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Alexander named Sustainability Champion

05 Nov 2015

University Environmental Coordinator scoops University Business Young Leaders Award

Al Clark

The University’s Environmental Coordinator at the Directorate for the Student Experience Alexander Clark has been named Sustainability Champion in this year’s University Business Young Leaders Awards.

The awards recognise and reward the inspirational and dedicated under-30s working at and with universities across the UK.

University Business magazine launched the Young Leaders Awards this year, having identified that very few young people working in UK HE are being championed as they should be.

Since joining the University in 2009, Alex has demonstrated an unwavering dedication and commitment to the issues surrounding energy conservation and sustainability. 

He has implemented a number of challenging new initiatives which has led to significant reduction in waste, energy consumption and significantly improved awareness amongst staff and students.  

One great example is end of year re-use scheme – the University has joined up with Manchester City Council and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to run a campaign distributing BHF bags and encouraging students to use them to donate any unwanted items which would previously have been left for rubbish.  Nearly 17,000 bags were collected last summer – almost double the amount of the previous year - and worth £233,114 to the charity.

Other work includes:

  • With the Sustainable Consumption Institute, assisted in the development of food sustainability projects at a University and city wide level. 
  • Created a partnership of the Kindling Trust, Manchester Veg People and University Catering to secure the production and supply of local, organic food to food outlets across the University.  
  • Shortlisted for a Green Gown Award, the “Your Halls Green Fund” provides an innovative approach for setting aside funding to support student-led projects which provides Residents Associations to be empowered to work with the University to improve their halls.
  • Initiated a network of staff and student sustainability enthusiasts and contributed to the development of the University’s “Make a difference – Think Sustainability” campaign.