Carbon Literacy Course for SME Businesses
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises are at the heart of UK’s business providing innovation for the future, and the core of our current lifestyles. They may think that Climate Change will require them to do a lot of work, which will not help their day-to-day business. However, there are major new business opportunities in climate change. In addition, they may well find that customers will insist they have a “carbon-plan” to continue their commercial relationship. Thinking about climate change and how to avoid the use of oil and gas will also lead to significant savings in operating costs – and you can get grants through the local councils to help with some investments.
We have had great experience working with all sorts of companies of different sizes, so we will give relevant and practical help.
Why Carbon Literacy for SMEs?
Small to Medium-sized businesses face major challenges. Alongside the problems with inflation, recession and day-to-day business, they need to create a carbon-neutral business.
More and more customers will demand an assurance that suppliers are qualified to provide products and services which can be classified as “Carbon Neutral”. Investors will want assurances that their investments are “carbon-neutral”. They will do this because their ESG (environmental, social, and governance) strategy and policies demand social responsibility.
Take a look at this Dragons’ Den episode from BBC TV, and in particular Deborah Meaden’s questions, to get a flavour of the problems you might face if you do not know what the carbon footprint of your products are: (you can stop at 8 minutes: 21 seconds)
Your company also may need to report to the government on their status as a carbon-neutral organisation – including a calculation of their emissions, classified by Scope 1 (their own), Scope 2 (what they buy in) and Scope 3 (anything along their total supply chain).
However, there are major opportunities for businesses to take part in the revolution presented by the green economy. Using renewable energy can make major savings on costs. Changing products and services to make them more eco-friendly can be cost-saving (reuse/recycle/repair). Getting involved in the new technologies of air-source heat pumps, house retrofitting, electric vehicles and so on can expand business horizons. Eliminating waste across your supply chain will give your company a competitive edge.
Lastly, employees are becoming more sensitive to working for companies that are attuned to taking action on climate change, which can help gain and retain employees.
Carbon Literacy
The “Carbon Literacy Project” is an organisation based in Manchester which believes in helping people understand all the jargon, and the new thinking behind “Climate Change” to help everyone take the right action for them and the planet. They provide training material to trainers, like “Save Our Shropshire”, to deliver to organisations and people.
The core of their training is to provide certificates to individuals and organisations who complete the training or a training programme. This is done based on a simple assessment that forms part of the training that requires learners to pledge two activities on their return, that will turn the learning into action. It will give employees additional skills and give your company credibility.
They also grade organisations that engage in low-carbon activities regarding their knowledge and commitment. The grading goes from bronze to platinum. Save Our Shropshire has been accredited as a Platinum-level organisation.
The material produced by the Carbon Literacy Project has been extensively researched by reference to well-respected organisations like Manchester Metropolitan University and Centre for Alternative Technology so that you can get the best up-to-date advice and help in this complex area.
Click on the following button to find out more about the Carbon Literacy Project:
All of this support will enable you to assure customers, suppliers and investors that you know what you are talking about. You can also feel confident about talking with authority to others about things like “carbon footprints” and “Scope1,2,3” to help others follow your lead.
So far over 90,000 citizens have already been certified Carbon Literate and over 4,000 organisations have engaged with the Carbon Literacy Organisation in many different sectors.
What is in this course?
This course will give you and your company the knowledge and tools to get you started on a journey towards making your company fit for the future. No previous environmental understanding is needed. It will help you understand the jargon.
The course will equip everyone with the knowledge to address the risks and make the most of the opportunities climate change presents. It will suggest ways in which you can save costs, and provide resilience for your business.
It will help you engage your employees and communicate with others about the issues that matter today.
The course will encourage you to take practical actions which will support your Carbon Literacy assessment.
You will develop better relationships with customers, suppliers and investors founded on a carbon-neutral future.
We know you are busy people. Hence we engage participants in a fun, direct and interactive course, and after just one day we will leave you feeling more knowledgeable, empowered and inspired to take action as soon as you return to work. The course is delivered through PowerPoint, videos and breakout discussion groups to maximise the learning experience.
What will you learn?
By the end of the course, you will understand:
- The basic science, and why it is urgent to take action
- The risks to your business in Shropshire
- How to measure and report your impact on the planet (carbon footprint)
- Why customers might force you to create a business plan – or else!
- How to reduce your use of energy, and save money and the planet.
- How to reduce your travel and perhaps invest in electric vehicles
- How to improve your procurement and finance activities, to make them lower carbon
- Where to get funding
- How to get your employees to engage in better travel (bike to work?), energy and save you money
- How to communicate to others about climate change (don’t overwhelm)
- Know how to get a Carbon Literacy Project certificate.
Get information
Fill in the following form to get further information about the course from Save Our Shropshire:
