UK Universities are now blocking big oil: career fairs ban fossil fuel companies.
A growing number of UK universities have had their career fairs ban fossil fuel companies from their campuses, reflecting mounting pressure from students and staff to sever ties with the fossil fuel industry. According to the latest annual sustainability and ethics survey in higher education, institutions blocking fossil fuel companies from graduate recruitment events increased by 30% this year.
The University of Bedfordshire emerged as the top performer in the comprehensive assessment of 149 UK universities conducted by the student campaign group People and Planet. The institution, which has consistently ranked in the top three positions for the past three years, demonstrated substantial progress in sustainability initiatives, including divesting endowment funds from fossil fuels and terminating recruitment connections with oil, gas, and mining companies. The university’s decade-long investment in on-campus renewable energy generation contributed to high scores in energy sourcing and carbon reduction metrics.
Post-1992 universities dominated the rankings, securing seven of the top ten positions. The Russell Group, comprising the UK’s most prestigious research institutions, saw a decline in top-performing members, with only four universities achieving the highest marks compared to six in 2023.
The survey evaluated institutions across 14 criteria related to climate and social justice. While 78% of UK universities have publicly committed to fossil fuel divestment, only 55% have formalized these commitments through ethical investment policies that explicitly exclude fossil fuel extractors. This gap between stated intentions and policy implementation has drawn criticism from campaign groups.
“As the climate crisis escalates, more and more universities are realizing that climate justice can only be achieved by cutting ties with the fossil fuel industry,” said Josie Mizen of People and Planet. The organization’s campaigns manager, Laura Clayson, emphasized the need for universities to align their policies with public commitments, noting that ten career fairs ban fossil fuel companies.
Student activism has played a crucial role in driving these changes. Andre Dallas of People and Planet attributed the progress to sustained student campaigns, noting that “students across the UK have been unequivocal in their stance that they won’t allow their universities to continue to invest in blatant injustices like the hostile environment and climate collapse.”
The trend of having career fairs ban fossil fuel companies represents part of a broader movement within higher education to address climate concerns. Universities face mounting pressure to demonstrate environmental responsibility through concrete actions, from investment decisions to campus operations and industry partnerships.
This shift in university recruitment policies signals a changing landscape for fossil fuel companies seeking to attract young talent. As educational institutions increasingly prioritize environmental considerations in their operations and partnerships, the fossil fuel sector’s traditional recruitment pathways through university career fairs face growing restrictions.
The shift away from fossil fuel recruitment at universities parallels wider changes in graduate career preferences. Recent surveys indicate that nearly 70% of UK graduates now consider an employer’s environmental policies a crucial factor in their job search decisions. This generational change in priorities has created new challenges for traditional energy companies attempting to recruit young talent.
Several major universities that still permit fossil fuel companies at recruitment events have implemented strict guidelines requiring these firms to detail their transition plans toward renewable energy. Companies must now demonstrate concrete commitments to emissions reduction and sustainable practices before being granted access to campus recruitment opportunities.
The impact extends beyond the energy sector. Engineering departments, traditionally a key source of talent for oil and gas companies, report a significant shift in student career trajectories. Many engineering graduates now prioritize positions in renewable energy, clean technology, and sustainable infrastructure development.
Financial implications for universities making these changes have been minimal. Career services departments report that firms in renewable energy, environmental consulting, and sustainable technology sectors quickly fill spaces previously occupied by fossil fuel companies at recruitment fairs. This transition reflects broader job market trends, with the UK’s green economy projected to create over 250,000 new positions by 2030.
See also: Tech for Trees: How College Students Are Using Apps to Combat Deforestation.
However, some institutions face unique challenges in forcing career fairs to ban fossil fuel companies. Universities with specialized programs in petroleum engineering or geological sciences must balance environmental commitments with maintaining industry connections for research and technical training. Several have addressed this by developing a new curriculum focusing on energy transition and sustainable resource management.
The movement has also sparked debate about the role of universities in driving industry change. Proponents argue that recruitment bans effectively pressure companies to accelerate their transition to sustainable practices, while critics suggest that maintaining engagement with fossil fuel companies might better influence their future direction. Despite these discussions, the trend toward stricter environmental policies in university recruitment continues to gain momentum across the UK higher education sector.
The survey results highlight both progress and remaining challenges in UK higher education’s response to climate change. While the increase in institutions implementing recruitment and investment restrictions on fossil fuel companies demonstrates momentum toward sustainability goals, the gap between public commitments and formal policies suggests that continued work is needed to align university practices with climate action pledges fully.
