Staff engagement

We want our staff members to feel supported to take sustainable action whilst at the University and beyond. Explore how you can get involved with sustainability at Surrey and make a difference.

Expand your knowledge

Take action

  • Green Impact: take sustainable action within your team and get awarded for your positive impact. Register your interest. 
  • Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF): all labs across the University are taking part in LEAF to ensure we are operating as sustainably as possible. Email the Sustainability Team to get involved. 
  • Sustainability Impact Plans (SIPs): new for 27/28 - create bespoke sustainability impact plans for your department to tackle your biggest environmental impacts. Get in touch to find out more. 

Get involved

  • Join a network: staff-led groups have been set up across the University to tackle sustainability issues, ranging from gender equality to improving biodiversity on site. 
  • Sustainability Week: enjoy a week of sustainable activity and events across the University.View the 2026 schedule.
  • Sustainability Assembly: have your say on the University’s sustainability journey through our termly Sustainability Assemblies, open to all staff and all students.

Trade unions

The University Sustainability Team meet regularly with representatives from Unison (Environment Officer – Sarah Crawford) and UCU (Tim Brown) to discuss joint working projects. Currently the ‘Just Transition’ concordat that UCU has signed with colleges is being reviewed to see if it’s a working document that can be adapted for universities (in particular the University of Surrey) and with Unison plans are in place to screen the film ‘People’s Emergency Briefing’ for staff and students at the next sustainability assembly, as well as reviewing Unisons workplace energy inspection document to see if its useful for the Sustainability Team in identifying where to reduce carbon emissions.

The University consults with Unions on all policies and procedures via the JNCC (Joint Negotiating and consultative Committee) via a JNCC Policy and Procedure Sub-group. The following is noted in the Universities governing document for policies and procedures ‘Procedure of Policies and Procedures’: 

  • Section 4.1 Responsibilities: 'Ensures approved procedures (with the exception of Procedures enabled by Our Colleagues and Our Health and Safety) are submitted to the secretary of the JNCC for receipt as an information item at the next scheduled meeting.'
  • Section 4.4 Consultation with the Unions: 'Procedures enabled by the Our Colleagues Policy Statement where there are significant amends, must be received for consultation via the JNCC Policy and Procedure sub-group. Procedures that receive minor amends will be sent for information only and as agreed at the JNCC Policy and Procedure sub-group. 

Procedures enabled by the Our Safety Policy Statement where there are significant amends must be received for consultation via the Health and Safety Consultative Committee. Procedures that receive minor amends will be sent for information only and as agreed at the Health and Safety Consultative Committee. 

Procedures enabled by the remaining 6 Policy Statements will be sent to the JNCC as an information item.'

Further details on the JNCC can be found on Union web pages such as https://surrey-ucu.org.uk/about/

 

Upcoming events

We don’t currently have any upcoming events. Check back soon for further announcements.