Official SU Response: 

Our SU Education Officer will be taking this forward and exploring what options may be possible. Over the coming months, he will be engaging with School Boards and relevant University committees to discuss whether the University could introduce or support alternative, locally focused voucher schemes. This could involve encouraging departments to purchase locally where feasible, or identifying opportunities for partnerships with local suppliers.

There may also be a potential route through the STLC (Student–Teaching Learning Committee), as this is often where ideas influencing academic‑related processes and procurement can be raised. However, it’s important to note that anything involving the University’s wider purchasing systems cannot be implemented centrally by the Students’ Union alone — it would require University approval, policy review, and careful consideration of feasibility, cost, and procurement regulations.

Depending on how these conversations progress, this idea may contribute to future discussions around updating elements of the University’s purchasing policy. This would build on the SU’s existing commitment to prioritise local suppliers wherever possible within its own operations.

At this stage, we are still in the early exploratory phase, so nothing is confirmed yet. Nevertheless, the idea is being actively considered, and we will provide further updates whenever new information becomes available.

Thank you again for raising such a forward‑thinking proposal — student input like yours helps push sustainability further up the agenda.