The magnitude of the climate problem necessitates a profound restructuring of society and commercial activity toward sustainability. For example, the UK has set a net-zero objective of 2050, while Greater Manchester aims to become a net-zero territory as soon as 2038. Whilst large businesses have the capacity to hire dedicated sustainability professionals to help guide them in this transition, SMEs are often left behind. This lack of support can be viewed as a major barrier to such aspirational targets, particularly when one considers that SMEs represent 99.9% of the UK business population.

For small businesses looking to tackle sustainability issues for the first time may seem daunting however, developing net-zero action strategies is no different from delivering any other long-term strategic vision. Below, Dr Graeme Heyes lists important tips that can help your organisation move towards net-zero, avoiding the risks posed by this growing movement, whilst helping to contribute to making the world a better place.

There are many reasons why you might need to think about making your business more sustainable. Perhaps fossil fuels are becoming too expensive. Perhaps someone further up the supply chain wants to switch to a greener supplier. Or perhaps it’s simply a desire to do some good in the world. But there’s one big question facing many SMEs. Where do we start?

That’s the question Enterprise Fellow, Dr Graeme Heyes, and his team on the ECO-I North West programme are here to help with.

The programme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by six universities across the region. It’s a unique opportunity to access experts in sustainability, develop new products and services, and create an action plan that will help your business adapt to a more sustainable future.

Discover your business’s place in a sustainable society

The ECO-I North West programme at Manchester Metropolitan University starts with context. What is climate change? Why is it relevant to your business? Why is it important to act now?

“We’ll think about what a sustainable world looks like. And that includes more than just the environment – sustainability also means cleaner air, safer streets, and a healthier and happier society.”

Dr Graeme Heyes

You’ll take your utopian vision of what the world might become and figure out what your business needs to look like to succeed in that future. The action plan you’ll develop on the programme will set out the steps you need to take to survive.

Time to rethink business for good
At current rates of emissions, there are very few years left before the target of under 2°C warming is unachievable. New, tougher regulations are almost guaranteed to happen. In fact, the Manchester region has already set out its goal to reach net zero by 2038.

Business as we know it will have to change. And that will take some serious strategic planning.

It’s usually big businesses that are good at developing strategies and thinking long term. They have staff with MBAs, teams dedicated to researching and writing, and access to networks of consultants and specialists. But there’s no reason why SMEs can’t be good at it too.

An action plan is essential to help you shift your focus from the day-to-day to the bigger issues you need to overcome to survive the climate emergency. What worked before probably won’t work in the future, so now is the time to start planning for net zero.

“We had a packaging business on the programme who saw that their mission needs to change to ‘eradicate all packaging’. That was a powerful and emotive realisation.”

Set your direction and find your path

If you join the ECO-I North West programme, you’ll look at your business model and determine your carbon impact. Then, together, we’ll think creatively about what you can do differently. You’ll set those ideas out on a pathway to make clear where you are today, what your destination is, and the route you will take.

Businesses on the programme soon realise the power of small actions. When you break down your strategy into small changes, you’ll realise that the process of decarbonising isn’t as difficult as you might think. Then, when you’ve had some initial success, you can start to take on bigger initiatives that will have a longer-term impact.

Open up specialist expertise
The strategy side of the programme is just phase 1. In phase 2, businesses have the opportunity to start implementing ideas to reduce emissions.

We’ll search across the university for people with the expertise to solve specific challenges. That could be a researcher of hydrogen fuel, or a technician for 3D printing. Your business can partner with these experts to develop new solutions for a more sustainable future.

These sorts of partnerships could lead to a long-term relationship between your business and Manchester Metropolitan University. You could link up with students to offer placements and search for graduate employees. You could get involved with PhD projects to discover what innovations might come out of them. You could take part in knowledge-transfer partnerships to tap into expertise which you can leverage in your organisation.

Register your interest

https://www.mmu.ac.uk/business-school/business/sme-support/eco-i-north-west/