Green-minded microbusinesses and SMEs, charities and partnerships in Waverley are being offered a unique opportunity to reduce their carbon emissions and create a sustainable advantage over competitors.
Waverley Borough Council is giving away a limited number of free places on three, seven-week carbon literacy training courses which include a combination of online learning, a face-to-face workshop and mentoring.
During the first three, two-hour sessions, participants will learn about the science behind climate change and what it means to be carbon literate. Key takeaways for businesses will include the knowledge to identify easy changes they can make to be more sustainable, how to vet suppliers and how to avoid making green claims that cannot be substantiated.
In phase two, participants will join up with 11 other businesses for an offline co-working session where they will share ideas about the specific changes they can implement to reduce their carbon footprint and increase their impact across people, planet and profit. The final phase will see expert instructors supporting participants to create a tailored action plan which can be submitted to The Carbon Literacy Project for accreditation.
Councillor Liz Townsend, Waverley Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Parks and Leisure said:
“At Waverley, we are aiming to be carbon neutral by 2030. To reach this ambitious target we have adopted a climate change strategy and action plan and one of our themes is to support a green economy.
“By enabling this practical, action-based training, we are providing businesses with the opportunity to reduce their carbon emissions by up to 15%. In addition, businesses that take part in the Carbon Literacy Training will not only be helping the environment but will have a head start when it comes to creating a competitive edge for their business which has got to be a good thing for our local economy.”
The start dates for the three cohorts are 18 January, 15 February and 15 March. Businesses that are interested in taking part should register at the Carbon Literacy Training Registration webpage. The training is funded by the government’s Additional Restrictions Grant and delivered by Inspiration Space which is based in Surrey.
Over 2,000 UK companies have achieved Carbon Literacy Accreditation which brings additional benefits such as saved money, reduced commercial risks, more resilient supply chains and a healthier working environment.
For more information about green initiatives for Waverley businesses, visit www.businesswaverley.co.uk and while there, sign up to receive the business enewsletter.
You can read more on the council's Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan webpage.