The University of Warwick has been ranked joint third in this year’s University That Count (UTC) for its environment and social responsibility.

Run by Business in the Community, the benchmarking scheme looked at 29 universities’ approach to, and management of environment and social responsibility issues. 

And University of Warwick scored 86.7 per cent in the UTC Index – jumping 14 percentage points from last year. 

Warwick’s results across the four key areas of community, environment, marketplace – covering students and suppliers – and workplace are now well above the average for the Higher Education sector. 

The University was commended for its strategic approach and measurement of impact around waste and recycling, climate change, health, safety and wellbeing, staff development and equality and diversity. 

Registrar Jon Baldwin said:  “We are delighted to have scored highly in this robust external assessment of corporate responsibility performance.

“We pride ourselves on our multi-faceted approach to social, environmental and economic sustainability issues and our performance in UTC reflects our commitment to this. 

“I am indebted to a wide range of staff, students and others across the University whose hard work in these areas is reflected in these results. 

Notes to Editors 

The Universities That Count Environment and Social Responsibility Index has been specially developed for use in Higher Education, and is based on the respected Business in the Community Corporate Responsibility Index (BITC) for companies, the results of which are published every year in the Financial Times. Universities can compare their performance with peers in the sector, and against businesses completing the BITC Index.  

The online survey starts with Strategy – the intentions of the university – before focusing on Integration – how those intentions are turned into actions – and then how each of the ‘four pillars’ of ESR are managed – Environment, Community, Workplace and Marketplace (students and suppliers). Impacts on social and environmental issues are reported in the fourth section of the survey. Finally, the survey examines Assurance – which ensures that ESR successes are sustained – and Disclosure, the degree of sharing that universities engage in.  

This year 29 higher education institutions completed the full ESR Index, and a further 25 completed the shorter Environment Index which focuses solely on environmental sustainability. 

The UTC programme is funded by the higher education funding councils and the Department for Employment & Learning. It is run by the CSR Consultancy on behalf of Business in the Community.


For more information contact Nick Hillard on 02476 523404 or email nick.hillard@warwick.ac.uk.