Sustainability in Enterprise
Learn about our Sustainability in Enterprise project, that helped small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Greater Nottingham on their journey to Net Zero.
Between 2021 and 2023, Sustainability in Enterprise supported over 200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Greater Nottingham on their journey to Net Zero, reducing annual carbon emissions by almost 1,000 tonnes.
Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), we helped businesses fully understand their current carbon emissions and identify effective carbon reduction measures. Hear more about the support we delivered and the businesses we worked with below.
Examples of the support we've delivered
Environmental and Carbon Consultancy
56 businesses provided with baseline carbon footprints and detailed, practical carbon reduction recommendations with carbon emission reduction, cost savings and payback periods calculated. This included a 15-hour consultancy package and site visit from NTU's Sustainability Consultants.
Hear from a business we supported
Product Design Consultancy
14 bespoke product design consultancies, provided by NTU's Design Matter group, to reduce carbon, including product/packaging life cycle analysis, practical design concepts, material recommendations, and data for prototype production. This included 50 – 200-hour consultancy packages depending on the complexity of the brief.
Hear from a business we supported
Student Carbon Consultancy
Supported by qualified sustainability academics, 51 student consultancy groups from Nottingham Business School gave 43 businesses carbon management insights to help them become more sustainable. The consultancy package included a site visit and presentation of the report.
Hear from a business we supported
Student Retrofit and Product Design Consultancy
220 students, from the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, provided 20 businesses with retrofit and product design insights to support decarbonisation. The consultancy package included a site visit and presentation of the report.
Hear from a business we supported
Carbon Management Programme
Participants from 52 businesses learnt how to measure and reduce their carbon footprint, set carbon reduction targets, and develop an implementation plan. Support included 10 cohorts of 4 half day workshops, with additional 1-2-1 support.
Hear from a business we supported
Sustainability Community Lab
77 early career professionals gained the tools, knowledge, and peer support to improve sustainable practices within their enterprise. Support included six half-day workshops over eight weeks, including talks from guest business speakers.
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Carbon Grants
31 businesses awarded carbon grants to fund 40% of the cost of implementing carbon reduction actions. £260,000 of ERDF grant supported businesses to invest £360,000 in their own decarbonisation.
Hear from a business we supported
Talent Grants
20% of the salary of 88 new graduate roles were supported via the SiE Talent Grant. £315,000 of ERDF grant supported SMEs to embed sustainability KPIs into these new roles.
Hear from a business we supported
Sustainability in Enterprise success stories
View our full collection of written and video case studies and hear directly from the businesses driving change to reduce carbon emissions.
View our impact report
Browse or download our report to read more about the support delivered through Sustainability in Enterprise, how it impacted local SMEs and what's next for businesses working towards Net Zero.
Staying connected
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The SiE project supported SMEs to make the SME Climate Hub pledge. You may also wish to read the Sustainability in Enterprise project privacy notice.