Helping SMEs to cut carbon

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The UK Business Climate Hub is a collaboration between the UK Government, businesses and business groups across the UK. The Hub is the UK partner of the SME Climate Hub, the global initiative which empowers small and medium-sized enterprises to take climate action.

UK Business Climate Hub coalition

The coalition is managed by the Broadway Initiative.  Members of the coalition include:

British Business Bank

British Chambers of Commerce

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Electricity North West

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

HSBC UK

Institute of Environmental

Management and Assessment (IEMA)

Institute of Directors (IoD)

Make UK

NatWest

National Grid

Northern Powergrid

Sage

Practical advice and support

The UK Business Climate Hub portal gives small and medium size businesses free, objective, clear and easy to follow advice and support on how to get started and get ahead of the Net Zero targets.


The portal’s design and content was initially based on the findings of an 8-week 'discovery phase' to better understand the small business context, understand what motivates or deters different kinds of small businesses in reducing their carbon footprint, and identify what they need to transition to net zero more quickly.  You can read the discovery report here.

Small Business Advice on Net Zero: Discovery Phase

Working with Chambers of Commerce


A December 2022 webinar was held to provide information about the partnership with local Chambers of Commerce to support businesses to reduce energy costs and progress towards net zero is available,

 

Speakers included:

  • Miranda Barker, Chief Executive Officer, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
  • Stephen Sykes, Director of Sustainability, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
  • Ed Lockhart, Convenor, Broadway Initiative 
  • Chris Taylor, Net Zero Lead, Broadway Initiative
  • PLUS SMEs examples & best practice


The event covered the following topics:

  • Why businesses need to take action
  • Objectives of the Zero Carbon Business initiative and partnership with chambers
  • Resources you can use to reduce energy costs and move towards net zero
  • Development plans for 2023 and beyond
  • Discussion: your input, questions and feedback

Developing a free energy efficiency advice module 


In response to the current energy crisis, the UK Business Climate Hub is developing a free advice module focused on energy efficiency to help SMEs make immediate and longer-term changes to reduce costs, enhance business resilience and reduce emissions.  In May 2022,  an event was held to give an early road-test of the module.

The event attracted a great line-up of guest speakers and panelists including:

  • Miranda Barker, CEO East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Climate Chair, British Chambers of Commerce
  • Friederike Andres, Policy Advisor for Energy, Environment and Infrastructure, Federation of Small Businesses
  • Richard Allcock, Engagement Manager, Western Power Distribution
  • Martyn Young, Chair, Energy Policy Unit, Federation of Small Businesses
  • John Murray, Assistant Director, Energy and Environment
  • John Whitehead, Owner, Bryn Elltyd ECO Guest House, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales
  • Edward Lockhart-Mummery, Convener, Broadway Initiative
  • Chris Taylor, Net Zero lead, Broadway Initiative


Download the webinar slides

Policy framework for small business

Through its work on National Frameworks , Broadway has released a report that considers how the Net Zero Strategy can help SMEs overcome the challenges and benefit from the opportunities in transitioning to net zero. 

What should the Government's Net Zero Strategy say about SMEs?

Key people

Chris Taylor

Zero Carbon Lead

Broadway Initiative

Padma Gillen

Content Strategy Lead

Llibertat

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