Looking to make your business more sustainable? Discover local support, practical guidance, funding opportunities, networking groups and resources to help your organisation reduce costs, cut carbon emissions and build a more resilient future.
Local guidance and toolkits
If you're a business based in the borough, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council offers a comprehensive sustainability toolkit tailored to organisations of all sizes. The Basingstoke Green team can visit your business to carry out a review and provide practical advice on how to reduce carbon emissions and operate more sustainably.
Having a Green Team advisor on-site to support and help guide us on our mission for improving our environmental impact and long-term sustainability was extremely valuable. Having expert support in this area was greatly appreciated and thoroughly worthwhile.
Ryan Cox, LG Motion
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has a number of tips on their website. It runs a Sustainability Action Network and the Hampshire’s Green Potential event.
The Basingstoke Business for Good Verification is a locally run practical and accessible verification process that helps guide businesses towards making positive impacts on people, the planet and the community. It is a step on the journey towards becoming ISO14001 or B Corp Certified that provides an impact at a local level.
Connect and learn
Looking to learn from others and share ideas? The North Hampshire Sustainable Business Network is a collaborative initiative led by local businesses, authorities, and the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce. It offers free half-day workshops and expert resources specifically designed for small to medium-sized enterprises.
For a networking event with sustainability at its core take a look at People, Planet, Pint. This is an informal meet up for those working, and interested in the net zero, B Corp and environmental space. Find the next Basingstoke event here.
Additional resources to explore
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) offers sustainability resources and guidance to help small businesses thrive while reducing their environmental impact.
The Environment Centre (tEC) is a one-stop shop for environmental information in the south of England, offering practical support for businesses, schools, community groups and individuals.
The UK Business Climate Hub is a national initiative backed by the UK government and business groups, helping SMEs take climate action. It’s also the UK partner of the global SME Climate Hub.
The Sustainable Business Partnership helps businesses embed sustainability using frameworks like ISO 14001, net zero and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They also specialise in turning ESG data into meaningful communications for stakeholders, customers and communities.
If you are looking for ideas to reduce your plastic waste then the Plastic Free July website is a good place to start.
Funding
We have a page dedicated to funding for sustainability and net zero initiatives. Take a read here.
Staff engagement
Getting employees on board can make sustainability initiatives far more effective by sharing responsibility across the organisation and ensuring everyone is working towards the same goals. Raising awareness, providing training and celebrating successes can help embed sustainable practices into everyday workplace culture. Some things you could consider include:
- Creating a Green Champions network
- Running energy-saving campaigns
- Promoting sustainable travel to work in the forms of walking, cycling or public transport
- Introducing cycle-to-work schemes
- Organising litter picks or volunteering days
- Sharing sustainability tips and achievements through internal communications
- Including sustainability objectives within team plans
Why sustainability matters for your business
Putting your green commitments at the heart of your strategic business plans and incorporating them into your objectives brings real benefits, from financial savings to enhanced reputation and long-term resilience. As energy costs continue to be a key consideration for many organisations, taking steps to improve sustainability can help reduce overheads and increase efficiency. It also supports wider local ambitions to reduce carbon emissions and create a more sustainable future for Basingstoke and Deane. With customers, employees and supply chains increasingly expecting businesses to demonstrate their environmental credentials, taking action now can help your organisation remain competitive, attract talent and build lasting value.
If you are wondering where to start book a business review with the Green Team.
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