham College has been awarded a significant grant of over £2.6 million, in a successful bid to fund decarbonisation and energy efficiency initiatives across its estate over the next two years.
The funding is from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, run by Salix. £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 important 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, with this £2.6m project just one of the many initiatives designed to hit this target.
Work will commence on the Adams project in autumn 2024 and take two years to complete the planned improvements, whilst the Highfields project works will begin in 2025 and are scheduled to last for one year, to be completed in 2026.
The projects will play a vital role in bringing down the college’s overall carbon footprint over the next six years and will further improve the study environment for students in both Adams and Highfields once complete.
Will Morlidge, D2N2 LEP Chief Executive said:
“Well done to Nottingham College on their successful bid. This funding will help accelerate their ambition to reach carbon net zero by 2030, driven by the College’s excellent ‘Zero’ campaign.”
Janet Smith, Chief Executive and Principal of Nottingham College said:
“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.
“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.”
Ian Rodger, Director of Programmes at Salix, 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.”
Nottingham College is one of the largest Further Education colleges in the UK with 10 campuses spread across the city, all centres of excellence, that specialise in particular curriculum areas. They cater for over 40,000 students, employ 1,500 staff and work with over 6,000 local, regional and national employers.
The college aims to be more than just a place where people come to study, gain a qualification and then leave. It is a centre of excellence for teaching and learning. A place where careers are made, where students are given every opportunity to develop a full range of skills for the workplace and a place where they are introduced to their future employers.
More information on Nottingham College’s Zero campaign
Salix’s role is to support the UK government in driving the transition to a low carbon future and meet challenging net zero targets. They deliver and administer grant and loan funding on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Education and the Scottish and Welsh governments. This is delivered across the public sector as well as housing.
D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) covers the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire region, convening the businesses, universities, colleges and local authorities in our region to drive low carbon, economic growth and productivity, skills & careers, inclusion and delivery excellence. The D2N2 LEP team and functions will transition into the East Midlands Combined County Authority during 2024.
For media enquiries, contact:
Nicola Swaney
Head of External Affairs, D2N2 LEP