THE FIRST WORD


W


hether it’s turning the lights off when leaving the office, reducing paper usage or cycling to work, it’s possible we’re already engaged in the sustainability agenda without realising it.


Many people have asked me what exactly I meant when I said this edition of Business


Network would focus on sustainability. It’s an abstract word but, in practice, it’s not too difficult to see in action. Steff Wright, founder of Gusto Group and subject of this month’s big interview, had


environmental sustainability in mind when building eco-homes. But by finding his niche in a crowded market, he’s also built a sustainable business model,


while he’s now focusing on creating sustainable communities in his developments. Although Steff set out on this path early on as an entrepreneur, Lindhurst Engineering and


Roadgas are examples of businesses in traditional industries – engineering and transport – that have embraced sustainability further down the line. Lindhurst has created a “smart factory” and adapted its lorry fleet to save running costs,


while Roadgas embraced green fuels after recognising the direction of travel in its market. As Dr Fred Paterson, of Derby Business School, explains in our focus feature, engaging in


the sustainability agenda isn’t just the right thing to do but it makes business sense. Yet his research suggests there’s still a significant gap in knowledge among SMEs about the


support available. It’s in this context that the Chamber launches the Sustainable East Midlands campaign. There is an appetite in Westminster to “Build Back Greener” from the pandemic, while


corporate customers of our SMEs recognise greater consumer awareness of all things sustainable. At the Chamber, we’ll be exploring how to reduce our carbon footprint through employee


behaviour and management of our facilities, working towards being one of the first chambers of commerce to achieve an environmental accreditation. We urge our members to join us by taking advantage of the support we’ll be highlighting at


emc-dnl.co.uk/sustainability, and sending in your sustainability stories to be featured in a dedicated new Sustainable East Midlands page in this magazine.


Best wishes, Dan Robinson Editor, Business Network


CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2020


NEWS UPDATE 4 MEMBER NEWS No more fast fashion with digital supply chains


18 APPOINTMENTS Legal rising stars qualify at Roythornes


THE BIG INTERVIEW 20 Steff Wright, CEO of Gusto Group


23 PATRONS Addressing Brexit trading unknowns


26 CHAMBER NEWS HS2 East campaign’s letter backed by Chamber


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 42 Preparing for the future of EU trade


SUSTAINABLE EAST MIDLANDS 44 Chamber launches Sustainable East Midlands campaign


POLITICS


46 Exploring the future of how we live, work and move in the region


FEATURES


49 BUSINESS BANKING & FINANCE 12 critical questions for management in difficult times


52 Beyond Covid-19 - why it’s time to start thinking long term


54 FOCUS FEATURE Why engaging with the sustainability agenda makes business sense


59 COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING The power of communication in a post- lockdown world


60 Don’t waste money on your website


TRAINING & EVENTS 62 Unlocking the benefits of Chamber training for directors and senior managers


Editor Dan Robinson T: 07764 431028 E: dan.robinson@emc-dnl.co.uk


Contributor Jasmine Thompson


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BUSINESS SUPPORT 64 DIGITAL GROWTH Stay on top of search marketing


66 TECHNOLOGY What we can learn from the missed Covid-19 cases blunder


69 LEGAL Pandemic could lead to increase in will disputes


70 FINANCE Managing currency risk for complex supply chains


72 SKILLS Do you have the skills to weather a recession?


74 PROPERTY Chesterfield's vision for recovery gets underway


76 MOTORING The best electric cars


77 INFORMATION Communicating the green way to staff


COMMENT 78 THE LAST WORD Chamber president Dawn Edwards comments on the latest issues


business network November 2020 3


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