Climate change and business

To get yourself on track for net zero, take a methodical approach and:

• measuring your emissions so you can monitor your progress
• setting targets to demonstrate your commitment - this could be "to reach net zero by as close to 2030 as possible"
• examining your current situation and practices to find opportunities to be more sustainable
• developing an action plan to meet your pledge - you could include some suggestions from this page

Useful resources

• SME Climate Hub emissions calculator - best for smaller businesses
• GHG Protocol Calculation Tools - for larger businesses, this is an international standard incorporated into the SME calculator
• Business Climate Hub’s Get to Net Zero tool and SME Climate Commitment page, where you can sign up to net zero targets

To improve the energy efficiency of your buildings and equipment, you could:

• retrofit insulation
• make your lighting motion-sensitive and install LED bulbs
• move to lower-carbon heating systems such as a combined heat and power system or a heat pump
• generate your own electricity by installing solar panels
• construct new buildings to high energy standards such as the Bre Trust's BREEAM ratings

Heat pumps will save you money if you have an older, less efficient heating system. This may not be the case if you have a modern gas boiler. Heat pumps are more efficient than boilers, but gas is much cheaper than electricity. Make sure you understand the financial implications before purchasing.

Useful resources

• the BSI offers a free energy management standard to help you reduce your energy costs
• The Energy Saving Trust provides guidance on how businesses can reduce their energy use, including a detailed guide on workplace energy efficiency and a greener heating guide
• The Carbon Trust provides a wide range of useful guides including for different sectors such as offices, retail, manufacturing and hospitality
• Ofgem offers a guide to funding and implementing energy efficiency improvements, and advice if your business is struggling to pay its energy bills

To reduce emissions associated with your fleet, business travel and staff commuting, you could:

• move your fleet to electric vehicles and install chargers in your car park - you may be able to get the cost of this partially or fully funded (see our funding finder below)
• encourage staff to use active means of travel such as walking, cycling or public transport
• allow home or flexible working to reduce the need for staff to commute
• offer workplace benefits which support environmentally-friendly travel, such as a cycle to work scheme, rail season ticket loans or electric vehicle leasing

Useful resources

• Cycling UK offers guides for employers on supporting cycling and a cycle friendly employer self-assessment
• the Energy Saving Trust has a transport advice for businesses hub with a lot of useful information
• the MyJourney website can help your employees plan active journeys and use public transport around Bracknell Forest
• Sustrans offers advice on changing the way your staff travel to work

Encourage staff and customers to save energy and behave in a more environmentally friendly way by:

• turning off lights, taps and equipment when not in use
• choosing re-usable products and more sustainable food options
• using the products you sell in the most sustainable way and disposing of them correctly

Useful resources

• the Energy Saving Trust offers resources to engage your employees around saving energy, including posters, a checklist and a guide
• our everyday behaviour change tips to help your staff and customers get some quick wins

Buying sustainable products, reducing your consumption and recycling waste will help reduce your emissions.

To make this easier, you could:

• sign up to a recycling programme, such as Terracycle - you can recycle specific things like stationery or snack containers
• provide plastic and food recycling bins for staff
• make a plastic free pledge and commit to reducing single use plastic in your organisation
• consider sustainability when making purchases, for example using sustainable procurement requirements

Useful resources

• the Federation of Small Businesses has a guide to reducing waste
• the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply has an introduction to sustainable procurement and advice for applying sustainable procurement

If you are looking to retrofit energy efficiency of green heating measures:

• the Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides £7,500 towards a heat pump or £5,000 towards a biomass boiler - you will need to claim the cost through your installer
• you can claim capital allowances on some green measures such as new heating and lighting systems
• your energy supplier may offer support in some circumstances, contact them to find out

Heat pumps will save you money if you have an older, less efficient heating system. This may not be the case if you have a modern gas boiler. Heat pumps are more efficient than boilers, but gas is much cheaper than electricity. Make sure you understand the financial implications before purchasing.

If you are looking to purchase electric vehicles and install charge points:

• you can claim capital allowances on a range of green equipment - these could include:
  • electric or zero emissions vehicles
  • equipment for electric vehicle charging points
  • equipment for hydrogen refuelling
• the plug-in grant reduces the cost of some low emission vehicles - the seller will automatically apply the discount to the purchase price
• the Workplace Charging Scheme can cover up to 75% of the cost of installing charge points in your car parks

For businesses based in the Bracknell Business Improvement District (BID), the BID EV Chargepoint Grant can cover the remaining 25% (up to £240 for 2 charge points).

If you are looking to support staff to use active travel or public transport:

• the Eco Rewards scheme will give your staff discounts and cash-backs if they use active travel to get around the borough
• single bus journeys are capped at £2 until December 2024
• the cycle to work scheme lets staff purchase bikes through their employer without needing to pay tax or national insurance on them
• we offer periodic bike training and repair sessions – follow our social media channels for event information

If you are looking to innovate and expand into the green economy:

• regularly check the government’s fund finding tool to keep up to date with funding for greener energy as it becomes available
• Horizon Europe offers funding for organisations to help respond to climate change, including specific support for SMEs
• Innovate UK supports business-led innovation and offer grants to projects tackling climate change

You can also find general funding support from:

• marketplace sites like the Green Economy Marketplace - they can help you find and compare providers for a wide variety of green products and services
• banks including Lloyds and Barclays - they offer loans and financing to businesses to help them transition to net zero, and you may benefit from a lower interest rate
• the Berkshire Growth Hub offers support for businesses including 1-2-1 support sessions, as well as a wide range of general resources

The following webinars are a good place to get a quick overview:

• Carbon Trust - Introductory Webinar: Net Zero for Businesses
• Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce - Building on Foundations and Strengthening Action for Your Company's Pathway to Net Zero

If you’d prefer to complete an online course in your own time, consider the following:

• Climate Fit is a free online training course specifically developed for UK SMEs
• The United Nations Climate Change division offers a variety of online courses focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation

If you’re short on time, try one of the podcast's below to pick up some tips:

• SustainCERT - How to Net Zero
• Mckinsey and Company - The First Steps to Net Zero

Carbon Literacy training will give you a broad understanding of climate change. It will help you understand how to reduce emissions, both as an individual and at an organisational level.

Training is offered by a range of providers and most sessions carry a small charge.

The providers below offer training on a range of topics, some charge a small fee:

• The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment 
• Green Element
• Enviro Consultants UK

Green Skills Bootcamps provide industry-relevant skills in the green economy. They are free for individuals, including if you are self-employed, and subsidised for SMEs. If you are an SME, you will generally need to cover up to 30% of the cost. You can find courses on the South East Skills Bootcamp list under the Green Skills section.