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Partnerships for a sustainable future

We work with businesses, suppliers, policy makers, HE and research sectors, and our local community towards shared sustainability goals. Work with us.

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Maintaining our positive contribution

Our 2025 Economic, Environmental and Social Impact report quantifies our footprint across local and national economies. The report shows that in 2023/24, we contributed over £500 million to the local economy and nearly £1 billion to the national economy.

In the same period, we also contributed by:

  • improving our social impact by awarding over 500 scholarships and bursaries to students to support their access to Higher Education
  • reducing our environmental impact, with a 40% cut in carbon emissions from energy use on campus since 2005/06
  • working with local suppliers to support the regional economy and the growth of independent businesses

Playing our part in the local community

We work closely with our local community to achieve our collective sustainability goals.

Working with other organisations in our region

In 2020, we signed a Civic Agreement between:

  • Bath and North East Somerset Council
  • Bath Spa University
  • the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
  • the University of Bath

Future Ambition is the name of this agreement to work together for the collective good of our people and our place.

One goal we’re working towards is for a greener economy, through delivering net zero, being nature positive and enhancing our natural assets.

Find out how you benefit from our civic agreement

If you’re a local resident, school or business, find out more about how we contribute to the economic, social, environmental and cultural life of the region.

Fostering a safe and cooperative student neighbourhood

The Student Community Partnership (SCP) is a bridge between:

  • the University of Bath and our Students’ Union
  • Bath Spa University and its Students’ Union
  • Bath College and its Students’ Union
  • Norland College
  • Bath and North East Somerset Council

The SCP campaigns for good neighbourly relations, safety, sustainability and other aspects of community awareness. Students and their neighbours can contact the SCP to share their opinions and learn how to be an active citizen.

Receive support from the SCP

Read more about what the SCP can do for you and how you can join initiatives, whether you’re a student or a permanent resident of Bath and North East Somerset.

Backing local businesses

We work with businesses of all sizes to enable new ideas, innovation, and growth towards sustainability goals.

Some of our current initiatives to support our local economy include:

  • offering Knowledge Transfer Partnerships between the University, companies and graduates to share knowledge and aid business growth
  • providing investment and growth support for start-ups and SMEs through SETsquared, a business incubator set up by the universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey
  • connecting businesses with student talent, through placements and student-led projects

Addressing policy challenges through academic expertise

The Institute for Policy Research’s (IPR) Policy Fellowship Programme offers senior policymakers the opportunity to explore policy challenges with academics who are leading research projects relevant to net zero, climate and environment policy. The programme supports policymakers to:

  • create new approaches to organisational management and service delivery
  • enhance professional practice
  • enable evidence-informed policy formation and delivery

Akriti Brady is Assistant Principal Officer within the Government of Ireland’s Department of Transport. In 2024 she took part in the Net Zero Policy Fellowship Programme, engaging with Bath academics across the disciplines. Read Akriti’s story.

Engage with our Fellowship Programmes

If you are a senior policy maker, find out more about the IPR Policy Fellowship Programme.

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Amplifying young people’s voices on an international stage

The Institute for Policy Research (IPR) is actively engaged in the UN global climate action process with a clear focus on ensuring and amplifying youth voices in decision-making. Members of the Institute have attended major climate conferences like SB60 and every COP since COP26, and contribute through evidence, advocacy, and representation.

The IPR has also co-developed training for youth climate leaders through workshops like the Climate Catalysts Mentorship Programme, where young people attend interactive workshops, bootcamps and climate cafés.

Alongside Cambridge Zero, IPR created and exhibited the ActNowFilm: Youth Climate Leaders as Agents of Change during the COP29 in 2024. The film was the fourth in a series designed to amplify the voices of young people in international climate negotiations.

Watch the previous ActNowFilms

Committing to sustainable procurement

We’re committed to procuring goods, services, works and utilities responsibly. We want to make sure that we and the suppliers we work with, enhance and protect our environment, society and economy. Our Sustainable procurement policy explains our approach to this commitment.

Through the policy, we're engaging with all our highest emitting suppliers to agree how we can help each other reduce our supply chain carbon emissions.

Contribute to our sustainable procurement goals

If you’re a current or prospective supplier, find out more about the Sustainable procurement policy.

If you’re a member of University staff, read about our Buy less, buy better campaign

A member of staff selling vegan food in a campus cafe.

Embedding sustainability in our campus for our customers

Whether as a visitor to our Sports Training Village, a guest in our accommodation, or an event organiser using one of our conference spaces, everyone who uses our campus benefits from our sustainable practices.

We embed sustainability in our campus through various commitments and policies including:

A customer using the refill installation in the supermarket
‘In the GW4 Climate Alliance network, we're using a living labs approach to connect climate action and academic work with non-academic activities to help solve major sustainability challenges.’
— Professor Pete Walker Academic lead for the GW4 Climate Alliance network

Find out more about our sustainable university

Sustainable Bath

Contact us

If you have any questions about sustainability at Bath, get in touch.