INTRODUCTION
The future of business in the UK is changing. The UK Government has set ambitious targets and consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious when deciding where to spend their money.
What does this mean for your business? Taking action on climate change by reducing emissions could lower your running costs, help save you money and even attract new customers – giving your business a competitive advantage.
In other words: Going green is good for business.
Havering Council’s Greener Futures initiative aims to give businesses the best chance for success through a mix of learning and support. By taking part, Greener Futures will ensure you have the most relevant information in relation to climate change and sustainability, with tips and ideas to help your business thrive whilst keeping its impact on the environment low.
Are you ready to go green and save money?
HAVERING’S GOALS FOR A GREENER FUTURE
In August 2021, Havering Council announced its intentions to be carbon neutral by 2040, or sooner if possible, and to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions on a regular basis.
To demonstrate our commitment and to emphasize both the seriousness and urgency of our work, we then went a step further and declared a climate and ecological emergency in March 2023.
GREENER
E-learning sustainability training
Decarbonisation training
Carbon calculator
One-to-one mentoring
Decarbonisation Advice
Directory
Marketing materials and support
Greener Futures Badge and certification
www.haveringdata.net/greener-futures/
E-LEARNING SUSTAINABILITY TRAINING
OUTLINE OF MODULES
What is Sustainability?
HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES.
Pollution
COVERS DIFFERENT TYPES OF POLLUTION AND THE HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT CAUSE THEM
Climate Change
PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUE.
Zero Waste
PRESENTS A PRACTICAL PLAN TO REDUCE WASTE AT WORK AND AT HOME
Saving Energy and Water
PRESENTS A PLAN FOR LOWERING COSTS AND CONSUMPTION
Recycling
EXPLAINS HOW TO RECYCLE AND CLARIFIES COMMON CONFUSION AROUND RECYCLING PRACTICES.
Supply Chain Due Diligence
TEACHES YOU HOW TO ASSESS AND MANAGE COMPLIANCE RISKS.
Sustainable Travel
COVERS ECO DRIVING AND SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL MODES
ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance)
COVERS BASICS, FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS
Business Sustainability Management
FOCUSES ON HOW TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND DRIVE GLOBAL CHANGE.
ON YOUR TERMS
You have the freedom to participate in one or all of the modules; allowing you to go at your own pace or appoint a green ambassador(s) for your business to complete the training and share best practices.
DECARBONISATION TRAINING
Powered by Eunomia, the decarbonisation training is a hybrid of online and in-person training. Based on the specific needs of Havering’s businesses, Eunomia has put together training which represents the greatest potential for positive impact.
RESOURCE DESCRIPTION
DECARBONISATION
TRAINING
General carbon literacy training, along with training on how to develop a robust climate action plan. This will be a mix of in-person and online training sessions and will include discussion of recommended actions, how to engage stakeholders and monitoring progress. Online Decarbonisation Training will be held on 11 and 12 September with recordings being made available to revisit in your own time. In-person Decarbonisation Training will take place on 24 and 25 September at CEME Campus, Marsh Way, Rainham, RM13 8EU. All times will be confirmed at a later date.
THE IMPACT OF SMEs ON CLIMATE CHANGE
SMEs are accountable for around half of the UK’s commercial emissions. This means they have a crucial role to play in the net-zero transition.
YOUR FOOTPRINT MATTERS
Though the individual footprint of an SME might be small, together SMEs contribute a sizable amount to the global carbon footprint. SMEs make up 90% of global businesses.
You may want to act but may not know where to start.
Greener Futures will provide guidance on measuring your emissions so you can create a high-impact action plan.
GREENER
www.haveringdata.net/greener-futures/
ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING
Greener Futures will support your business every step of the way. Working with a mentor face to face, you will receive bespoke support, unique to your business needs, to help you on your net zero journey.
Your mentor will connect you with advice, support and available resources and answer any questions you may have.
WHAT’S COVERED
You can discuss anything related to your business’s climate questions in the sessions. This may include:
How sustainability can be interwoven into your broader business plan.
How to lower costs and emissions across different areas (such as waste management, energy efficiency or supply chains).
Your metrics for success (how you will measure and evaluate your success –e.g., through setting short, medium and long term targets).
GREENER
www.haveringdata.net/greener-futures/
DECARBONISATION ADVICE DIRECTORY
By bringing existing information together into a directory, Greener Futures aims to make it easier for you to access information so you can focus on taking action to decarbonise.
SECTOR LED
The directory will offer advice for different types of businesses, allowing you to access information which is most applicable to your industry.
EMISSIONS FOCUSED RESOURCES
The directory will utilise advice which is emissions focused, allowing businesses to target specific areas.
MARKETING MATERIALS & SUPPORT
We want the Havering community to know you are going green! We’ll help you spread the word!
BRICKS AND MORTAR
Do you have a storefront that is open to the public? We’ll provide marketing collateral like window decals, badges and posters so your consumers know you are making your business more sustainable.
