FOCUS FEATURE


Nottingham Community Transport has the world’s


largest double-decker fleet powered by biogas


More businesses are pivoting to the green economy


‘The message to SMEs is that any small business can do something in terms of their goods and services, as there is a market out there that’s only going to grow’


within the business but are actually selling environmental goods and services. “The message to SMEs is that any small business can do


something in terms of their goods and services, as there is a market out there that’s only going to grow – whether it’s for tissue paper made from properly-managed forests, insulation for the outside of a house or plant-based food products.” Only 4% of all respondents said they derived at least


four-fifths of their turnover from sustainable products and services, but there seems to be a clear pathway for specialists – with 13% of micro businesses, which have up to nine employees, in this bracket. Dr Paterson adds: “There’s important niches where you


can start or grow your business around green goods and services. Both individual consumers and, increasingly, corporates in the upstream demand side – such as councils and hospitals or companies like Boots and Rolls-Royce – want to demonstrate they’re doing their bit for the environment, so this market is only going to grow.”


FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR clean growth projects is available from Government, councils, local enterprise partnerships and numerous other organisations, but not everyone appears to know this.


PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS AND CLEAN GROWTH TRENDS FOR THE EAST MIDLANDS 2020


31% 19%


59% 35% 14% 40%


of businesses in the East Midlands are deriving turnover from low-carbon and pro-environmental goods and services (up from 16% in 2015)


derived 1-19% of their turnover from sustainable products and services (4% derive 20-49%; 3% derive 50-79%; and 4% derive 80-100%)


say their environmental strategy is strongly linked with their business strategy


are integrating clean growth into their business plan (19% proactively capitalising on opportunities and 16% in the process of developing plans)


had not considered clean growth opportunities at all (down from 36% in 2018) and 12% had explored these but did not consider them worth pursuing


do not feel well-informed about support for clean growth


(RESULTS BASED ON 406 RESPONSES TO THE EAST MIDLANDS CHAMBER QUARTERLY ECONOMIC SURVEY IN FEBRUARY 2020)


business network November 2020 55


Four in 10 businesses surveyed by the Chamber and


University of Derby said they did not feel well informed about the support available, with only 23% feeling well- informed. The impact of this is that 26% admitted they aren’t engaging in the sustainability agenda. Helen Taylor, founder and managing director of


Nottingham-based sustainable business consultancy Hosta Consulting, has helped to educate individuals in small businesses about carbon literacy in a sustainability and inclusive leadership course at Nottingham Trent University. She believes the most important consideration for


companies is to embed sustainability into a wider strategy, and using it as a means to unpick the business and save money or disrupt a market. “You need to think about your carbon cost in an


authentic way rather than sticking a badge on it,” she says. “What does your own supply chain look like? What do


you know about the materials you buy? Is there anything you can do to improve the efficiency of your office space or transport fleet? “Whatever you think you can do, it’s about having a


short, medium and long-term strategy for sustainability that fits into your overall strategy. “Then you can tell your customers what you’re doing and create a narrative around it.”


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