People are at the heart of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s (MFT) sustainability strategy; but engaging 20,000 staff across nine hospitals and the MLCO presents a unique challenge.

In May 2019, MFT launched an ambitious employee engagement programme, Green Rewards, in partnership with engagement specialists Jump, to overcome the healthcare-specific challenges of sustainable behaviour change; varying shift patterns, a large dispersed workforce, and non-desk based working environments.

Green Rewards is a fun and engaging online platform and mobile app encourages a range of positive behaviours. Themes covered include; Engage, Nature, Nurture, Consumption, Journeys and Fuel. Activities include switching off electrical equipment, pledging to use less plastic, a step challenge, meat free Mondays and spending time outdoors – all of which we know are key to reducing our carbon footprint and boosting our wellbeing!

Employees earn ‘Green Points’ for taking part and can track the impact they are having in real time. Those that earn the most points in a month are awarded a voucher from a choice including local cinemas and high street vouchers – whilst top performing departments are rewarded with donations for Trust charities, with £1,000 to be donated in the first year of the scheme.

Since the launch, the Trust have over 890 members of staff signed up and have saved over  65,000 kg of CO_2.  For more information email ECOteam@mft.nhs.uk