“Green is Good” primed to boost business growth across Hampshire and Surrey

Enterprise M3 LEP has teamed up with sustainable strategy consultancy Accelar, sustainable marketing agency Avery & Brown and experts at the University of Surrey to support businesses across Hampshire and Surrey to grow better, and greener, for a sustainable future.  

With climate change now visibly impacting economies here and abroad, the Green is Good programme is supporting businesses to understand the role they can play in helping to meet the UK's net zero 2050 target and maximize the business benefits arising from cost reduction, and improved supply chain resilience, to increased market share and investor value.

Chris Fry, Managing Director at Accelar, said: “With 99% of businesses in the UK being SMEs it is critical that companies of all sizes and sectors are able to seize the opportunities associated with the green transition. But we understand the challenges of finding the time, knowledge and funding to turn a dynamic array of opportunities into business action. The Green is Good programme is offering clear and pragmatic solutions to businesses. What is really encouraging is how many great examples of businesses there are in the region that are walking the net zero talk that other businesses can learn from.”

The Green is Good programme is made up of four elements:

• a series of webinars, facilitated by Accelar, that take SMEs through the first steps of the net zero business journey, the opportunity to future proof your business through net zero and embedding net zero into your business strategy and culture.  All the webinars feature case studies of local businesses that are on their net zero journey, namely MRT Castings, Kebur Garden Materials and Lionel Hitchen. The final webinar will take place 10.00 – 11.30 on Wednesday 31 January, please register here.

• a full day, in person net zero/sustainability masterclass facilitated by the University of Surrey, Centre for Environment and Sustainability in late March. The masterclass will be an opportunity to explore this topic, through a mix of mini seminars and interactive sessions, at a deeper level alongside a group of local experts and business peers. The masterclass ‘community’ will have the opportunity to continue meet, collaborate and transition into a pool of green business champions for Hampshire and Surrey.  Contact Professor Richard Murphy for further details.

• a policy briefing, which takes stock of the great work that’s happening across Hampshire and Surrey and how partners can make further progress and impact in this crucial space. Accelar and Avery & Brown are co-delivering this thought leadership element of the Green is Good programme, building on Avery & Brown’s pioneering Regenerative Business Mind Map.  

• Video content to be featured on SkyTV, showcasing a sample of local businesses on their net zero journey.

Enterprise M3’s Head of Policy and Intelligence, Sajid Butt, said: "We need the right interventions to place our vital SME base at the heart of the green transition for them to maximise the opportunities this brings. Sustainability is a core pillar to driving economic growth.

"Our Green is Good programme, which stems from our High Growth, Low Carbon vision, highlights the importance of that and examples of how to make it happen. We encourage relevant partners to participate and continue this effort going forward.”

To find out more about the Green is Good programme, please contact sajid.butt@enterprisem3.org.uk

Supporting information

Accelar is a strategy and sustainability consultancy, headquartered in north Hampshire, and our purpose is to accelerate the green transition. We help companies, public and third sector clients to grasp the opportunities associated with green finance and sustainable infrastructure and the built environment. For further information please visit www.accelar.co.uk   

Avery & Brown is a sustainable marketing agency, based in Surrey, focusing on ethical brand building, research and insights and strategic solutions. For further information please visit www.averyandbrown.com

The Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES) is an internationally-acclaimed centre of excellence on sustainable development. For further information please visit www.surrey.ac.uk/centre-environment-sustainability