Climate Change Hub
1. UK Business Climate Change Hub
7. Funding
8. Awards
A business opportunity like no other
Even the smallest businesses produce carbon emissions – it could be through your building, your vehicles, or your supply chain. The UK government is asking you to commit to cutting those carbon emissions in half by 2030 and to reach ‘net zero’ by 2050. Net-zero means that you are putting no more carbon into the atmosphere than you are taking out of it. When you commit, you’ll get the tools to help you understand your emissions, how to tackle them, and how to share what you’re doing with your customers and your community.
The Surrey Climate Commission was officially launched in June 2019, formed from a collaboration of organisations, including Surrey University, Surrey Chambers of Commerce, Siemens, World Wildlife Fund, and Surrey Wildlife Trust. Professor Chris Rapley, CBE, of University College London gave the keynote address (see his presentation on The Need for Transformation in the downloads below). Our aim is to provide an independent and authoritative voice to all organisations in Surrey, whether they be private, or public sector or other, helping them contribute to the County reaching its necessary climate target, to avoid the damaging effects of runaway climate change.
Click here to read a welcome from Surrey Climate Commission
Click here to learn more about Surrey Climate Commission
100 Ways in 100 Days™ is a fun and engaging new e-learning behaviour change programme, delivered via the workplace. It aims to help people learn how to work, live and think more sustainably, fast. Based on psychology and neuroscience, the programme embraces the theory of marginal gains, ie, how many small actions, multiplied many times, by many people can come together to create major impact and drive performance.
Meanwhile, here are this month’s three small, easily achievable sustainability ideas to help you start making a difference!
Click here to learn more about 100 Ways in 100 Days
Click here to read Occupational Health Assessment Ltd’s case study
DreamingFish
Click here to read DreamingFish’s case study
Perfect Pitch Consultancy
Click here to read Perfect Pitch Consultancy’s case study
Jenoptik
Click here to read Jenoptik‘s case study
Click here to read Charles Russell Speechlys’ case study
Something Big
Click here to read Something Big’s case study
Login Business Lounge
Click here to read Login Business Lounge’s case study
Mandira’s Kitchen
Click here to read Mandira’s Kitchen’s case study
Stag Print
Click here to read Stag Print’s case study
Trafalgar Marquees
Click here to read Trafalgar Marquees’ case study
Click here to read Brooklands Hotel’s case study
loCASE
Click here to read loCASES case study
Chimney Fire Coffee
Click here to read their case study
Click here to read their case study
Now’s the time for your business to develop a clear action plan to reach net zero and help achieve the UK’s ambitious goal. We realise that starting your journey to net zero can be daunting but the BCC Net Zero Hub together with O2 provides insights, tools and support to help you build a greener future for your business.
In 2019, the UK made a legally binding pledge: to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The science is clear – the next decade is critical for action on climate – and with growing public concern and increasing scrutiny from government and investors, now’s the time for businesses like yours to ramp up its efforts in reaching net zero and help achieve the UK’s ambitious goal. The British Chambers of Commerce has teamed up with a business on its own journey, O2 – the only mobile network to commit to net zero by 2025. From sharing insights and information to providing tools and support, our partnership will help you find practical steps to reduce your environmental impact and build a greener future for all.
The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and British Standards Institution (BSI) have partnered to help SMEs reduce their energy bills and cut carbon. BEIS is sponsoring 100,000 FREE downloads of the energy management standard, BS ISO 50005. The standard is designed to help SMES manage their energy performance, which is crucial to controlling energy bills and minimise carbon emissions. It simplifies the implementation of an energy management system, and gives organisations with limited resources the means to develop a practical, low-cost approach to energy management.
For further information on the standard, download the free guide here or download your free energy management standard here.
https://businessclimatehub.org/sme-climate-commitment/
Ambitious about playing your part to achieve Net Zero?
Click on the button below to book a free sustainability appointment with the EM3 Growth Hub’s Net Zero Support Service.
