The award acknowledges the University’s commitment to equality, inclusivity, civic engagement, and sustainability.​

The Belfast Business Promise is an accreditation recognising business practices delivering added value to society through employment, procurement and working in partnership with communities.

Queen’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Ian Greer, welcomed the award status, saying:

“We are honoured to receive the Belfast Business Promise accreditation which aligns closely with Queen’s Strategy 2030 in fostering a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous Belfast. For almost two centuries our University has been a staple institution in the city with huge regard for the social responsibility we have to this community.

“In achieving Ambassador status, we recognise the collective efforts of our staff and students in promoting equality, engaging with our community, committing to sustainable practices, and holding ourselves to the highest standards in what we give back to the city of Belfast.”

The University was awarded the accolade thanks to a number of initiatives that align with Council pledges including its civic impact and social responsibility; a key pillar of Queen’s Strategy 2030. Last year, Queen’s made pledges under its Civic Mission to become a Civic University and a University of Sanctuary, and continues to work closely with governments, businesses, and the third sector to address societal challenges on a local and global scale.

As a signatory to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the delivery of Queen’s Net Zero Plan is supported through its investment in energy-efficient infrastructure, sustainable travel policies aimed at reducing congestion and improving air quality in Belfast, and responsible procurement practices and is ranked top 4% in the world under QS University Sustainability Rankings.

Central to attaining ‘Ambassador status’ is the university's employment policies that ensure a good workplace environment. One of Northern Ireland’s largest employers, Queen’s is a Living Wage Employer and has been awarded the Silver Diversity Mark, recognising its commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace and has actively sought to remove barriers to employment through a range of partnerships and programmes. It is also the only university in the island of Ireland and second in the UK to receive to achieve an Athena Swan institutional Gold Award for its work improving gender equality.

Its previous collaboration with Belfast City Council provided 15 individuals with few or no qualifications the opportunity to secure administrative roles with Queen’s, and support to complete an NVQ qualification in Business Administration.

The economic value to the economy is huge with Queen’s contributing an estimated £3.2 billion a year, delivering a benefit-to-cost ratio of 8:1. Queen’s plays a central role in the Belfast Region City Deal with its innovation centres expected to create over 4,000 jobs and in excess of £4 billion additional GDP for the Northern Ireland economy over the next 30 years.

Media

For media enquiries contact alana.fisher@qub.ac.uk