Educational institution Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has rolled out a wellbeing and sustainability programme for its 1,900 employees after the completion of a successful six-month pilot.
The ARUgreen programme, provided by Jump, was initially trialled from September 2018 for 700 employees. ARUgreen rewards participants with points for behaviours that improve both individual and campus-wide wellbeing and sustainability. Teams then compete to earn the most points.
The programme, delivered through an online platform and app, focuses on six key themes: energy saving, sustainable travel, health and wellbeing, responsible purchasing, waste and recycling and get involved. Within each of these categories is a range of related activities, such as switching off electrical equipment.
The pilot had a 33% participation rate and saw staff complete 10,000 positive actions, including taking 3,700 lunch time walks, using 6,358 reusable cups and bottles and holding 51 paperless meetings.
Furthermore, 70% of employees who participated in the pilot reported that it increased their sustainable behaviour at work, while 96% agreed that it supported reducing the university's environmental footprint.
Employees who collected the most points each month were rewarded with a voucher; additional raffle prizes were also available, for example ARU-branded reusable cups. The team that earned the most points over the course of the pilot, the estates and facilities team, was further rewarded with a £100 charity donation, which they gave to the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Following the pilot, ARUgreen was rolled out to the university’s 1,900 employees based across its three campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford and Peterborough in April 2019. The scheme will also be launched for 17,000 students in September 2019.
Simon Chubb, environmental manager at ARU, said: “ARUgreen is a great way for our people to feel part of a network of committed individuals, making a real tangible difference. Our donation to the Essex Wildlife Trust adds to this and makes an even greater difference to the local wildlife and biodiversity.
“We’re really looking forward to getting students involved in September, as they are a key part of driving change at the university.”
