Integrating Centuries of History with Future-Focused Innovation
Ashridge House Sustainability:
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Our sustainable Venue
Conscious corporate and private event planners seeking a sustainable venue in the UK, are increasingly looking for far more than tick-box policy. They’re looking to partner with an organisation aligned with their values, able to evidence its impact at multiple levels. At Ashridge House, sustainability isn't a recent trend, it's a priority we’ve been integrating into the evolution of our 700-year-old estate for decades.
Our Grade I listed neo-gothic property dates to 13th-century foundations, but our commitment to building a sustainable business model has launched us on a journey towards ambitious goals. Just 30 minutes north of London, our 190-acre estate is living proof that historic preservation and environmental responsibility can work in tandem. As a sustainable corporate venue and eco-friendly conference venue, we honour the past while innovating with solutions to safeguard the future.
This blog will highlight the range of measurable steps we’ve already taken to improve sustainability across the business. Our people leading transformational projects will explain the impact of their work, so you’re assured when booking events at Ashridge House, you’re making an ethical venue choice.
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A 700-Year Sustainability Journey
Ashridge House has been adapting since our earliest origins as a 13th century monastery and place of learning. After serving as a Tudor hunting lodge and royal residence during the 1500s, the estate continued to evolve, being almost entirely rebuilt in 1808. It was repurposed several times during the 20th century, before becoming established as a global leader in executive education and an award-winning venue for hosting sustainable events in Hertfordshire.
Since joining the EF family in 2020 and hosting Hult International Business School since 2015, we've accelerated our sustainability progression. But our commitment traces back much further, as sustainability became integral to our MBA programmes in the 1990s, when we launched our dedicated sustainability research centre.
"Sustainability has been a core part of Ashridge House for decades," explains Matt Gitsham, Professor and Director of the Hult Sustainability Impact Lab. "We need business leaders to feel equipped to speak about and act on matters relating to sustainability. Business leaders want this, so we carry out research and teach with the future in mind.”
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Taking Measurable Climate Action
As a responsible venue, we’re proud to hold third-party verified environmental management accreditations. Our ISO 14001 status and Silver Greengage ECOsmart Hotels and Venues certification demonstrates our systematic approach to reducing environmental impact.
We completed an extensive LED lighting conversion throughout the estate and switched partnership to a renewable energy supplier. These and other projects have contributed to achieving a 32% reduction in emissions since 2006.
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Pioneering Heat Pumps in Heritage Buildings
Given the age and size of the house, one of our biggest challenges currently is heating. Our existing oil-based system accounts for 21% of emissions, approximately 1,100 metric tons of CO2e annually. When flooding recently damaged several boilers, we leveraged an opportunity to pave the way towards a more sustainable solution. We’re now in the process of replacing them with air-source heat pumps powered by green electricity.
"We're at the start of something exciting here," says Stephen Darnton, our Maintenance Manager since 1997. "Hopefully this first heat pump project will show what is possible and we can learn from it to transition away from oil completely."
Sustainable Event Planning: Locally Sourced Catering for Weddings and Corporate Events
For event organisers booking sustainable corporate venues, understanding the food footprint of their menu is an important consideration. Our approach centres on providing locally sourced catering that reduces carbon footprint while elevating quality.
Our Head Chef Paul Patterson and Banqueting Head Chef Noel Busby source ingredients solely from within the UK, prioritising suppliers based as close to Ashridge House as possible. With an array of fresh herbs and vegetables growing in our onsite garden, we’ve already set a precedent for food that travels metres, not miles.
"Sourcing seasonally and locally means we aren't purchasing greenhouse produce or transporting food from abroad," explains Noel. "Our costs are reduced, our environmental impact is lower, we support local businesses, and the food quality is much higher."
Our sustainable catering features:
• Vegetables, fruits and salads from our kitchen gardens
• Honey from our own beehives
• Meat and dairy from local Hertfordshire suppliers
• Seasonal menus celebrating British produce
With plans underway to further expand our kitchen garden, we envisage designing seasonal wedding and corporate hospitality menus, where most of the ingredients come from our own grounds. This gives delegates and guests a compelling garden to plate story, heightening their experience.
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Sustainable Meetings: Ethical Alignment
Corporate social responsibility also extends to making an ethical venue choice. Organisations seek responsible venues that support their Environmental, Social, and Governance commitments and sustainability reporting requirements.
Our ISO 14001 certification provides verification clients need. By being openly transparent with our emissions data and decarbonisation targets, we’re able to further demonstrate our commitment and progress in taking positive climate action.
Benefits for sustainable meetings at Ashridge House:
• Third-party endorsed environmental credentials
• Locally sourced seasonal catering reducing event carbon footprint
• 190 acres for nature-based team building and corporate retreats
• Connection to Hult Ashridge Executive Education's sustainability research programmes
• Easy rail access from London (approximately 20 times lower CO2e than flying)
Our business school campus adds unique value. Delegates can explore sustainability principles in an environment where these principles are actively practiced and researched.
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Biodiversity in Bloom: Gardens Supporting Wildlife
Spanning 190-acres, our Grade II listed gardens are working ecosystems supporting biodiversity while providing stunning settings for sustainable event planning.
Our Head Gardener Zora Tyrone oversees three distinct zones that progressively blend from manicured to wild, providing diverse habitats while maintaining heritage landscape design.
Our garden sustainability practices:
• Chemical-free maintenance: Beneficial insects and pheromones replace synthetic pesticides
• Water conservation: Historic underground tanks capture rainwater for irrigation with modern rain monitors
• Pollinator support: Diverse planting and wildflower meadows provide food sources year-round
• Wildlife habitats: Standing deadwood shelters bats and insects; wilder areas create wildlife corridors
• Climate adaptation: Experimenting with Mediterranean species alongside native varieties
"Knowing you're doing something that people will enjoy centuries from now is a real privilege," says Zora. "We want this to be a place for people to enjoy as well as boost biodiversity."
Balancing Heritage with Innovation
Our Managing Director David Evans explains how we’re funding the extensive running costs as a historic house, while investing in its sustainable future: "By making strategic investments in sustainability, we are able not only to reduce our carbon footprint but also, overtime, reduce our running costs.”
It’s a hugely exciting time as we continue to grow and enter a new phase in our journey. David adds: “We’re hosting multiple weddings every weekend, building a reputation as a leading hospitality venue for meetings and events, continuing our legacy as a business school, becoming renowned for our gardens and kitchens, and really putting sustainability at the heart of it all.”
Key Takeaways: Why Choose Ashridge House?
✓ Verified Credentials: ISO 14001 certified sustainable practices
✓ Measurable Progress: 32% emission reduction since 2006
✓ Authentic Local Sourcing: Catering from within kilometres, including our own gardens
✓ Biodiversity Champions: 190 acres managed for heritage and wildlife
✓ Heritage Innovation: Pioneering heat pumps and renewable energy in a Grade I listed building
✓ Location: 30 minutes from London, reducing travel emissions