This event was the latest in Buckinghamshire Business First’s series of MPs Briefings where we gather local businesses and MPs together to discuss challenges and opportunities on key topics. In doing so, we ensure that the business voice is heard by the people who can bring about positive change within government.

The future is green, the future is now

The timing of our Spotlight on Net Zero event could not have been more appropriate, coming the day after the government unveiled its plan for the future of energy in the UK with its ‘Powering Up Britain – Delivering Energy Security and Net Zero’ document.

While the debate over the details of those plans continues, we can look back at a great event that was all about looking forwards into a greener future, led by Buckinghamshire businesses.

The event was hosted by GRIDSERVE, the tech-enabled sustainable energy business based in Iver, whose CEO Toddington Harper offered a warm welcome to those in the room.

Joining businesses from Joy Morrissey’s Beaconsfield constituency at the roundtable were representatives from Buckinghamshire Business First, Buckinghamshire LEP and Buckinghamshire Council. These and other local stakeholders are working with our local businesses to drive our whole county towards Net Zero.

Bucks Business First recognised as leader of business drive to Net Zero

A recent review of Buckinghamshire’s green economy has identified Buckinghamshire Business First as a “significant and valuable asset” that is “playing an exceptionally strong role” in engaging and supporting the business community in Buckinghamshire to realise the opportunities of a green economy.

The audit of Buckinghamshire’s green economy was carried out for Buckinghamshire LEP by WPI Economics, who have previously estimated that, if a net zero pathway is followed, the growth in the green economy over the next 10 years will be double that of the digital sector between 2009-2019 (8% per year versus 4%).

The context – why businesses need help

The situation is dire for many businesses:

• Energy bills are at record highs
• An average 3.5x rise to rates since January 2021
• Winter 2022 is only just hitting businesses
• Delayed impact to many businesses on a Fixed Term Contract
• Business energy support will reduce beyond March, except for Discount Relief Scheme
• Those who utilise energy for delivery of goods are more exposed (e.g. manufacturers)
• Growth across all sectors, in turn, suffers

An increasing number of businesses are failing to pay energy bills.

According to the Office for National Statistics, in August 2022:

• 20% of SMEs identified their main concern as energy prices
• This rises to 30% for small businesses

In a Chamber of Commerce Survey of SMEs in November 2022:

• 60% of SMEs said they believe they will struggle to pay beyond March 2023, even with government support
• 4% stated they will not be able to pay bills at all. With 5.5 million SMEs nationally, this equates to 220,000 businesses across the UK.

Reasons for optimism in Buckinghamshire

Given all of this, you could be forgiven for thinking that the mood in the room at the Spotlight on Net Zero roundtable event was gloomy – but the palpable optimism and determination on show was typical of a gathering of Buckinghamshire businesses, who we at Buckinghamshire Business First have routinely found to recognise and take responsibility for their own obligations to the environment.

Businesses have a strong and increasing demand for renewable energy, recognising the financial and environmental benefits they hold.

Nowhere is this demand and drive towards greener energy clearer than the hosts of the roundtable, GRIDSERVE, who are responsible for the upgrading of 60% of the motorway infrastructure in the UK. Their disruptive approach to the status quo, such as the rollout of their Electric Forecourts®, is a prime example of innovation leading to new opportunities.

And their ‘sun-to-wheel’ solar power concept is, in their words, “an energy ecosystem that doesn’t just consider how energy is created, but where that energy is deployed to maximise its impact in moving the needle on climate change.” Learn more about how GRIDSERVE are innovating with solar energy to keep electric vehicles moving.

Game-changing projects with support for your business

Speaking of solar panels, they are just one type of activity that can be funded by a Low Carbon Workspaces grant. The project has distributed over £8 million to 3,600 businesses since 2009, saving more than 14,000 tonnes of CO2e per year.

As explained at the event by Daniel Cope, Climate Change Programme Manager at Buckinghamshire Business First, our projects such as Low Carbon Workspaces, Net Zero Bucks and Net Zero MK collectively provide businesses with:

• Access to carbon calculators
• Strategies to achieve net zero
• Advice to reduce energy costs and emissions
• Funding to support purchase of low carbon technologies
• Upskilling opportunities to recognise future environmental business opportunities
• Entry to the Net Zero Collaboration Circle
• Online resources via the BBF website
• Workshops and networking opportunities

This support should not be taken for granted – we need to fight for its future

Responding to the audit of Buckinghamshire’s green economy, Buckinghamshire Business First Managing Director Philippa Batting said:

“In survey work undertaken, stakeholders were unanimous in their praise for the strategic and supportive leadership and green economic vision of Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF) in particular.

“Our Low Carbon Workspaces grant was highlighted as valuable by a number of participants. More broadly, it was seen as extremely helpful to have a single body that was able to reach such a broad swathe of the Bucks business population. In the words of one stakeholder, “we would not be aware of the many green opportunities available to us without BBF”.

“The report goes on to express concern over long term support for BBF and some of its key programmes, such as the Low Carbon Workspaces programme particularly. The report recommends that local Bucks institutions (e.g. Bucks LEP and Bucks Council) work with national government to ensure continued funding for key programmes such as the Low Carbon Workspaces programme through the transition from European funding to the locally controlled Shared Prosperity Fund.

“This report is a powerful advocate of the benefit of Buckinghamshire Business First and the programmes we have run for the Green Economy in Buckinghamshire and it hopefully acts as the evidence base for the need for future funding towards our infrastructure to ensure we can continue with this work.”

Tree planting is central to local green vision

Buckinghamshire Council’s work includes its Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy which aims to reduce the county’s carbon emissions by 75% by 2030 and achieving Net Zero status by 2050. Part of this strategy is its Bucks Tree Mission, which aims to plant over 543,000 in Buckinghamshire over the next nine years. Cllr. Gareth Williams, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member Climate Change and Environment at Buckinghamshire Council, gave an update on this at the event.

Net Zero is for everyone

The prize for reaching Net Zero is a big one – for the planet, for future generations, for businesses, for everyone. There are problems and there are solutions. There are unknown challenges and there are businesses and stakeholders ready and determined to overcome them when they arise.

Reach out for support in the first instance if you want to learn more about the support on offer to your business to reduce your energy bills and carbon emissions, and play your part in our collective journey to Net Zero.

Email [email protected] or call 01494 927130.

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Here's a selection of snaps taken on the day >

This event was the latest in Buckinghamshire Business First’s series of MPs Briefings where we gather local businesses and MPs together to discuss challenges and opportunities on key topics.

Events for businesses in other local constituencies will be available to book onto throughout 2023. Keep an eye out for our email newsletters and on our events page for information on future events.