Gloucestershire College’s Decarbonisation Journey

About

Gloucestershire College provides office accommodation and educational facilities for over 6,000 staff and students across three campuses in Cheltenham, Gloucester, and the Forest of Dean. Committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, the college partnered with HI Group to develop and implement a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy to meet its ambitious goals.

The Challenge

With a diverse mix of buildings, each varying in age and service installations, the college faced significant challenges in reducing emissions. HI Group was engaged to assess and support the college in achieving its net-zero objectives. Taking a partnership approach, we worked closely with the team to create and execute a full end-to-end net-zero plan covering all aspects of planning and delivery.

Project Strategy

Environmental Audit and Strategy

Understanding the source and scale of greenhouse gas emissions was critical for the college to focus resources effectively. Supported by significant historic data, our approach included:

• Conducting a detailed environmental audit to establish a baseline for future reporting, identifying four key emission drivers: energy use, transport, water and waste, and third-party goods and services consumption.
• Developing a 20-year economic and carbon reduction model, demonstrating that the college could achieve a 90% carbon reduction in the first 10 years while also reducing operational costs.
• Designing and implementing a net-zero action plan that included an energy retrofit, alongside transport, waste, and supply chain changes.

Engagement, Awareness and Collaboration

To ensure cross-team collaboration and buy-in, HI Group developed an environmental awareness program for executive teams, clarifying direction and allowing all stakeholders to contribute. We also:

• Worked with the Finance team to integrate carbon reporting and monitoring into their processes.
• Partnered with the Estates team to align sustainability efforts with the overall college strategy.

Finance and Project Funding

A robust 20-year business model demonstrated that the college would recover its investment within the project’s lifespan. This enabled our specialist funding team to secure £2.8 million in grant funding from the UK Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, covering nearly 60% of the £4.8 million energy retrofit project. The remaining investment was self-funded by the college, with cost mitigation strategies including:

• Lower-priced renewable energy.
• Deployment of innovative green technologies.
• Selling surplus energy back to the grid.

Project Installation – the Renewable Energy Retrofit

A custom three-stage energy transition plan was developed, with installations completed by trusted procurement partners:

1. Electrification – We partnered with HEX Energy to install ground source heat pumps, replacing gas with renewable electricity to heat campus buildings.
2. Solar Energy – Supplier Evo Energy installed rooftop solar PV systems, generating green electricity on-site to power the heat pumps and reduce reliance on the national grid.
3. Energy Optimisation – MSP Technologies Ltd installed battery storage, while smart energy management allowed the college to store surplus electricity and use it during peak pricing hours, further reducing costs. Surplus energy can also be sold back to the grid.

The Results

• 63% carbon footprint reduction in Year 1, with projected 95% reduction by 2030 as the UK national grid decarbonises.
• Increased attractiveness to prospective students who expect environmentally responsible educational institutions.
• A balanced approach to economic and environmental objectives, ensuring full cost recovery within the project’s lifespan.

Partnership in Action

Delivering a full energy retrofit across three campuses was a significant undertaking, and we commend Gloucestershire College for its commitment and collaboration throughout the process. 

Their clear vision, strong leadership, and proactive communication strategy have been instrumental in keeping students, staff, stakeholders, and the wider community engaged in their decarbonisation journey. Gloucestershire College serves as a model for embedding sustainability into the DNA of an educational institution, setting a powerful example for others to follow.

Testimonial

“It has been a pleasure working with the HI Group team. They went over and above the original brief and have been able to add additional value, giving us practical options on how we can reduce our carbon emissions and reach net zero by 2030. If you are seriously looking to reduce your carbon emissions, then talk to HI Group.” 

Andrew Bates, Chief Financial Officer, Gloucestershire College