Inspire Education Group Wins International Green Apple Environment Award for Circular Economy Innovation

Inspire Education Group (IEG) has been awarded a prestigious International Green Apple Environment Award for its pioneering approach to sustainable waste management — recognising IEG’s leadership in circular economy practice and low-impact infrastructure.

Selected from more than 700 global entries, IEG’s award-winning initiative, A Circular Solution for Waste Management, will be formally celebrated at a ceremony at the House of Lords in London on 17 November 2025. The accolade places IEG among an elite group of organisations worldwide championing environmental innovation and excellence.

The project saw IEG transform disused kitchen units and classroom worktops into fully functional, zero-waste recycling stations across its campuses — eliminating landfill use, minimising carbon emissions, and achieving cost savings of over 97% per unit. By avoiding conventional high-cost procurement, the project became a powerful example of how creative reuse can deliver high-impact, low-cost sustainability infrastructure.

Following the win, IEG has been invited to become a Green World Ambassador and will feature in the globally distributed Green Book, the definitive guide to environmental best practice. The Group will also have the opportunity to represent the UK at the Green World Environment Awards, an international showcase of environmental leadership.

More Than a Project – A Strategic Vision

This latest achievement reflects IEG’s long-term strategy to embed sustainability across its curriculum, estate and culture. From securing the Investors in the Environment Green Award accreditation to reducing emissions across its operations, IEG is committed to delivering real, measurable change.

Recent environmental progress includes:

• A 1.5% carbon footprint reduction year-on-year
• Installation of full LED lighting, high-efficiency boilers, and double glazing to cut energy use
• A reduction of 1 million printed pages, saving £130,000 annually through smarter digital systems
• Curriculum expansion in green skills, including electric vehicle maintenance, low-carbon construction, and retrofit

Earlier this year, Inspire Education Group (IEG) officially unveiled its £13.5 million Centre for Green Technology (CGT) at Peterborough College — a landmark facility designed not only to address the UK’s green skills shortage, but to serve as a bold example of how education can directly power economic growth, workforce readiness, and environmental responsibility. The centre houses industry-standard facilities that support training in electric vehicle infrastructure, solar PV systems, air source heat pumps, retrofit, and sustainable construction practices.

These efforts support the UK’s net zero targets, regional climate action plans, and local authority sustainability ambitions — while preparing students for future-focused careers in green industries.