Over the past 90 years, our campus has come on in leaps and bounds, just like the rabbits and squirrels sharing our delightful outdoor spaces. And as we’ve grown, so has our commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.
Little wonder then, that our picturesque community engenders such a sense of belonging amongst students. Imaginatively landscaped with two lakes and a beach, our hedgehog-friendly 160-acre campus has won a Green Flag award 12 years in a row, as one of the UK’s best green spaces.
At Edge Hill, we are committed to working, living and developing sustainability. Find out more about our award-winning green space and our sustainability initiatives.
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Turbo-charging our sustainability
Recycling rates of over 50%, six years of zero waste to landfill and CO2e emissions down by 26% in 15 years. At Edge Hill, sustainability has always been at the heart of what we do.
As a major employer and consumer of resources, we’ve long been aware of our impact and influence. Positively, this has included producing qualified key workers, from teachers to nurses, to support sustainable communities. The challenge now is to play our part in responding to larger-scale sustainability pressures.
A new Environment Sustainability Delivery Plan and committee are ensuring we stay ambitious in our drive to be a responsible player locally, regionally and nationally. Targets to become Carbon Neutral by 2030 and Net Zero by 2035 are high on our agenda with travel and carbon management plans.
Recognition for our standout facilities
Our facilities are outstanding but don’t just take our word for it. Our students recognise the quality of our campus too.
In 2023, we came top-three in the UK for university facilities in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards and first for our accommodation in the Uni Compare awards.
We’ve studied how our students like to use our campus and have invested over £350 million in high-tech, real-world and industry-standard learning facilities, from labs to studios, as well as study spaces, support services and living quarters.
And we’re continually improving, with a new Students’ Union, more on-campus accommodation and a Life Sciences building set to open in 2024.
Building a sense of belonging
We pride ourselves on being a welcoming, vibrant university, celebrating diversity, recognising individual contributions and helping everyone feel they belong. Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy is helping us embed this approach in everything we do.
Many of our departments are signed up to a global charter on gender equality. We’re also part of the Care Leaver Covenant and the Stand Alone Pledge to support those students with no family, or estranged from them, in all areas of university life.
Our Student Advisory Panels give diverse, underrepresented groups a voice. And our staff can access grants of up to £500 for projects or activities to enhance togetherness under a new EDI innovation fund.
Award-winning green space year-on-year
Our campus continues to be recognised as one of the country’s best parks, receiving a Green Flag Award for the 12th year in a row in 2023.
The award – which is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces – acknowledges the dedication of the University’s Grounds Maintenance Team. It works hard in all weathers to create and maintain beautiful, natural areas, from lakes to rock gardens, where students, staff and visitors can sit and relax, or enjoy a picturesque walk en-route to meetings or lectures.
Getting gold for being green
We’ve been ranked a ‘Gold Tier’ University in a Uswitch study on universities’ eco-friendly commitments.
It commended us for various initiatives, including our team of sustainability champions and our SustainNET network, which promotes sustainability across all aspects of university life and the wider community.
The study also acknowledged our use of solar panels, schemes to promote cycling to work, our wide-ranging campaigns, car sharing and our fleet of electric campus vehicles.
Uswitch’s study was based on a Freedom of Information request, asking 132 universities about their energy procurement and green policies.
Protecting our special natural habitats
With trees, wetlands, lakes and a wide variety of flora and fauna, including rare and protected species, the natural habitats on campus are a source of pride.
We’ve committed to enhancing and preserving this rich biodiversity in a new Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). It sets out our approach to land management, how we care for our on-campus species – which include hedgehogs, ducks and rabbits – and ways to improve existing green space, such as introducing new ‘no-mow zones.’
Ensuring every voice is heard
Our Student Advisory Panels aim to explore a range of student experiences – their needs and the barriers they’ve faced – so we can design policies, services, and initiatives to support them best.
Supporting Edge Hill’s Access and Participation Plan, the five panels – comprising first-generation students, mature students, disabled students, black, Asian and minority ethnic students, care leavers, young carers or estranged students – give a ‘lived experience’ voice to topics across the University.
And the Panels have been recognised for making a difference, winning the Social Mobility Award at the Educate North Awards 2023.
A safe place to be
A safe place to live and study is high on the wish list for students and their parents, and Edge Hill provides just that.
We were named one of the safest universities in the country (4th university town in the UK for lowest crime rates, Complete University Guide 2023). based on official police reports.
Students, staff and visitors benefit from various safety and security measures, including a 24/7 Campus Support team, mobile security patrols, controlled access and CCTV monitoring.
Recognising the friendly faces of our welcoming campus
A friendly campus starts with our staff, and that’s why we’re committed to supporting, valuing and inspiring our workforce.
They enjoy many benefits including numerous learning and coaching opportunities, access to free health and wellbeing initiatives, discounted sports and leisure membership and money off weekly shops, everyday items and entertainment. There’s also a Cycle to Work scheme and travel season ticket loans.
And staff satisfaction is reflected in various accolades: Best University Workplace (Times Higher Education 2015), Best UK Employer (European Business Awards 2016), and Highly Commended Workplace of the Year (Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2017).