East Midlands Accelerator aids net zero plans

coined them the affectionate nickname of ‘Ant and Dec’ after many years of hosting business lunches and networking events for the organisation.

As well as being the biggest awards programme yet for Enterprising Women, the gala dinner also marked the anniversary of when Jean co-founded the network in 1997, when it was part of Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce before its merger with its Derbyshire and Leicestershire counterparts.

Jean said: “When I co-founded Enterprising Women 25 years ago, the business landscape was very maledominated. We wanted to change that and create a space for women to network with each other, learn from one another’s experience and gain skills to use in their work, and sometimes personal lives.

“Recognising the achievements of women in business was an important part of that, to give them the confidence to succeed further and thrive in their careers.

“I’m so proud of how far the network has come, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the future.”

ITV weather presenter Emma Jesson returned to host the black-tie event, which was packed with entertainment provided by singer-songwriter Esmee Esho, comedian Patrick Monahan and Leicester band The Jamlocks.

East Midlands Accelerator

helps 340 businesses with net zero plans

More than 340 businesses across the East Midlands have so far been supported in the development of their sustainability plans, as a result of the net zero strand of the East Midlands Accelerator project.

East Midlands Chamber, together with a project consortium of the region’s universities and business support agencies, is delivering the Net Zero Accelerator project, which helps organisations with changes such as reducing their carbon footprint, switching to electric vehicles and creating sustainability action plans.

The project, which is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund and led by the local authority in each region, has offered grant funding, growth vouchers and fully subsidised training to businesses in eight eligible districts, including Leicester city.

East Midlands Chamber deputy chief executive Diane Beresford said: “Businesses recognise that greener practices make business sense – not just because of the long-term efficiency gains, but because presenting a clear sustainability strategy is becoming increasingly important when it comes to winning new contracts and customers.”

Net Zero Accelerator support has been wide-ranging and includes: ♦ Support for making the switch to electric vehicles ♦ Support for carbon reduction and environmental management ♦ Net zero student placements and sustainability audits ♦ Support from the Zellar sustainability platform, which gives SMEs the opportunity to track, measure and promote their sustainability activities ♦ Specialist sector support for food and drink producers and visitor economy businesses

For more information, visit bit.ly/EMCNetZeroAccelerator.

A NET ZERO ACCELERATOR SUCCESS GREEN TOMATO, LEICESTER

Established in 2020, Green Tomato is Leicester’s first emission-free, mobile greengrocery. Its nostalgic 1970s milk float draws in customers across Stoneygate, Knighton and Clarendon Park.

Granting residents access to high-quality fruit and vegetables at the kerbside and through online orders is helping the city’s households reduce their supermarket trips and carbon footprint.

The business benefited from support via a 12-week University of Leicester net zero student placement and sustainability audit, as well as attending carbon literacy training delivered by De Montfort University and the University of Leicester. The audit recognised what the business had known for some time – that it is officially carbon positive.

Nisha Ravat, owner of Green Tomato, said: “What a massive difference the East Midlands Accelerator project has made to our business. The time I’ve invested in every aspect of the project is already starting to pay dividends – in terms of how we’ve digitised our processes, developed personal confidence, become more active on social media, and all the training we’ve received on profit and loss, and analysing markets.

“Better still, we’re now not only recognised as carbon neutral but carbon positive. As a relatively new micro business, we really couldn’t have done this on our own.”