Stevenage Borough Council is committed to fostering a sustainable future by actively engaging with local businesses. Through knowledge-sharing and hands-on support, we aim to help businesses become more sustainable, reduce their carbon footprint, adapt to climate change, and seize emerging opportunities in the green economy.
BU1Promote corporate sustainability for local businesses
Progress
On time
- Discussion
- Not started
- Initial scoping
- Planning stage
- Underway
- Continuous
Description
Encouraging local businesses to embrace sustainability is crucial for tackling climate change. By adopting energy-efficient processes, waste reduction initiatives, and responsible sourcing practices, businesses not only contribute to mitigating climate change impacts and a healthier environment, but also enhance their resilience and competitiveness. A strong commitment to sustainability fosters a culture of environmental consciousness that extends beyond the workplace, influencing customer choices, community behaviours, and driving long-term economic growth. This initiative aims to:
- Share Knowledge: Equip businesses with up-to-date information, best practices, and expert guidance on sustainability.
- Support Carbon Footprint Reduction: Assist businesses in identifying and implementing effective strategies to lower their Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
- Adapt to Climate Change: Help businesses develop resilience against the impacts of climate change.
- Explore Green Opportunities: Encourage businesses to seek out and capitalise on opportunities within the green economy.
By working together, the Council aims to create a thriving, low-carbon business community that benefits both the environment and the local economy.
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Tasks
What are we doing?
- 03/2025
Explore green leases for Council's commercial tenants
- 03/2025
Wenta's Action Zero Programme: Net-zero support for SMEs
Since 2022, the Council has funded 200 Gold Memberships for Wenta's Action Zero Programme, its net zero support service that help Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to better understand the risks and opportunities related to climate change and net zero targets. The service includes evaluation of carbon footprint, setting reduction targets, developing carbon reduction plans, monitoring and reporting progress. Along with the support and guidance, SME's could also obtain environmental accreditation to demonstrate their commitment to climate action and net-zero.
Find out more: Wenta Action Zero Programme.
What has been done?
- 06/02/2024
Create a webpage on sustainable business practice
Publish a webpage on sustainable business practice which includes advice on embedding these practices into businesses. The webpage can be viewed here: Sustainable Business Practice
- 31/03/2023
Sustainability support through Community Renewal Funding programme
In partnership with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to secured funding from central government from the Community Renewal Fund. Part of the fund is used to support micro businesses and voluntary organisations by hosting sustainability planning workshops to identify cost savings and provide an opportunity for networking. The aim of the programme is to help micro businesses and voluntary organisations to achieve ISO environmental accreditations that might allow them to work with wider supply chain.
Find out more: Hertfordshire's partnership succeeds in wealth building bid.
- 15/03/2022
Grow through Sustainability Conference 2022
Experts in their field explain how to make your business greener and increase your productivity, all the while working towards net carbon goals to increase your sustainability and competitiveness.
Find out more: Grow through Sustainability Conference.
Summary and contacts
Timeline
Continuous
Responsible organisations
Portfolio Holder
Strategic Themes
Engagement type
Information updated 30/01/2025
Our Property and Estates department is currently undertaking a project relating to "greener leases" for all our commercial tenants. The project involves reviewing green initiatives already undertaken by us for commercial tenants as well as exploring new opportunities. The project aims to develop new procedures and incentives to encourage “greener leases” without being too restrictive to existing or future commercial leaseholders.
Find out more: Green Leases