Ratecard for off-campus projects

NUS Ethical and Environmental Team

2013-14

This document is for off-campus organisations who want to know what NUS sustainability programmes are available, the benefits of running them, and how to get involved.

Introduction

The NUS Ethical and Environmental (E&E) team has an excellent track record within the Higher Education (HE) and Further Education (FE) sector as leaders in delivering successful environmental and ethical initiatives. We run dynamic behavioural change programmes that create meaningful change, have a large reach, and have successfully embedded sustainability within the day-to-day activities of organisations. We are well received due to our student membership, excellent staff and not-for-profit financial models.

Since 2011, we have also worked with numerous off-campus organisations who want to utilise our behavioural change expertise, run our dynamic programmes, and have a closer link to their local student population. At present we work with 126 students’ unions, 84 tertiary education organisations and 72 off-campus organisations.

Our work aims to provide excellent opportunities for students and students’ unions whilst helping off-campus organisations improve their pro-environmental performance. The vision is for our network of 600 students’ unions to act as green hubs in their communities, helping to create a social norm of

sustainable practice and students that leave education with the skills, knowledge and

passion to further promote environmental change in their future lives.

This ratecard outlines these opportunities and how organisations from outside of the tertiary education sector can get involved.

More information about NUS’ E&E strategy can be found at:
greener.

Green Impact

Since 2006, NUS has delivered Green Impact, a powerful behavioural change and engagement programme, in a variety of sectors. Originally developed for students’ unions, its success was soon recognised by other sectors who wanted to utilise the innovative and effective methodology. NUS then developed the programme for universities and colleges, and have helped the tertiary education sector radically improve their staff engagement on sustainability issues. Since then, other sectors have appreciated the model, and come to us to enable them to use it too. As well as having benefits for the organisation participating, Green Impact also provides incredible opportunities for students: developing skills, providing practical workplace experience, and increasing their understanding of environmental issues. These students are at the heart of the programme.

Green Impact is fundamentally an annual internal accreditation and awards scheme that is run within an organisation, by teams or departments. The Green Impact team develop a workbook bespoke to each organisation, looking at its current performance on sustainability issues, and what its aims are. This workbook is divided into Bronze, Silver and Gold criteria which teams then work to implement in return for awards. Support and guidance is given to both the organisation and the teams at every step of the programme. Student involvement comes from audits, to ensure the awards allocated are fair, and if desired, through our Project Assistant programme which partners trained students with teams to provide extra on-the-ground resource and support. NUS and your local students’ union will train and support these students.

Finally, an awards event is held to celebrate the successes of the teams. These are really positive events that can help further raise the profile of sustainability, especially amongst senior managers. Feedback is collected and provided to teams before planning the next year’s cycle. The programme is designed to be run annually, to ensure continual improvement.

Green Impact in the Public, Private or Third sector

Any organisation can now get involved with Green Impact. We recognise that every organisation is different, and therefore their needs vary. We know that Green Impact can be adapted for different environments, without reducing its impact. Since 2011 we have tested this by successfully running the programme with NHS Trusts[1], Local Authorities[2], Constabularies[3], Financial Companies[4] and Government departments[5]. We are also in the initial stages of developing the programme for the Church of England, RSPB and in universities outside the UK. Additionally we have developed schemes that enable small organisations to get involved, working with dentists, sports centres, small manufacturers and charities through the Green Impact Enterprise programme. See below for more information.

Depending on the organisation, NUS will need to provide more, or less, tailored support in order for the programme to be successful. This can depend on whether or not Green Impact has run in that sector before, the number of sites an organisation has; how geographically dispersed these are; their current level of environmental engagement; how strong existing relationships with local students’ unions and/or HE/FE institutions are; and, their ability to successful deliver relevant communications relevant to the programme. NGOs and public sector organisations will pay 10% less than private sector organisations.

Prices below are indicative, outlining costs for two different organisations:

Example 1:A public sector organisation with one site in an urban location with an Environment Manager, Sustainable Behaviours Assistant, or relevant member of staff available to support the programme. There is an existing environmental champions’ network.

Ifparticipatingforthefirsttime
1,000
FTEstaff / 1,001-2,000
FTEstaff / >2,001
FTEstaff
£3970+VAT / £6035+VAT / £7065+VAT
If in2ndor moreconsecutiveyear
1,000
FTEstaff / 1,001-2,000
FTEstaff / >2,001
FTEstaff
£2945+VAT / £5010+VAT / £6040+VAT

Example 2:A private sector organisation with 8 sites across the UK. A Facilities Manager with a wide job remit is initiating the programme as their first sustainability initiative.

