Climate Springboard

Thinking about the year ahead and planning your business travel? Or already thinking about your next holiday? 👀 Edinburgh-based production company LS Productions share the ins and outs of implementing their first ever sustainable travel policy. Set a goal to travel low-carbon this year!🚆

Have you set yourself a New Year's resolution to write a company carbon reduction plan but not sure where to start? Climate Springboard is here to help any Scottish SME feel confident getting started with net zero. There are still spaces available in our next workshops: 📅Last spaces remaining! Cohort 1: 16th Jan, 30th Jan and 13th February (Thursdays, 09:30-11:30) 📅 Filling up fast! Cohort 2: 19th Feb, 5th March and 19th March (Wednesdays, 09:30-11:30) Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/ePvS4zrC

That’s a wrap on Climate Springboard 2024! We couldn’t be prouder of the Scottish SMEs we’ve helped support on their net zero journey this year. The stats say it all, so why not join Climate Springboard in 2025? Our latest workshops are available to book now! 📅 Cohort 1 Thursday 16th January, 30th January and 13th February 📅 Cohort 2 Wednesday 19th February, 5th March and 19th March 🖱️Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/ePvS4zrC 

🎉 That’s a wrap for Cohort 21—the final Climate Springboard cohort of 2024! And what an inspiring group it was. 💪 This dynamic mix of 16 businesses included waste contractors, heritage sites, renewable energy companies, housing associations, and joiners. Despite the variety in sectors, sizes, and stages, these fabulous folks brought incredible knowledge, curiosity, and honesty to the workshops. What always amazes me is their dedication to exploring net zero, even amidst endless to-do lists, tight resources, and countless pressures. It’s so uplifting to see SMEs carve out the time, energy, and resources to prioritise sustainability. Over the past six weeks, we: 🌿 Identified the key drivers propelling their organisations toward net zero. 📊 Built tailored carbon footprints efficiently and effectively. 🚀 Developed action-driven strategies focused on meaningful impact—not pdfs filled with fluff! I’m thrilled to continue supporting this cohort as they finalise their net zero action plans and take bold steps on their sustainability journeys. A huge congratulations to every single one of – you definitely deserve extra holiday chocolate! 👏✨ Benjamin Llewellyn M.ISRM, M.IPSA Opulence Security Ltd Nick Lindsay Clyne Heritage Society Scott Anderson Dangerous Studio Colette McKenna Shettleston Housing Association B&M Joiners Group Sharon Macdonald Michiel Voermans Forth Rivers Trust Iain MacCorquodale klyne Rodgers Clara Schade-Poulsen Shivani Jadhav Lynsay Brown Tessa Buckley Julie Aird Karen Dickie Nova Innovation Martec Engineering Group Ltd Scottish Association For Marine Science Ferguson Transport & Shipping Aoife Keenan Scottish Funding Council Rethink Carbon Alba Facilities Services Ltd The NWH Group

“We have a huge responsibility to the people we support."💙👐 “One of the ways we do this is to know how much energy we use,” says Rita Visakaviciute of Pilton Community Health Project in Edinburgh. In December 2022, they reduced the flow temperature on their gas boiler in their community centre building, which they heard could make it run more efficiently. It wasn’t until a year later, when Rita collected their energy data for a workshop facilitated by Edinburgh Climate Change Institute that she realised this quick change had cut their gas use by a quarter – around 20,000 kWh – in 12 months! Read their full story 👇

❇️Do you know about the Highlands and Islands Enterprise green grant?❇️ It's a government-funded, non-repayable grant – of up to £250k! – that SMEs can use to pay for projects to reduce their carbon emissions and move closer to net zero. Things like... 🔥 Efficient heating and heat pumps ❄️ Insulation and draught-proofing 🔋 Solar panels and batteries 🚚 Charging points for your fleet ♻️ Waste reduction To apply, you'll need a plan for how you aim to reduce your carbon emissions to net zero by 2045. That's our bread and butter, so reach out to us at ClimateSpringboard@ed.ac.uk if you'd like support – completely free! Apply here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eHDC5iu9

What’s on our #ClimateRadar this week? 🌍 Are you a business in Scotland looking to tap into the growing clean heat market? Interested in learning how to win tenders and position yourself for success?    Don’t miss the Talking Tenders: Clean Heat Procurement Webinar Series—brought to you by Scottish Enterprise and the Supplier Development Programme Scotland. This is your chance to explore exciting opportunities in clean heat technologies and gain valuable insights into the procurement process.  What is clean heat?  Clean heat refers to innovative solutions aimed at reducing carbon emissions in buildings, such as energy efficiency measures, heat pumps, heat networks, and smart sensors and controls. With Scotland’s journey to net zero accelerating, this market is likely to see significant growth.      📅 Learn more or register here: https://lnkd.in/eiSkqywV

Warm office, steady bills: The benefits of energy efficiency 🔥 Discover how CJM Project Financial Management Ltd (CJM Accountancy) tackled rising EPC requirements with support from Business Energy Scotland. An energy audit helped Colin McNally create a plan that delivered a warmer office, steady bills, and improved efficiency. Building on this success, Colin completed the Climate Springboard programme, crafting a net-zero strategy now embedded in their tender responses. Check out the full case study below.👇

Collaboration, Connection, and Croissants 🥐 On Wednesday, we had the pleasure of hosting our very first Climate Springboard Alumni Event at Edinburgh Climate Change Institute—and what an energising morning it was! Bringing together a dynamic group of alumni, from those who joined the programme in 2022 to our most recent graduates, we witnessed incredible conversations unfold. Discussions ranged from net-zero progress to innovative ideas for supporting other businesses, all anchored by a shared commitment to meaningful action. The highlight? Watching businesses connect, share challenges, and actively problem-solve. A special thank you to Ian McCall, Terry Roberts, and Laura Coulthart for sharing your inspiring stories and insights. We’re already looking forward to the new year, when we’ll expand this network and create even more opportunities for collaboration and impact. Stay tuned—exciting things are on the horizon! 🌍 #netzero #SMEs

🥳 Hats (or hairnets) off to the production line staff at Lazy Day Foods Ltd! Since joining Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce's Net-Zero cohort earlier this year, they've discovered a range of ways to reduce waste and energy use at their Harthill-based bakery. Here are QHSE manager Petya Dimitrova's tips for food and beverage businesses looking to get started with cutting their carbon footprint: 🟢 Don’t be afraid to automate. You can still retain the qualities of being a hand-made producer while introducing new technology and tools. 🟢 Keep your staff engaged. Make sure you recognise someone whose suggestion has made has a positive impact. 🟢 Record your usage! When you know how much of a resource you are using, it’s easier to see the opportunities for saving waste.