NEWS: Small business Britain and BT launch sustainability initiative

As reported by Business Green, industry group partners with telecom giant to aid small firms’ sustainability efforts

The BT Sustainability for Small Business programme, which launches this month, includes a number of six-week courses for small businesses focused on key sustainability topics, such as digital marketing, financial planning, and social media strategies.

Delivered by industry experts, the online programme also includes one-hour webinars that will offer deep dives on key subjects such as environmental measurement, accreditation, and financing, the partners said.

BT and Small Business Britain said the resource would empower small businesses across the UK to better understand their environmental impacts and embrace more sustainable practices and opportunities for change.

The initiative was launched as the partners this week published research, in partnership with Oxford Brookes Business School, which found that 64 per cent of small businesses do not feel they have enough support to help them become more sustainable.

“Sustainability should be the cornerstone of all successful businesses, regardless of their size, but we know it can be hard for them to find the support they need,” said Chris Sims, managing director of small and medium business at BT. “That is why we have launched this new initiative with Small Business Britain, designed to help the UK’s entrepreneurs cut their CO2 emissions, implement lasting sustainability principles, and drive forward the UK’s net zero agenda in a manageable way.”

The partners also plan to organise a series of outdoor walks, dubbed ‘Netwalks’, that provide entrepreneurs a chance to network with other local businesses.

“With the growing climate crisis the importance of sustainability for small businesses is only set to rise and there are huge opportunities for smaller firms to drive positive change here and open up new opportunities for growth too,” said Michelle Ovens, founder of Small Business Britain. “Small businesses need more support to play this important role, so we are excited to be launching this new programme with BT to provide greater guidance, support, and direction to help them upskill in this area.”