DIGITAL
Are you on social media? Is your business mainly online? We’ll set you up with a suite of digital marketing collateral (like social media posts) so you can let your online community know that you are making Havering greener.
SPEAKING TO YOUR CUSTOMERS
Consumers increasingly want to spend their money at businesses that embrace sustainability. Making changes that off-set your carbon footprint will give your business a competitive advantage.
In addition to this, you can also communicate your efforts with your suppliers, investors and other stakeholders.
Communicating your sustainable practices could be as simple as having a dedicated page on your website.
www.haveringdata.net/greener-futures/
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PROGRAMME TIMELINE
Greener Futures launched. Businesses are able to register via the web page and begin e-Learning sustainability training.
10 AND 11 SEPTEMBER
Online decarbonisation training begins, times TBD. Replays of the live webinars will be made available.
24 AND 25 SEPTEMBER
In-person decarbonisation training takes place at CEME Campus, Marsh Wy, Rainham RM13 8EU. Times TBD.
END OF MARCH 2025
The programme finishes and all training needs to be completed.
MAY 2025
Final Green Futures Badge certification is distributed.
www.haveringdata.net/greener-futures/
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
CARBON FOOTPRINT
All of the greenhouse gas emissions (both direct and indirect) associated with a specific product or activity.
CARBON NEUTRAL
Refers to balancing out the total amount of carbon emissions.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
DECARBONISATION
Removal or reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) output into the atmosphere.
DELTANET
The provider of the e-learning sustainability training.
EMISSIONS
In this context, emissions refer to greenhouse gas emissions, and are measured in terms of carbon dioxide equivalents.
EUNOMIA
The provider of the decarbonisation training.
GREENER FUTURES
A Havering initiative to help local businesses lower their emissions and as a result lower their operating costs. The initiative will deliver a series of learning and support to give businesses the best chance for success.
NET ZERO
A target of completely negating the amount of greenhouse gasses produced by human activity.
SME
Stands for ‘small to medium enterprise’ and is defined as a business with less than 250 employees and a turnover of less than £25m.
SUSTAINABILITY
The avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.
FAQs
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
The UK faces environmental risks, higher costs and greater disruption if preparations to adapt to climate change aren't taken now. This could have negative consequences for our local economy so we want to support our community in working together to take the action required to address climate change.
WHO IS THE GREENER FUTURES PROGRAMME FOR?
Any small to medium business based in Havering.
WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?
The programme started in March 2024 and finishes on 31 March 2025.
WILL THIS COST ME MONEY?
The programme is fully funded and is completely free for you to participate in. In fact, many of the tools and resources were developed to save your business money on things like energy bills.
HOW MUCH MONEY WILL I SAVE IF I PARTICIPATE?
This will be different for every business, however you may save money by making changes to your transport, buildings, waste and energy. Both the decarbonisation training and the one-to-one mentoring will help you identify potential savings and develop a climate action plan unique to your business.
I AM BUSY, DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE ALL THE COURSES?
You can choose which of the courses you would like to complete. If you would like to receive the Greener Futures Badge certification you will need to complete at least one of the e-learning sustainability training courses from DeltaNet and have attended the online and in-person decarbonisation training, as well as complete the evaluation survey at the end of the programme.
WE ALREADY HAVE GREEN PRACTICES IN OUR BUSINESS, HOW WILL THIS BE DIFFERENT?
That’s fantastic that you have practices in place! Through Greener Futures you can take your sustainability even further by developing a bespoke climate action plan. You’ll also get access to free training for you and your team members, a suite of marketing materials to promote your green efforts, access to the Decarbonisation Advice Directory and one-to-one mentoring to find even more potential savings.
FAQs
I CAN’T TAKE PART DURING THE SUGGESTED TIME, IS IT POSSIBLE TO PARTICIPATE ANOTHER TIME?
You can access the E-learning Sustainability courses at a time that suits you. The online decarbonisation training will be live on the 11 and 12 of September, and if you can’t make the live webinar you can watch the replays in your own time. However, the in-person decarbonisation training will be at specific times on the 24 and 25 September. If you can’t make it on those days, you may want to nominate a Green Ambassador within your business who can attend the training and feedback on best practices.
IF I HAVE A QUESTION WHO SHOULD I CONTACT?
Please email us at SustainabilitySupport@havering.gov.uk.
DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE ALL THE TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO RECEIVE THE GREENER FUTURES BADGE CERTIFICATION?
If you would like to receive the Greener Futures Badge certification you will need to complete at least one of the e-learning sustainability training courses from DeltaNet and have attended the online and in-person decarbonisation training, as well as complete the evaluation survey at the end of the programme.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Visit www.haveringdata.net/greener-futures/ to register. Look out for an email from SustainabilitySupport@havering.gov.uk within 7 days to confirm your application was approved and your login details.
www.haveringdata.net/greener-futures/
