Sustainability Challenge 2026

By Indy Bamra, Careers Adviser

Want an exclusive opportunity to turn your sustainable ideas into a real campus project? Eager to gain practical skills that will fuel your career growth? Ready to align your values with meaningful, real-world impact?

If so, our Sustainability Challenge is for you!

Join a community of like-minded students to:

• Design and implement innovative sustainability solutions
• Develop leadership, project management, and problem-solving skills employers value
• Gain hands-on experience that strengthens your career prospects in any field
• Make a tangible difference to your campus and community

This is your opportunity to turn passion into action, while building core employability skills for your future.

What is the Sustainability Challenge?

In previous years of the Sustainability Challenge, students have shown an interest in developing initiatives such as an online marketplace app for second-hand and sustainable items, a second-hand UoN sports clothing scheme, and sustainability-themed days in catered halls.

The Sustainability Challenge provides you with the opportunity to:

• Engage with sustainability issues and implement new sustainable ideas for our campuses
• Work with students who have similar interests to you
• Build problem-solving, team working, pitching, and presentation skills
• Interact with sustainability employers to learn about idea generation and pitching
• Gain valuable experience to strengthen your CV and applications

What skills will you develop?

In previous years of the Sustainability Challenge, students have highlighted skills such as active listening, creative thinking, and effective collaboration. Many also loved the brainstorming and idea generation sessions, valuing the chance to share insights, explore different approaches to sustainability, and find inspiration in each other’s ideas.

Through the Challenge, you’ll have the chance to:

• Listen, learn, and act: practice active listening, respect and build on others’ ideas, seek and give constructive feedback, and turn weaknesses into strengths
• Be creative and adaptable: stay open-minded, embrace change, and take initiative to explore fresh solutions to sustainability challenges
• Collaborate with purpose: work closely with others, share ideas openly, and build strong teamwork to achieve meaningful results together

UoN Sustainability Team

We asked Alison Clayton, Senior Environmental Officer in the Sustainability Team and our expert voice for her thoughts.

What is one important thing students can do to contribute to sustainability at UoN?

Use your voice. In all the ways you can: talk about sustainability with your friends, family and housemates, share ideas and thoughts.

We’re more likely to change our behaviour when we see someone else doing it first. Tell the university (through whichever channels you have available) that you care about sustainability and what you want to see the university do to tackle environmental issues. Beyond the university, vote and campaign for issues you are passionate about.

Any advice you would give to students who are thinking about taking part in the challenge this year?

Achieving sustainability requires a culture change. Come with an open mind, ready to challenge the status quo and the way we do things. This is your chance to make a change and make a difference.

The Sustainability Challenge is more than a competition - it’s a valuable opportunity to develop the employability skills that employers seek in a sustainability-focused future.

Gain hands-on experience, make a tangible impact, and build connections with like-minded peers, all while preparing yourself for the career ahead.

Visit the Sustainability Challenge website to find out more. Applications are open and close on Friday 12 December.