Ifparticipatingforthefirsttime
1,000
FTEstaff / 1,001-2,000
FTEstaff / >2,001
FTEstaff
£8110+VAT / £10380+VAT / £11510+VAT
If in2ndor moreconsecutiveyear
1,000
FTEstaff / 1,001-2,000
FTEstaff / >2,001
FTEstaff
£6980+VAT / £9250+VAT / £10385+VAT

For this price, the ‘standard’ Green Impact package includes the following:

  • Support and guidance through every stage from a dedicated project officer who on average will visit your organisation four times a year (e.g. to deliver bespoke workshops, support events or engage staff);
  • Remote support for your teams;
  • Development of an online workbook, bespoke to your organisation;
  • Production of a yearly project plan;
  • Access to live team progress;
  • Recruitment, IEMA approved training and management of student auditors from a local partner FE or HE institution;
  • Personalised feedback reports for all teams;
  • Certificate templates for all awards categories for your celebration event;
  • Sustainably procured awards for your silver and gold winners;
  • Entry of your special award winners into the national Green Impact special awards;
  • National publicity through NUS’ annual portfolio and Green Impact website;
  • Voluntary online baseline and follow-up behaviours survey so we can show we have changed behaviours in new teams and departments;
  • Access to Green Impact cost-price shop for Green Impact branded green products for teams and departments (e.g. refillable drinking water bottles, awareness stickers, room thermometers, etc.);
  • End-of-year impact report for the organisation, stating how Green Impact has measurably improved environmental performance and sustainable behaviours.

Not included in the above costs:

  • Printing of certificates;
  • Additional award costs;
  • Venue costs for auditor training and awards events (e.g. room hire, catering);
  • Student auditor travel costs;
  • Recruitment, training and management of volunteer student Green Impact Project Assistants, who support and mentor teams and departments. This can be provided at extra cost (approximately £1000 but dependent on your requirements and locations of local tertiary education providers).

Following discussions with individual organisations about their requirements, and what additional support to the ‘standard’ package that they may need, a cost summary will be provided by NUS for agreement before any contracts are drawn up.

Green Impact Enterprise

The Green Impact model is also suitable for small organisations when delivered alongside a local students’ union and/or HE/FE institution that already run Green Impact on campus. Green Impact Enterprise is an add-on to existing Green Impact programmes at universities and colleges. It enables students to engage with local community organisations who are too small to participate in one of the Green Impact programmes outlined above. Examples of the kinds of organisation suitable can be taken from the pilots we have run over the last two years: charity shops[6], small manufacturing organisations[7], sports centres[8] and hospices[9].

Once a number of similar organisations have been identified, NUS develop a Green Impact workbook relevant to that sector. Students are trained, either as part of a module in their course, or an existing placement, volunteer or employability programme. The training covers the Green Impact model, its methodologies, behavioural change and sustainable communications. The students then work with local organisations from the chosen sector to implement the programme. The awards element of the programme is celebrated in partnership with the host institution’s awards event.

The Enterprise programme is particularly beneficial to students’ skills development, practical experience of working environments, as well as introducing Green Impact and sustainability issues to organisations who haven’t already engaged in this agenda.

Unfortunately we are not able to offer the Enterprise programme to organisations that haven’t already got the support of their local students’ union and/or tertiary education institutions who are already participating in Green Impact. Therefore you will be asked to sign a contract alongside the tertiary education organisation and the relevant students’ union. In addition to their Green Impact fee, an add-on cost of £1000 (+VAT) will be payable, either by the institution, or the off-campus organisation(s) who we can bill directly. If you don’t already have links with your local students’ union, college or university, do get in touch using the details at the end of this document as we may be able to approach them for you.

Please discuss your requirements with our Communities team prior to completing the sign-up form below using the contact details at the end of this document.

Sustainable Behaviour Assistants

Often we find an organisation ready to implement one of our programmes, but struggle to find adequate internal capacity to deliver it. Since 2009 we have been in partnership with CHANGE AGENTS UK to offer an additional staffing resource, including recruitment, training and an employment service to organisations for a fixed cost, rather than having to be on payroll. The ‘Sustainable Behaviours Assistant (SBA)’ model has been highly successful in generating meaningful change, communicating sustainability issues and supporting and coordinating our programmes. The Sustainable Behaviours Assistant helps coordinate activity across an organisation and develop meaningful partnerships. This has been proven to create a social norm of sustainability, thus facilitate behavioural and cultural change.

Change Agents UK will recruit, arrange interviews, employ, train, and support a recent graduate. The relevant organisation then manages the graduate for a fixed-term. Change Agents UK also co-ordinate a network of SBAs across the country to enable the sharing of good practice to ensure their success within the role and help with their own personal and professional development.

The fees for a SBA in 2013/14 are shown in the table on the next page.

Included in the above costs are:

  • Recruitment: job description development, advertising, shortlisting, telephone interviews and facilitation of final interviews to include: candidate management, question suggestions, timetables, an interviewer and a travel bursary for candidates;
  • Training and support: training workshops and support network across national SBAs, including two days of Green Impact specific training if required;
  • Salary: payroll costs and National Insurance.

Not included in the above costs are:

  • Allowances for overtime;
  • Expenses including travel to/from any workshops;
  • Bonuses that you might commit to locally.

