A group of carpentry students from Buckinghamshire College Group have been announced as the winners of this year’s Green Schools Challenge, which took place on Monday 2 December.
The event, organised by Buckinghamshire Council in partnership with Bucks Skills Hub and local businesses, brought together students from schools across the county to propose innovative solutions to reduce their school’s or college’s carbon footprint.
Leah Gibson, Jacob Jellis, Archie Willson, Sam Owen from Buckinghamshire College Group impressed the Dragons’ Den-style judging panel with their proposal to repurpose timber offcuts from workshops, which are typically discarded and incinerated. Their idea involves converting the offcuts into wood shavings and chippings, which can then be reused by pet owners, farms, and local businesses.
Their project was recognised for its practicality, creativity, and potential impact on sustainability within the college.
The competition aimed to enhance students’ skills in employability, technical knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving while addressing pressing environmental challenges.
Matt Mansfield, Director of Student Services at the college, said: “I’m thrilled that our students have excelled in the Green Schools Challenge. This incredible achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of everyone involved.”
The competition finale, held at The Gateway Conference Centre, saw teams present their ideas to a panel of judges, followed by a Q&A session. Feedback highlighted the students' innovative approaches and their commitment to creating actionable solutions for a greener future.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Buckinghamshire Council, Buckinghamshire Skills Hub, and all the participating schools, mentors, and judges who made this event such a resounding success.
