Bolsover Net Zero Innovation Programme wins at prestigious edie Net-Zero Awards 2025
The Bolsover Net Zero Innovation Programme, delivered in partnership with Nottingham Trent University (NTU), has been named a winner in the 2025 edie Net-Zero Awards — the UK’s leading recognition platform for industrial decarbonisation and sustainability excellence.
By Sarah McLeod | Published on 28 October 2025
Categories: Press office;
Recognised a winner of the newly introduced category “Upskilling & Training Initiative of the Year,” the programme is recognised for its outstanding contribution to carbon literacy, SME engagement, and practical decarbonisation support.
Funded by by the East Midlands Combined County Authority and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the initiative offers free carbon management support to businesses across Bolsover, including:
- Bespoke on-site audits to identify retrofitting opportunities
- Carbon management workshops led by NTU experts
- Sustainability networking events connecting businesses with academics and industry leaders
- Net Zero Growth Grants to fund decarbonisation projects that drive job creation
This comprehensive approach empowers SMEs to cut operational costs, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance competitiveness in a sustainability-driven market.
Delivered by NTU’s School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment and Nottingham Business School, the programme combines academic insight with real-world consultancy. The team includes sustainability consultants, carbon management experts, and senior lecturers working directly with Bolsover businesses.
Programme Impact:
- Over 100 businesses engaged across the district
- £100,000+ in Net Zero Growth Grants awarded
- More than 40 carbon audits conducted
- Average projected carbon savings of 20–30% per site
“The support from NTU has been invaluable. The audit helped us identify practical ways to reduce our energy use, and the grant enabled us to take action quickly. It’s made a real difference to our bottom line and our carbon footprint.” Bolsover SME participant
“Winning this award sets our District apart as a Centre for Net Zero innovation. It’s a proud moment for Bolsover - and a powerful signal of what we can achieve when we work together for a greener future.”
Bolsover District Council
“We are delighted that the Net Zero Innovation Programme delivered by Nottingham Trent University in collaboration with Bolsover District Council has been recognised by the edie Net-Zero Awards in the category of Upskilling and Training Initiative of the Year. Together, we are demonstrating that with the right combination of expertise and support, businesses of all sizes and sectors can accelerate decarbonisation while realising business benefits with the right combination of expertise from Nottingham Business School, the School of Architecture, Design & the Built Environment, and Knowledge Exchange.”
Nottingham Trent University Bolsover Net Zero Innovation Programme Team
Notes for Editors
Press enquiries please contact Sarah McLeod, Corporate Communications Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8735, or via email.
About Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been named UK ‘University of the Year’ five times in six years, (Times Higher Education Awards 2017, The Guardian University Awards 2019, The Times and Sunday Times 2018 and 2023, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023) and is consistently one of the top performing modern universities in the UK.
Students have voted us the best university in the UK and 1st in the UK for student employability (Uni Compare 2025).
NTU is 4th in the UK for number of undergraduate students (HESA 2023-24) with over 36,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across six campuses. It has an international student population of 6,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.
NTU owns two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for outstanding achievements in research (2015, 2021). The first recognises NTU’s research on the safety and security of global citizens. The second was awarded for research in science, engineering, arts and humanities to investigate and restore cultural objects, buildings and heritage. The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU was awarded GOLD in the national 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment.
NTU is a top 10 for sport (British Universities and Colleges Sport league table 2025) and was named as Sports University of the Year (Daily Mail University Guide 2025). It has also been ranked as 25th in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2026.
NTU is a holder of the University Mental Health Charter recognising the commitment an institution has shown towards continuous improvement in the area of mental health and wellbeing.
NTU is the most environmentally sustainable university in the UK and second in the world (UI Green Metric University World Rankings, 2024).