NET ZERO
Programme – Tees Valley Business Board member for clean green growth David Gardner wants to help the area ’ s business community on the journey towards net zero .
WE ’ VE GOT THE POWER
Scheme can power firms to their net zero goal through fully funded consultancy support
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON
Businesses are being urged to sign up to a scheme that can dramatically help them on their journey to net zero . Funded by the Tees Valley Combined Authority ( TVCA ) under the government ’ s UK Shared Prosperity Fund , Tees Valley Net Zero has everything a business needs to devise its own net zero strategy .
Firms big and small are at different stages of that journey – some will have started , others won ’ t , but Tees Valley Net Zero gives access to specialists who can help , irrespective of what step they ’ re at , which sector they ’ re in or what level of support they need .
And as part of the £ 2.1m scheme , up to 500 businesses could receive a £ 2,000 grant towards implementing carbon-saving measures .
It ’ s delivered by Decerna , a low-carbon consultancy company , whose team is fully versed in every aspect of what a firm needs to do in terms of reducing its carbon footprint , and how to achieve it .
And by giving access to an innovative online tool , firms can easily collect and collate their emissions data – a crucial step in being able to set reduction targets and come up with a carbon-reduction plan .
The scheme ’ s key components are : Webinars and workshops Starting with a short 45-minute
“ understanding the basics ” introduction video , a raft of factsheets , videos , workshops and webinars are then available , all designed to spell out , in understandable terms , what a business needs to do .
It can be anything from a full day “ in person ” workshop to a three-hour online “ quick wins ” masterclass , focusing on the small things firms can implement , from low cost and no cost , up to £ 5,000 . It ’ s about equipping and upskilling people in lots of different areas on net zero – from not really knowing what it is to understanding emission reporting .
Consultations Armed with knowledge from the webinars and workshops , firms can access fully funded consultancy support from the programme ’ s advisors and technical specialists , who are there to help every step of the way as a business gears up to calculate its carbon footprint .
Advisers get to understand a business , its carbon emissions and the steps it can take to reduce them – and the result is a programme of tangible commitments a firm can take . And for some larger firms , there ’ s also the option of an on-site energy audit .
Carbon-reduction plan A lot of businesses are at different stages of the net zero journey – and it is a journey . It ’ s not something that happens overnight , but a key component of any strategy is drawing up a carbon-reduction plan .
Using a trailblazing and easy-to-use online tool , firms can easily collect and collate their emissions data . Hugely userfriendly , with advisers able to see and react to what ’ s been submitted , similar other commercial products can cost a four-figure sum – but under this scheme , access is free , allowing many businesses to start carbon reporting for the first time .
Within three months of the scheme ’ s launch , more than 160 firms had signed up – but there is space for hundreds more .
Tees Valley Business Board member for clean green growth David Gardner said : “ One of the Business Board ’ s key areas of focus is clean green growth . This includes supporting the Tees Valley business community in its journey to net zero , so we ensure clean growth is at the core of business in Tees Valley .
“ This programme provides practical support to help business leaders understand the tangible steps they can take , while access to an online tool will give them the power to make data-driven decisions to set reduction targets and produce a carbon-reduction plan .”
Visit teesvalley-ca . gov . uk / net-zero-support
The voice of business in the Tees region | 83