Nottingham Trent University can help SMEs with net zero challenge

Sustainability is increasingly becoming a daily consideration in our personal lives. Are the products I’m buying reusable? Has my fruit and veg been locally sourced? Does this go in my recycling bin or not? But how do we carry this through to our lives at work? What can we do to ensure we as individuals help reduce carbon emissions associated with our jobs?
Ad Feature by Nottingham Trent University
Published 24th Jan 2022, 05:00 BST
Could your business use some help in showing its carbon credentials? Support available through the Sustainability in Enterprise project.Could your business use some help in showing its carbon credentials? Support available through the Sustainability in Enterprise project.
Could your business use some help in showing its carbon credentials? Support available through the Sustainability in Enterprise project.

The need to act sustainably will only increase. The UK has made a commitment to reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the scale of this challenge requires efforts from every part of society, in every sphere of life. For businesses and organisations of all shapes and sizes, this really means a transformation of the way they operate. Within that group, small business accounts for an estimated 50% of business-driven carbon emissions, and so they are vital in that effort.

Net zero challenge for SMEs

So many of us work within small and medium-sized businesses, and those that do will already be seeing more demand for sustainable practice from customers, suppliers, and even financial institutions. They may be pushing for change themselves, as employees are often the biggest driver for change and increasingly check their employer’s sustainability credentials before accepting a job.

Help your staff become cheerleaders for sustainability in the workplace - SMEs urged to find out more about the Sustainability in Enterprise projectHelp your staff become cheerleaders for sustainability in the workplace - SMEs urged to find out more about the Sustainability in Enterprise project
Help your staff become cheerleaders for sustainability in the workplace - SMEs urged to find out more about the Sustainability in Enterprise project

The demands are becoming more sophisticated as we collectively get to grips with the Net Zero transition. Increasingly, businesses are required to publish their carbon emissions and sustainable credentials, and evidence any green claims. The tipping point between nice-to-do and need-to-do has been reached.

There is a strong commitment in small business to act, and some real progress has been made. However, most small businesses are at an early stage of the transition to Net Zero, facing the triple-edged barriers around lack of time, money, and relevant expertise.

Bridging the gap to support business

Nottingham Trent University is helping to bridge this gap by working with small and medium-size businesses to provide expertise and funding to become more sustainable. Through the Sustainability in Enterprise project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), employers can access free sustainability consultancy around their carbon footprint for their business operations, their building, or their products.

Nottinghamshire Trent University supporting businesses to recruit graduates and develop the next generation of sustainability advocatesNottinghamshire Trent University supporting businesses to recruit graduates and develop the next generation of sustainability advocates
Nottinghamshire Trent University supporting businesses to recruit graduates and develop the next generation of sustainability advocates

To really progress, responsibility for sustainability needs to be shared by all staff.

Access grants and training

To help drive this, the University is offering small and medium-sized businesses the opportunity to employ a recent graduate with a sustainability focus, supported by a grant of up to £6,000 to hire a recent graduate and embed a sustainability target into their role.

NTU is also running carbon literacy training for all employees, and a sustainability programme for early career employees where they can learn from like-minded peers to develop their sustainability advocacy skills.

Please help us collectively succeed by sharing this information with decision makers in small and medium size businesses

To find out more about the support available through the Sustainability in Enterprise project, visit the website.

To get in touch can fill out a quick enquiry form here, email the team at [email protected], or call them on 0115 848 2497.

Related topics:Nottingham Trent UniversitySustainabilitySMEs