Blueprint

Blueprint is our flagship sustainability engagement framework which allows Schools and Services to better understand and act upon their own environmental impacts and how they can contribute towards the University’s sustainability goals.

Led by a team of staff and students with support from the Sustainability Service, the Blueprint programme involves developing a five-year action plan to map, track and audit your sustainability priorities and goals.

Interested in creating your own Blueprint for sustainability? Great! Email sustainability@leeds.ac.uk.

Blueprint teams are formed at a School or Service level. All staff and students can play their part in developing Blueprint objectives, delivering the activities and monitoring progress.

There are five phases of creating a Blueprint:

1. Scoping session  –  first up, we work with you to identify the key impacts and opportunities of your School/Service.
2. Workshop  –  here we work with your team to really focus on the areas where you can make the most difference, have the most impact, and that are relevant to your work.
3. Create your Blueprint – the first draft of your Blueprint is produced, including all the actions you have discussed in the workshop. Once you’re happy, it’s signed off by your Head of School/Service.
4. Deliver your Blueprint  –  this is where the real work starts! Working as a team, and supported by the Sustainability Service, you’ll deliver the action and initiatives in your Blueprint.
5. Celebrate achievement  –  Blueprint progress is self-assessed and then audited internally annually by staff and/or students. You’ll also get the chance to have your work recognised and shared across the University community.

Once live, Blueprint is delivered through a five year detailed action plan with support from the Sustainability service. To track the sustainability impact, Blueprint progress is audited annually against the prioritised targets, the degree of collaboration both within your team and across the Blueprint community. Students and staff are involved throughout this process. Teams then have the opportunity to move through the Blueprint levels: working towards, explorer, change maker, leader and visionary.

As well as supporting local change, the Blueprint framework is designed to encourage collaboration between Schools or Services – all teams are encouraged to join the Blueprint community to share ideas, challenges and successes.

We hold events throughout the year and, every year, your progress will be recognised and celebrated at the University's annual Sustainability Awards Celebration.