Manchester is a city known for its innovation, community spirit, and commitment to sustainability. In recent years, Manchester has set ambitious goals to reduce its carbon emissions, and SMEs are a vital part of that journey. Whether you’re a small business owner in retail, manufacturing, or services, reducing your carbon footprint isn’t just about playing your part in tackling climate change—it’s about future-proofing your business, saving costs, and joining a growing movement of environmentally conscious enterprises.
A&C Chartered Accountants is proud to support Manchester SMEs on their sustainability journey, and one of the key initiatives driving change in the region is Bee Net Zero.
What Is Bee Net Zero?
Bee Net Zero is a collaborative initiative designed to help businesses across Greater Manchester reach net zero carbon emissions by 2038—12 years ahead of the UK’s national target. Spearheaded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with leading organisations like The Growth Company and Manchester’s business community, the Bee Net Zero initiative provides practical resources and guidance to help local businesses, including SMEs, reduce their carbon footprints.
For SMEs in Manchester, this initiative represents an incredible opportunity to lead the charge in decarbonisation while benefiting from the resources and support that Bee Net Zero provides.
Why Should Manchester SMEs Care About Their Carbon Footprint?
For many small businesses, reducing carbon emissions might feel like a challenge, but it brings significant rewards. Here’s why tackling your carbon footprint matters:
- Meet Customer Expectations: Consumers and clients are increasingly seeking out businesses that prioritise sustainability. By actively reducing your carbon footprint, your SME can attract a new wave of eco-conscious customers.
- Stay Ahead of Regulation: With more stringent climate legislation on the horizon, reducing your carbon emissions now means your business will be ahead of the curve when it comes to future compliance requirements.
- Improve Efficiency & Cut Costs: Lowering your carbon emissions often goes hand-in-hand with improving efficiency. From cutting down on energy use to reducing waste, these changes can have a direct impact on your bottom line.
- Join the Manchester Movement: By getting involved in initiatives like Bee Net Zero, you’ll be part of a wider community of businesses all working towards a common goal—making Manchester one of the greenest cities in the UK.
How to Start Measuring Your SME’s Carbon Footprint
Before you can reduce your carbon footprint, you need to know where you stand. This begins with calculating the carbon emissions your business generates. The main sources of emissions for most SMEs come from:
- Energy consumption (electricity, heating, and cooling)
- Business travel (vehicle emissions, flights, public transport)
- Supply chain emissions (goods and services purchased)
- Waste production (waste sent to landfill, recycling)
By gathering data on your energy usage, travel habits, and waste, you can begin to understand your current impact and set measurable goals to reduce emissions. Many Manchester-based businesses are already taking these steps as part of the Bee Net Zero initiative, using free tools and resources provided to track their emissions.
Bee Net Zero: Helping Manchester’s SMEs Lead the Way
The Bee Net Zero initiative offers a range of support services tailored to SMEs, including:
- Carbon Footprint Calculators: Bee Net Zero provides businesses with access to tools that help calculate their current carbon footprint, giving you a clear starting point for improvement.
- Energy Efficiency Guidance: Through the initiative, SMEs can access energy audits to identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and cut down on costs.
- Support for Renewable Energy Adoption: Transitioning to renewable energy is one of the most effective ways to decarbonise. Bee Net Zero connects businesses with suppliers and advisors to help switch to renewable energy sources, like solar power, at a manageable cost.
- Sustainability Grants & Funding: There are grants and financial incentives available to SMEs that are serious about reducing their carbon footprints. Bee Net Zero partners with organisations that provide financial support to help cover the costs of energy-efficient upgrades and renewable energy installations.
- Collaboration Opportunities: Bee Net Zero encourages collaboration across sectors, enabling businesses to share best practices, network, and create partnerships with like-minded organisations.
The Road to Net Zero: Practical Steps for Your SME
If you’re an SME in Manchester, there’s never been a better time to commit to reducing your carbon footprint. Here are some practical steps to get started:
1. Perform an Energy Audit
Identify where your business is using the most energy. This could be lighting, heating, or specific equipment. Once you’ve pinpointed the biggest energy drains, you can take steps to reduce consumption by upgrading to more energy-efficient systems or changing your habits.
2. Transition to Green Energy
Switching to a renewable energy provider is one of the simplest and most impactful ways to reduce your carbon emissions. Many suppliers now offer affordable green energy tariffs that are accessible to SMEs.
3. Encourage Sustainable Transport
Reduce business travel emissions by encouraging the use of public transport, carpooling, or even investing in electric vehicles for your company fleet.
4. Minimise Waste
Implement recycling schemes, reduce packaging, and find ways to repurpose materials within your supply chain. Waste management is a significant part of reducing your overall carbon footprint.
5. Engage Your Team
Sustainability works best when it’s embedded in your company culture. Educate your employees about the importance of reducing emissions and create a workplace that supports sustainable practices—whether that’s through reducing office waste or promoting energy-efficient behaviour.
Need more information?
At A&C Chartered Accountants, we’re not just accountants; we’re your partners in success. Based in Manchester, our experienced team handles everything from managing limited company and sole trader accounts to expertly navigating tax returns. Beyond financials, we play a crucial role in driving your business’s growth, strategically steering it towards success with confidence and clarity.
