Supporting Further Education's Role in the UK's Net Zero Journey

HI Group Calls for Government Action to Remove Barriers for Further Education Colleges’ Decarbonisation Efforts

On 1st October 2024, HI Group, a leader in environmental engineering and sustainability solutions, officially submitted a letter to the UK Government calling for immediate action to enable Further Education (FE) colleges to play a more significant role in achieving the country’s Net Zero targets. Partnering with key stakeholders in the sector, HI Group has outlined critical recommendations designed to remove current policy barriers and unlock the full potential of FE institutions as vital contributors to the UK’s sustainability goals.

FE colleges are in a unique position to drive impactful environmental change, not only within their campuses but also in the broader community. However, previous governmental policies inadvertently made it very challenging for colleges to take the necessary steps towards decarbonisation.

Barriers hindering progress include:

• The reclassification of the sector in 2022 by the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS), which has severely limited FE colleges’ ability to secure competitive funding and
• Confusion surrounding VAT treatment for renewable energy installations

The letter, co-signed by several FE college leaders and sustainability experts, urges the Government to:

1. Ease restrictions on capital access, allowing colleges to secure private finance for low-carbon investments without bureaucratic delays.
2. Clarify or revise VAT policies for renewable energy installations in FE colleges, aligning them with the relief provided to other sectors, to remove the 20% cost barrier.

Join HI Group in advocating for policy changes that will empower FE colleges to contribute fully to the UK’s Net Zero goals. Add your support by signing our letter to the Government or sending your own letter to your local MP.

You can download the letter template and send it to your MP here

Or, email HI Group to add your signature here