As reported by Green BusinessIndustry Group Partners with Telecom Giant to Aid Small Business Sustainability Efforts
The BT Sustainability for Small Business programme, which launches this month, includes a series of six-week courses for small businesses focused on key sustainability topics such as digital marketing, financial planning and social media strategies.
Taught by industry experts, the online program also includes one-hour webinars that will offer in-depth analyzes on key topics such as environmental measurement, accreditation and financing, the partners said.
BT and Small Business Britain said the resource would allow small businesses across the UK to better understand their environmental impacts and adopt more sustainable practices and opportunities for change.
The initiative was launched as the partners this week published research, in association 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 difficult for them to find the support they need,” said Chris Sims, managing director of small and medium-sized businesses at BT. “That’s why we’ve launched this new initiative with Small Business Britain, designed to help UK entrepreneurs reduce their CO2 emissions, implement long-lasting sustainability principles and drive the UK’s net zero agenda in a manageable way.” .
The partners also plan to organize a series of outdoor walks, called ‘Netwalks’, giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to network with other local businesses.
“With the growing climate crisis, the importance of sustainability for small businesses will only increase and there are huge opportunities for smaller businesses to drive positive change here and also open up new growth opportunities,” said Michelle Ovens, founder of Small Business Britain. . “Small businesses need more support to play this important role, so we are excited to launch this new program with BT to provide them with further guidance, support and direction to help them improve their skills in this area.”