Local businesses can find information here about grant funding, marketing and technical support to help them become more sustainable and benefit from being recognised as a green business.
Why consider sustainability?
- Sustainable businesses on average get more repeat sales.
- Businesses with multiple ESG accreditations have higher sales growth.
- Sustainable businesses are on average more profitable, with savings on energy costs, lower staff turnover, and average 3% higher margin from their supply chains.
- Sustainable businesses find it easier to hire and retain good people.
- Around 90% of SMEs think sustainability is important but only 20% have so far a net-zero target.
- Many SMEs that sell to large companies will soon need to provide ESG data.
Free carbon footprint for your business
You want to reduce your business's carbon emissions, but what's the first step? Experienced PeCAN volunteers are offering a free visit to estimate your business's carbon footprint, showing you at a glance where the problem areas are so you can start making a plan. A carbon footprint is also the first step towards gaining a Green South Downs Accreditation, a great way to show local customers your green credentials. Email us at [email protected] to book a free carbon footprint.
Green Business of the Year Award
We are delighted to share that at the end of October, St Peter's Vets won Green Business of the Year at Petersfield Awards. The award was well deserved, given the efforts St Peter's have been making to move their business in a greener direction. Medical businesses have a real sustainability challenge on their hands; our Petersfield veterinary practice is honest about this and also about what they have done and might be able to do in future.
PeCAN recognises the challenge going green can pose to businesses, and in order to help local businesses on this journey we are pleased to be able to offer a free carbon footprint analysis. Please email us if you are interested
https://www.petersfieldfest.com/petersfieldawards
The criteria for the award are:
- Environmental Impact: Measures the business's footprint and efforts to reduce energy, water, waste, and emissions.
- Sustainable Practices: Evaluates eco-friendly sourcing, circular economy initiatives, and reduced plastic usage.
- Innovation and Green Technologies: Considers adoption of renewable energy, energy-efficient equipment, and smart technologies.
- Social Responsibility: Assesses community engagement, diversity, fair labour practices, and social impact projects.
- Education and Awareness: Examines efforts to educate and raise awareness about environmental issues.
Details of last year's awards can be found here.
Grants for local businesses
- Petersfield Town Council offers grants of up to £3k for environmentally friendly shops in Petersfield town centre, either to help with the first years' business expenses or with a new green initiative at an existing business. Details of the grant policy and Application form.
- Energy Alton has grants of up to £1k available for small businesses in East Hampshire that have received a free energy survey from them.
- EHDC has collated details of some business support grants including grants available for installing EV charging points.
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler.
Free Energy Surveys for Small Businesses
Reduce your business' energy bills and cut emissions with a free energy survey from Energy Alton (and pre-qualify for a £1k grant - see above).
Energy Alton's trained volunteers will look at how a building could be improved to reduce heat loss and suggest a range of solutions, from draught proofing to insulation. The survey will also cover advice around heating systems, hot water appliances and lighting plus how ventilation could be upgraded to reduce the risk of damp and condensation. It is followed up with a written report which details all the ways in which energy costs can be reduced plus information on installers and funding.
Sustainable transport for your business
Go for Zero is a tool for SMEs thinking of buying an electric van, which allows you to compare ownership and running costs of e-van with your current vehicle. Go for Zero has been supported by InnovateUK to provide easy answers to help small businesses see the potential of switching to electric vehicles charged with clean energy.
Surrey County Council’s A3 Electric Vehicle grant scheme offers up to £10,000 grants to businesses driving on the A3 in Guildford to switch their diesel to a new fully electric van.
Green South Downs Accreditation
PeCAN are proud to be working in conjunction with the South Downs National Park to promote the Green South Downs Accreditation.
The scheme helps businesses within the South Downs National Park working in the visitor economy, food and drink or land-based sectors on their sustainability journey and get recognition for the work they are doing. The award is based on three key pillars: People, Place and Planet as well as reducing the environmental impact and resources used.
Participating businesses will be assessed by Green Tourism, and awarded a Bronze, Silver or Gold certification.
PeCAN can help you on your journey to getting this accreditation. We can work with you to calculate your current carbon footprint, and offer discounted rates for accredition for the first 5 businesses that sign up with us.
If you would like to find out more about what we can offer, please contact us.
Employee Benefits
When it comes to employees' holidays, Climate Perks might be worth exploring for your business. Climate Perks is a new employee benefit scheme in which climate-conscious employers enable staff to choose slower, cleaner, travel by giving them paid ‘journey days’ on top of annual leave. Find out more here.
Plastic packaging
From 1 October 2023, businesses can now be fined if they supply members of the public with:
- polystyrene containers for food and drink;
- plastic cutlery or balloon sticks;
- plastic plates, trays and bowls.
There are some exemptions, for example if you are supplying these to other businesses.
Links to other sources of help
- EHDC has a useful webpage and newsletter for local businesses interested in sustainability
- HCC has a team of advisers who offer free business support on marketing, finance and strategy. The contact is [email protected]. The support is available to assist with grant applications such as Innovate UK.
- FSB Small Business Sustainability Hub is regularly updated with the latest resources, tools and information to help your small business be more sustainable.
- UK Business Climate Hub empowering small and medium-sized enterprises to take climate action.
- Greater South East Net Zero Hub supports the development and financing of local net zero projects.
- Certified B Corps are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. The B Corp Community is a global movement of businesses that provide leadership by demonstrating their commitment to people and the planet. There are now over 5,000 B Corps in 84 countries and covering 157 industries.
- A business demonstrating outstanding sustainable development for more than two years can apply for The King’s Awards for Enterprise.