The Green Blueprint: UK's climate hub for businesses

British enterprises now have a go-to resource in the UK Business Climate Hub, designed to help them both reduce their energy expenses and diminish carbon emissions.

The newly launched hub, as of 14 August 2023, includes a carbon calculator alongside an array of tools assisting businesses in monitoring and reporting their emissions, ensuring both environmental responsibility and fiscal savings.

This comprehensive guidance spans topics like green procurement, emission curtailment in logistics, and efficient deployment of solar panels and EV chargers.

Practical benefits include:

Transitioning to EVs can trim down running costs and drop servicing expenses by roughly 40% in comparison to traditional vehicles.
By simply switching to LED bulbs, businesses can cut up to 40% from their lighting costs.
Offering drivers efficiency-focused training can conserve up to 15% on fuel and emissions during goods transportation.

The platform:

Aims to guide Britain’s 5.5 million SMEs towards cost-effective, eco-friendly practices.
Advises on a spectrum of topics, from cost-saving on electric vehicles (EVs) to green energy production and its profitable sale back to the grid.
Responds to the Net Zero Council's call for businesses across the UK, from Aberystwyth to Aberdeen, to establish net-zero plans by sector.

This initiative is particularly tailored for the 5.5 million SMEs in the UK, considering they account for about 25% of emissions. Surveys reveal that while 90% of these SMEs are eager to combat climate change, initiating steps towards tangible solutions is a challenge. Furthermore, an eco-conscious image can be economically beneficial, with 85% of consumers showing preference for sustainable businesses.

Graham Stuart, the Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, lauded the UK's strides in emission reduction and stressed the hub's pivotal role as a comprehensive guide for businesses on their journey towards sustainability and energy efficiency.

The UK Business Climate Hub offers exhaustive support, from transitioning employees to greener commutes, assisting in obtaining green loans, to providing guidance on reducing agricultural emissions, waste management, and acquiring credible carbon offsets.

Martin McTague, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, expressed his support for the hub, emphasizing the potential for SMEs to benefit economically from the transition to net zero.

Endorsed by eminent business figures and ministers of the Net Zero Council, the hub aligns with their call for nationwide, concerted action towards emission reduction. Sector-specific roadmaps, crafted with the input of CEOs from renowned companies such as Co-op, HSBC, Siemens, and Cemex, aim to provide clear, tailored action plans for industry-wide decarbonisation.

Co-op Group Chief Executive and Co-Chair of the Net Zero Council, Shirine Khoury-Haq, emphasised collective action as pivotal for achieving net-zero targets. She expressed hopes for the hub to be an invaluable asset for business leaders.

The UK's dedication to green practices is evident. As of 2020, there were over 400,000 jobs in low-carbon sectors, generating £41.6 billion in turnover. Thanks to post-2020 government initiatives, the green job landscape is set to burgeon, potentially nearing half a million by 2030.