Outside London,
£16,500 pa, pro rata
6 months, PT, 17.5hrs/week / £7,200 (+VAT)
6 months, FT, 35hrs/week / £12,800 (+VAT)
9 months, PT, 17.5hrs/week / £9,800 (+VAT)
9 months, FT, 35hrs/week / £18,000 (+VAT)
12 months, PT, 17.5hrs/week / £12,200 (+VAT)
12 months, FT, 35hrs/week / £23,500 (+VAT)
Greater London,
£18,540 pa, pro rata,
inclusive of London weighting
6 months, PT, 17.5hrs/week / £8,000 (+VAT)
6 months, FT, 35hrs/week / £14,600 (+VAT)
9 months, PT, 17.5hrs/week / £10,700(+VAT)
9 months, FT, 35hrs/week / £20,200(+VAT)
12 months, PT, 17.5hrs/week / £13,650(+VAT)
12 months, FT, 35hrs/week / £26,200(+VAT)

For further, more specific information about Sustainable Behaviours Assistants contact Camilla Tunney, Education Projects Manager at Change Agents UK on 01572 725834.

Green Gauge

We understand that monitoring and evaluating the impact of environmental change programmes can be difficult. However, NUS has significant expertise in this area based on experience undertaking research for various organisations, for example, universities, funding councils and Defra. Green Gauge is an environmental research package comprising of a staff survey, tailored to meet your needs.

The surveys can provide valuable insights and statistics for those responsible for environmental management. Surveys can cover anything from data capture of scope three emissions from staff travel, to attitudes about sustainability in your core work, to energy-saving opportunities as identified by your staff. The Green Gauge programme writes and helps distribute the survey, providing incentives for your staff to participate. It then presents the findings both in a research report, and in person.

In addition, we offer the option of in-depth focus groups either before or after the survey. This offers the chance to gain further insight into any areas of key interest. If required, this can also be run as a standalone piece of research which would include an initiation meeting, discussion guide, 3 focus groups of 60 minutes with 6-8 participants, transcripts and a findings report.

The fee for Green Gauge in 2013/14 is £6,675 (+VAT), with the focus group option costing a further £1,500 (+VAT).

For further, more specific information about Green Gauge contact Rachel Drayson, Environmental Researcher at NUS on 07876 860324.

Piloting other projects

NUS is also keen to work with suitable non FE/HE partners on further projects that help implement our E&E and Communities Strategy[10]. If you are interested in running a project that isn’t outlined above, or wish to adapt any of our programmes to your needs, please get in touch using the details opposite.

Disclaimers

NUS reserves the right to work with delivery partners of its choosing. The sign-up form below does not consitute a legal contract to deliver any of our programmes. This ratecard was published on 23/12/2013 and may be superseded at any time. Please check with a member of the NUS E&E team you are viewing the most up-to-date version.

Further Information and Sign-up

Information about all of NUS’ environmental work can be found at

For more information on any of the programmes in this document, or to discuss a potential project, please contact Charlotte Bonner, Communities Programme Manager at NUS on or 07785 626163.

To sign up for any of the projects outlined above, please complete the form on the next page and return to . We will then email you a cost summary to confirm the total cost. Once you have approved this, we will send you a contract to sign and return.

The contract will include our delivery milestones. Our standard invoicing arrangements are 30% of costs upfront in Aug 2013, 30% upon delivery of milestones in Dec 2013, and the remaining 40% upon delivery of milestones in May 2014 although we can adapt these to your requirements if necessary. We can also bill upfront this financial year, or as one lump sum, if this is preferred.

If your organisation wishes to participate in one of our programmes beyond our normal delivery timescales (working to the academic year September – July) please contact us to discuss this further.

NUS Environmental and Ethics Communities Programme

Sign-up form: 2013/14

  1. Nameoforganisation:
  2. Lead contactname:
  3. Lead contactjobtitle:
  4. Lead contact email:
  5. Contactaddress:
  6. Contactphonenumber:
  7. Invoicename,jobtitle, email, phonenumberandaddress(ifdifferent):
  8. Approximatenumberof FTE staffatthe organisation:
  9. Number of UK sites within organisation:
  10. Do you already have the support of a local students’ union and/or HE/FE institutions? Yes/No
  11. Do you already have an environmental champion’s network? Yes/No

GreenImpact

Pleaseputa'1'inthebox for the relevant Green Impact package youwouldlike:

SustainableBehavioursAssistant

Pleaseputa'1'intheboxtoindicatewhichSBApackageyouwant:

Green Gauge

Pleaseputa'1'inthebox for eachGreen Gaugepackageyouwouldlike:

  1. Any comments / requests / points of information:

[1] University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

[2] Manchester City Council, Staffordshire County Council, Leicestershire County Council, Bournemouth Borough Council

[3] Lancashire Constabulary

[4] Endsleigh

[5] Higher Education Funding Council for England

[6] Initiated and developed alongside Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union and Anglia Ruskin University’s Lord Ashcroft Business School

[7] ibid.

[8] Initiated and developed alongside Worcester Students’ Union, the University of Worcester and their Worcester Award studentemployability programme

[9] Initiated and developed alongside De Montfort Students’ Union, De Montfort University and Business Works

[10]Both these strategies are available at