21 January 2026
At ISEP, we’re proud to work with SOS UK on their Green Impact Programme, equipping students with the practical skills and mindset needed to drive sustainable change. As Green Impact reaches its 20th year, we delve into what makes this programme so special for those involved.
As part of the Green Impact Auditor Training, students complete the ISEP-approved ‘Introduction to Auditing and Evaluating Environmental Behaviour Change’ course, ensuring they gain recognised, industry approved training. The programme also provides discounted ISEP student membership, empowering participants to continue their professional development in sustainability.
As an ISEP education and corporate partner, the University of Birmingham has shown its commitment to embedding sustainability into education and operations. Here’s how two of their graduates - Avantika and Rupal - turned their experiences with the Green Impact Programme into thriving sustainability careers.
Our sustainability journey gained momentum during our Master's at University of Birmingham as the inaugural cohort of M.Sc. in Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship, sparked by our shared passion for sustainability and shaped by hands-on experience with real world practical models like the Green Impact programme.
Rupal came across the Green Impact programme first, while working as a part-time Events Coordinator at the Guild of Students, where he was encouraged to lead the Green Impact audit under the Facilities Team. He shared his experience with the Green Impact toolkit with Avantika, who later learned that SOS UK would be arriving on campus to deliver Green Impact training, audits, and certification – and signed up immediately.
From walking across campus conducting sustainability audits to engaging with departments, and using the Green Impact toolkit, we both got our first real taste of sustainability in action. The experience opened doors beyond lecture rooms, introducing us to professionals across the university and to the challenges and possibilities of implementing sustainability at the grassroots level.
These early interactions taught us that sustainability isn’t just about systems, it’s about people too. Small, consistent actions and collaboration across departments make big change possible. These lessons followed us beyond university.
Today, Avantika works as a Sustainability and Campus Services Coordinator at University College Birmingham, embedding sustainability across the campus, curriculum, and community. From working with estates and academics to engaging students in SDGs and behaviour change, the role is all about making sustainability a lived experience.
Rupal went on to co-found Kahawa Root’s, a sustainable coffee brand that works directly with Kenyan farmers to create a transparent supply chain. It’s a one-stop supply chain that grows, processes, and exports premium Arabica coffee – cutting out middlemen and ensuring fair pay, sustainability, and reforestation (we plant a tree for every kilogram of coffee sold!).
Our experiences with Green Impact gave us more than just a certificate; it gave us a framework for action and a belief that systems can change when people lead with purpose. It showed us how to measure impact, drive collaboration, and stay grounded in real-world issues – skills that we now carry into our careers.
Our advice?
Start where you are.
Use tools like Green Impact to understand how change works in practice.
And, above all, believe in people. Sustainability isn’t a solo effort, it’s a community-powered movement. Whether you’re auditing a university department or launching a sustainable startup, real impact comes from collaborative community efforts, shared responsibility, and systems thinking – bean by bean, action by action.
The journey that began with a Green Impact audit at the University of Birmingham now extends across continents – from university campuses to coffee farms in Kenya. For Avantika, her journey has come full circle, now working at one of ISEP’s corporate partners, University College Birmingham.
The Green Impact programme has reached over 3 million people since it began back in 2015, and there are no plans to stop there. This year, there will be a series of celebration events highlighting more stories like Avantika’s and Rupal’s. If you’re ready to start your own sustainability journey, the Green Impact Programme and ISEP student membership offer up an opportunity for practical learning and meaningful connection.
Completed the Green Impact Auditor Training but not yet an ISEP member?
Contact us to receive your discounted ISEP Student membership at: careers@isepglobal.org
