Community and environment charity Groundwork East is partnering with Suffolk’s local authorities to deliver free and impartial expert advice to help businesses and organisations save energy, reduce their emissions and establish tailored decarbonisation plans.
The new Net Zero Business Advice Service will provide free support to enable businesses, the voluntary sector and other organisations working within Suffolk to understand their greenhouse gas emissions, to set a plan to reduce these and access grant funding to implement carbon reduction actions.
With several energy efficiency and sustainability grant schemes now in place across Suffolk, this Net Zero Suffolk scheme will help organisations make informed decisions about which carbon reduction solution is best for them.
Advisors from Groundwork East will be able to identify new actions for organisations or establish the anticipated cost and carbon savings that planned actions will achieve; whether this is a switch to a low carbon heating system, installation of solar PV or focusing on upgrading to lower polluting vehicles.
These actions will support Suffolk’s businesses to meet the UK Government’s net zero target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2050. Suffolk County Council also aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 and is now asking its own supply chain to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and wider environmental impacts.
Amy Coulter, Sustainable Business team manager at Groundwork East, says:
"Our team of sustainability consultants works closely with organisations to help determine, understand and meet their sustainability, net zero and carbon reduction goals. We know that managing environmental impacts is now becoming a requirement to do business. This service will allow our experienced and impartial consultants to support organisations in Suffolk to reduce emissions and reach Net Zero."
Cllr Daniel Potter, Babergh District Council cabinet member for environment, says:
“This partnership with Groundwork East and the Net Zero Business Advisor Service will help pave the way for success and make the process of reducing emissions simple and easy to follow."
Councillor Toby Hammond, cabinet member for Economic Development and Transport at East Suffolk, said:
"The contribution of local businesses to reaching our net zero ambitions is of fundamental importance. We want companies to make carbon a key consideration of all decision making.
In order to succeed, we want to help simplify and structure the journey to decarbonisation, so I'm pleased that East Suffolk Council is working with Groundwork East on the Net Zero Business Advisor Service."
Councillor Phil Smart, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, says:
“This partnership with Groundwork East offers free impartial advice to Ipswich businesses and other local organisations to save energy, reduce emissions and established tailored decarbonisation plans to support both our own Net Zero Ambitions for Ipswich Borough Council and Net Zero Suffolk.”
Councillor Tim Weller, Mid Suffolk District Council cabinet member for environment, culture and wellbeing, says:
“Businesses and organisations in our district will play a vital role in helping us achieve our net zero goals. We all need to play our part to reduce emissions and this partnership is a step toward achieving our common goal.”
Cllr Richard Smith MVO, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Transport Strategy and Waste, says:
“Suffolk County Council is committed to protecting and enhancing Suffolk’s environment, so I am pleased that the county’s local authorities have partnered with Groundwork East to deliver this service, which will help us on our journey to achieving a net zero Suffolk. I would encourage Suffolk’s businesses to take advantage of their advisors’ free and impartial expertise.”
Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, cabinet member for Growth at West Suffolk Council says:
“Encouraging and enabling local businesses to improve their energy efficiency and manage their environmental impacts is a priority for West Suffolk Council. I am delighted that we are working with Groundwork East to deliver the Net Zero Business Advisor Service to offer easy access to advice and support for businesses across Suffolk, it also compliments other initiatives West Suffolk Council operates such as the Solar for Business scheme.”