Net Zero Business Support Referral
How could your business make a difference?
Click on the link below to find out more on Coast to Capitals support programmes, events and information sources.
https://www.c2cbusiness.org.uk/125-net-zero—together-for-our-planet.html
They have lots of exciting events coming up – click on the link below to find out more.
https://www.zerocarbonguildford.org
Click here to learn why you should choose Zero
Community Solar Accelerator
Community Solar Accelerator Community Solar Accelerator is a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funded, SME support project, delivered by Brighton Energy Co-op.
The project aims to support the shift towards a low carbon economy in the Coast to Capital region and beyond, by promoting solar PV & electric vehicle charging use in SMEs. Community Solar Accelerator will enable SMEs to reduce CO2 emissions by match-funded grants of up to £25,000 towards either: Solar PV arrays Solar PV arrays & electric vehicle charging points Grants are available at up to 40% of total eligible costs and are paid once the work is done and paid for. Match funding of 60% of the project cost will come from the SME and loans, investments, savings and company reserves can be used. However, please note your time can’t be included as match funding. The Community Solar Accelerator programme will run until 30th June 2023.
Click on the button below or email CSAgrant@brightonenergy.org.uk.
Free environmental management courses from LOCASE
LoCASE doesn’t just offer greening grants to help Surrey SMEs save on energy costs and implement energy efficiency measures (grants are up to 40% of eligible costs and from £1k up to £10K). We also offer a selection of FREE courses. Our Steps to Environmental Management courses have been developed to provide training, tools and resources to business so you can design and implement your own environmental management system or plan. It will enable you to understand and calculate your business carbon footprint, make plans to address it and know what it will take to get to Net Zero. It will give you the tools for you to make informed decisions and prepare your business for the future.
The course set out in 3 blocks and with each block you get an accreditation recognised by Councils in the Southeast or other local organisations. The scheme has obtained supporting statements from both IEMA (Institute of environmental assessment) and the Carbon Trust.
Why should you join the courses:
- It’s free
- It’s online and easy to join
- No prior experience needed
- Tools provided
- Enabling you to design a bespoke, tailored environment plan for your business
- Lead by people with knowledge in environmental management
- Network opportunities
- Accreditation recognised by a range of local organisations when tendering for work
- Organisations report implementing energy-saving measures, often making financial savings
- More than 500 Southeast businesses have already completed at least one level of the course
To register for the Steps to Environmental Management courses click here.
Do You Want a FREE Energy Audit for your Business?
GEP are the approved partner for undertaking the free energy audits and we want to offer you the opportunity to have your energy efficiency and usage reviewed for free. The energy audit will take between 1 and 2 hours and require access to the site, including locations such as plant rooms and Building Management System control panels. It is useful to have a representative to guide the auditor, while risk assessments, including any site safety measures will be reviewed and issued prior to site visits.
Further information is available from the GEP Environmental or Greentech South or alternatively please do not hesitate to call on 01962 600205 or email info@gepenv.co.uk.
Course Profile – IEMA Certified Carbon Management
On the 19th May we celebrated the CREST22 Awards at The Living Planet Centre, Woking. CREST Sustainable Business Awards are Surrey’s only award uniquely aimed at recognising and celebrating business sustainability by enterprises and organisations. Surrey Chambers of Commerce, sponsors of the Sustainability Hero award were delighted to present the award and a week-long course with the University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability to Raj Kumari – Byford, Director at 1TCA. Congratulations also go to Simon Ferrar, Founder of Clandon Wood Nature Reserve and burial ground who won the Sustainability Impact award. Huge congratulations to all the winners and finalists!
The aim of the CREST Awards is to promote the positive work by businesses and organisations based in or operating in the county of Surrey UK, to protect the environment and promote more sustainable working and lifestyle habits. The awards seek to inspire and motivate innovation across the board in these areas.
https://crestawardssurrey.co.uk/crest-2022-awards/
CREST22 Business Awards Highlights – YouTube