Green Specialty Challenge

The Green Specialty Challenge is a national programme to stimulate engagement, innovation and greater understanding of environmentally preferable options within a specialty. The Challenges demonstrate knowledge into action, and publicise impact clinical teams can have through practical, achievable changes. 

Each Challenge is delivered by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) in partnership with specialty organisations, supported by grant funding or sponsorship. Six multi-professional teams are selected to take part by CSH and challenge partners. The teams receive mentoring and support from CSH to develop, run and measure outcomes of sustainable quality improvement, or 'SusQI' projects.  The Challenge culminates in a high-profile online Showcase and Awards event to engage the wider specialty community and share the learning. 

The specialty challenge process

History of the Specialty Challenge

The Specialty Challenge is an adaptation of CSH’s Green Team Competition, an award-winning programme in sustainable healthcare that transforms expert knowledge into action in NHS and healthcare organisations.

The approach has been demonstrated in the national Green Surgery Challenge, created and delivered by CSH through collaboration with partners and funding sponsors. Successes included:

  • A high level of interest in participating (30 applications)
  • Clinical leadership to decarbonise surgical pathways with five UK surgery teams developing, running and measuring the impact of SusQI projects
  • Combined projected annual savings of 133.4 tonnes CO2e (equivalent of 38 round-trip flights from London to Hong Kong)
  • 200 attendees at the Green Surgery Conference where teams presented their projects, highlighting the environmental, social, and financial impacts made. There were over 47,000 impressions on Twitter over 2 days following the conference.
  • 5 case studies developed to continue sharing learning across the surgical community (case studies available via CSH’s Surgical Care Sustainability Network).

Partner Opportunity

Accelerating the innovation and adoption of sustainable practices is a shared goal across many specialty communities and we are stronger when we work together! Partnership in a Challenge will position organisations as leaders, engaging their specialty community in innovation, service improvement and resource stewardship.

Within a Challenge partnership there are collaboration opportunities including

  • Contribution to team recruitment: selection criteria, shortlisting, and selection of 6 successful teams 
  • Input into specialty specific resources to share with participating teams
  • Co-facilitation or participation in the launch and showcase events
  • A suitable member of your organisation invited to the judging panel 

As a partner your contribution to the Challenge may be provided by in-kind support or via a contribution to funding. As a partner you will receive a comms package and recognition as well as insight and relationship benefits as outlined below in the sponsorship section. 

Sponsorship Opportunity  

The success and impact of a Green Specialty Challenge relies on funding from organisations and industry partners who recognise the value it brings to the field. The Challenge represents a significant opportunity for invited organisations to be at the forefront of innovation and showcase their green credentials and commitment to furthering sustainable practices in healthcare.  

The challenge can be funded by specialty partners, grant funders and/or corporate sponsors. We generally seek up to 4 sponsors to fund the challenge cost of £39,375 (plus VAT). 

Contact us

Hazel Walsh, Clinical Transformation Programme Manager
Please contact Hazel for further information or to schedule a Teams call.
hazel.walsh@sustainablehealthcare.org.uk