Sustainable Business Challenge
Empower your students to tackle real-world sustainability issues through innovation and enterprise.
Our Sustainable Business Challenge is an outreach programme designed to engage Year 12 school groups with sustainability through creative problem-solving and teamwork. This three-part programme encourages students to design a sustainable initiative that addresses an environmental or sustainability issue in a business, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Programme overview
Part 1: In-school launch workshop (February 2026)
An Education Outreach Fellow from the University of Leeds will visit your school to deliver an interactive workshop. This session will introduce students to sustainability challenges in business and help them kick-start their sustainable change plan with ideas, inspiration, and guidance. Students' initiatives will focus on some of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. Up to 30 students can take part in the launch workshop.
Part 2: Independent project development (February-April 2026)
Following the launch, students will work in teams to develop their sustainable business change idea. Each school will be invited to select up to two teams (maximum 10 students total) to represent their school at the campus final.
Part 3: Campus final and taster day (Wednesday 29 April 2026)
- Subject taster sessions – Explore sustainability topics through interactive sessions delivered by academics from the School of Earth and Environment.
- Sustainable business presentations – Students will present their sustainable change implementation plan to a panel of judges.
- Campus tour – Led by our Student Ambassadors, giving students a real feel for university life.
Who is it for?
This programme is ideal for Year 12 students with an interest in sustainability, innovation, or enterprise. No specific subject background is required—just enthusiasm and a willingness to engage with environmental challenges.
We encourage teachers to promote this opportunity to Year 12 students and for them to form their own groups for this student-led project. Should teachers need to select students to take part, we strongly encourage to prioritise those who would benefit the most from this opportunity, such as students who were in receipt of Free School Meals, and those who are underrepresented at university.
Why take part?
Develop transferrable skills
Experience university-style learning
Make informed choices
Practical details
Location
- In-school talk: Delivered at your school by our trained Education Outreach Fellow.
- Campus day: Held at the University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment.
Mini bus parking and lunch are provided on the day free of charge.
Number of participants
We will welcome up to 10 students per school.