Introduction to me and my role
I’m Tom Carter, and I am the current UWE Unison Environmental Officer, having stepped into the role in May 2025. I currently work as a Technical Team Leader in SoAS, alongside several of our members, where we primarily support student practical activities and research projects. I have worked in the Environmental Sector for the last 10+ years in a variety of roles, joining UWE in 2021. Environmental issues are very important to me, and I feel I have a reasonable understanding of the issues and challenges we all face in this area, and how to implement effective changes.
How to contact me
If there is anything you would like to discuss with me as the Environment Officer for Unison, please do get in touch with me (tom4.carter@uwe.ac.uk)!
- University Sustainability Executive Committee (USEC)
I wanted to take this opportunity to shine a spotlight on the USEC, a key mechanism at UWE for sustainability, to ensure our members understand how this works and how to engage with it.
What is the USEC? In UWE’s words (from Vice-Chancellor’s Executive):
The University Sustainability Executive Committee (USEC) oversees the transformation and continued enhancement of the University through its Climate Action and Sustainability Strategy, supporting plans and initiatives. The Committee provides strategic leadership and coordination to embed sustainability into all university activity, enhancing the performance, experience and reputation of the University.
In my words: USEC is the university’s top level of managing sustainability and is made up of a variety of colleagues across the university. It encompasses a variety of themes, for example biodiversity, energy, carbon, waste, recycling, food and transport. I currently have a seat on the USEC as our UNISON representative, and this is the primary route through which we hear about any developments and are consulted for our opinion. It is also a strong route through which we can make suggestions and raise any concerns.
There are 3 annual meetings, plus often an additional workshop in each academic year. The final of the 2025-26 academic year and took place on Monday 15th June.The meetings for 2026-27 have not yet been brought forward.
If any members wish to learn more about this or have any suggestions or concerns that they would like to discuss for us to consider bringing forward at a USEC meeting, please do get in touch.
I’ve included some other useful links about Sustainability from the UWE intranet: Our Path to 2030, Carbon and energy management, Sustainability.
- Staff transport options
There are a variety of transport benefits that support sustainable efforts available to staff* at UWE. I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight these for members in case anyone isn’t aware.
Most of these are listed here: My benefits. These include:
- Cycle to work scheme (The Cycle to Work Scheme is a Government backed initiative that enables you to obtain a bike and/or cycling accessories to use for riding to work whilst making tax and National Insurance savings from your gross pay).
- Electric Vehicle Scheme (The UWE Bristol e-vehicle scheme, is a salary sacrifice car scheme which allows you to drive a brand new Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV), funded by a reduction in salary).
- Season ticket loan scheme (You can apply for an annual interest-free season ticket loan to help cover public transport costs. All UWE Bristol staff are eligible, providing you have a contract of employment with more than twelve months remaining from receipt of the loan).
- 35% off Dott pay-as-you-go rides on rental e-scooters and e-bikes. In 2025, UWE and Dott provided this offer to UWE staff and students, providing they setup a new account using their email address. Thanks to our prompting, this offer has been extended until 31/08/2027! If you haven’t used this offer before, you should be able to do so by visiting this page and following the instructions within: 35% off Dott pay-as-you-go rides for students and staff.
In addition to these, you may not be aware that as staff we are able to obtain a “TOTUM” card. These are usually considered a “Student” card but could more accurately be described as a “Higher Education” card. Cardholders are able to get discounts from all sorts of industries, including retailers, food and drink outlets, some supermarkets, leisure activities etc. Cardholders also often qualify for discount on travel expenses, which includes First Buses in Bristol/West of England. I personally commute to and from work via bus, 5 days per week all year, so the savings here are very worthwhile; I estimate to have saved myself over £200/year in commuting costs! That’s a lot of Tunnock’s Tea Cakes. See details here for applying for a TOTUM card: Financial benefits.
A wider selection of travel options are described in detail on the UWE website: Getting to and from UWE Bristol campuses – Campus and facilities | UWE Bristol
*Note: There may be some restrictions on these offers based on staff role or grade. Please conduct your own research/investigation into any offers you believe you may be eligible for to ensure you are eligible and not breaching any terms and conditions.
- National campaign spotlight: Rosebank
We previously mentioned that a member brought the “Stop Cambo” and “Stop Rosebank” campaigns to our attention, which are raising awareness and combating the exploration and development of new fossil fuel extraction in the North Atlantic and North Sea. We have considered this and are supportive of the purposes of the campaigns. We won’t be taking on any further campaigning for these measures, but invite members to explore the issue and engage with the campaigns if they wish: Why #StopRosebank?
- 2026 UNISON Year of Green Activity
This year is 2026 UNISON Year of Green Activity, a national programme to build momentum on green issues. Through various activities, connections will be created and ideas will be shared, to push for fairer, greener workplaces and communities. This is an opportunity to make a real impact, to make sure that not only are we tackling climate issues, but that workers have their say in the changes this brings. For the latest calendar of events on this at the national level, see here: 2026 UNISON Year of Green Activity | UNISON – the public service union. More details from National and Regional events and campaigns are expected over the coming months, including for Green UNISON week in September.
- Worker-Climate Project Workshop. 16th July, 12-1, 5X105 and online
We have organised a short ~1hour workshop on Thu 16th July with the Worker-Climate project (Worker-Climate Project). The workshop will involve a short talk about some inspiring examples of worker climate action, followed by breakouts to generate ideas for action in our branch and union, then some discussion on next steps. I hope that this will be a really exciting event that will help us to identify new areas to explore and action to take, and I hope it will encourage more members to bring their experiences and ideas forward.
The workshop will be held in 5X105 in Frenchay Campus, and it is recommended to join in-person if you can, however it will be run as a hybrid event for those that cannot attend in-person. The Teams link is here: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/349773898442105?p=Jjrfln5TbOPVq6cQmK