CHAMBER NEWS

TARGET NET ZERO

CORNWALL CHAMBER CEO KIM CONCHIE LOOKS AHEAD TO A MONTH-LONG PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FOCUSSING ON THE PLANET

I’m very grateful to Nick for giving us space in this issue to provide more detail on the highly anticipated Sustainability September: Project Planet C (see p32) – a month of events and insights focused on climate and social action.

This is such an important campaign and we’re not doing things by halves. We’ve got fantastic support from our sponsor, Don’t Cry Wolf, and we’re very privileged to have the expertise and guidance of Jennie and Paul at Green Works Consulting to help craft a really accessible programme.

I hope businesses in Cornwall will embrace the opportunity to stop and think about their impact on the planet and the role they can play in helping the Duchy reach its net zero goals. I feel very strongly that we have reached a critical point where articles like this must no longer be white noise that just keeps plugging away in the background.

Sustainability is so much more than environmental and climate action – organising an annual corporate litter pick or enrolling the office on a print cartridge recycling scheme just doesn’t cut it anymore. I’m not dismissing the need for effort of that nature, however, there has to be so much more of a cultural change within businesses if we are to have any hope of reaching Cornwall Council’s net zero target.

WHY JOIN?

Cornwall Chamber of Commerce is an independent not-for-profit organisation accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce. We solely exist to represent businesses in Cornwall. Our events provide a platform for businesses to connect, create and make valuable business relationships. Membership to the Chamber starts from as little as £17 +VAT per month and provides you with the tools to promote your business.

Get in touch today to have a chat about how we can support you and your business. Planet C is about connecting with the social challenges we face and changing the mindset of a business so that individual behaviours are refined, and environmental solutions are embedded into an organisation.

As part of Planet C, the Chamber has set itself the target of creating 200 Climate Ambassadors for Business. Green Works has developed the free course in conjunction with The Carbon Literacy Project and I urge every business - regardless of size or type, to sign up as many employees as possible.

There are so many different events to attend during Planet C month and the expertise on tap will be incredible. If I were running a business, I would be planning to send my junior members of staff to the events as well as the more experienced, seasoned networkers.

I don’t know about you, but at the Chamber our apprentice and graduates are bursting with enthusiasm; they soak up information like a sponge and come up with the most amazing, innovative ideas. That’s what this campaign needs moving forward. On September 20, we have a Planet C Surge event at Heligan for businesspeople under the age of 30.

Our Surge of Entrepreneurs networking group is thriving; if you haven’t signed up staff to the group yet, this would be a great introduction.

Finally, I must draw your attention to our Productivity Summit taking place on September 13, in partnership with Skills Hub.

The UK has always fallen behind Europe when it comes to productivity but the situation has been made worse by the pandemic and recovery process. We have a whole host of new considerations and working arrangements to contend with, which impacts heavily on how productive we can be.

This summit will look at how to find the perfect equilibrium between work and home life, and how new skills and training play their part in innovation, productivity and wage growth.

I hope you’ve had a brilliant summer and are raring to go. September is always an exciting, busy month – but this year even more so!