The Bedford College Group cuts carbon emissions by 20% in a year

Carbon emissions have fallen by 43% since 2018-19, despite a growing estate

The Bedford College Group has reduced its carbon emissions by 20% in the last academic year, and by 43% since it began monitoring in 2018-19, even as its estate has expanded to include Central Bedfordshire College and The Corby Sixth Form.

Year-end data shows emissions of 2,131 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) for 2025-26, down 20% on 2024-25. Since monitoring began in 2018-19, the Group has cut emissions by 1,607 tonnes, a 43% overall reduction. On a like-for-like basis, accounting for the growth of the Group, emissions have fallen by 56% in the same period.

Sustainability is also increasingly shaping what the Group teaches, not just how its campuses are run. Green skills are being embedded across the curriculum, from low-carbon building methods in construction and energy-efficient systems in engineering, to electric vehicle technology in motor vehicle courses and sustainable procurement in business. The Group sees this as essential preparation for learners entering a job market where sustainability knowledge is increasingly expected, whatever the industry.

Dr. Robin Webber-Jones, Deputy CEO & Executive Director of Curriculum at The Bedford College Group, said:

“Sustainability isn’t a niche subject anymore, it’s relevant to every industry our learners will go into. By embedding it across our curriculum, from construction to business, we’re making sure they leave us ready for a workplace that increasingly expects it.“

As a further education provider, the Group also plays a role in preparing learners for the green economy more broadly. This year, staff and learners are being encouraged to get involved through the “Reduce One Thing” and “1 thing for nature” challenges, part of a wider push to make sustainability part of everyday college life.

The results build on the Group’s published Carbon Reduction Plan, which sets out its ongoing commitment to reducing emissions across its campuses.

Find out more about The Bedford College Group’s sustainability efforts.