SMEs have a $789bn opportunity

Small and medium-sized enterprises have the potential to drive a $789bn green growth opportunity. Yet, fewer than 4% are applying for sustainability-related finance, according to a new report by Sage, in collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Nearly nine in ten SME leaders and decision-makers acknowledge the importance of environmental action. However, many are held back by the costs and the time required to implement sustainable practices.

Currently, only 63% of SMEs are actively reducing their environmental impact.
68% report they couldn’t pursue sustainability initiatives they wanted to, and less than 3% have accessed green finance in the past three years, highlighting a significant awareness gap.
FuturePlus is your key to future-proofing your positive impact, helping you integrate sustainable practices into your operations, communicate your ambitions, and report on your progress.
If you need help getting started on your sustainability journey or you just want to find out more about us, we’d love to hear from you. [email protected]

Carbon Crunch Workshops for Workspace

Molly and Ellen hosted the second Carbon Crunch Workshops for Workspace customers this week. The session introduced some key carbon essentials and helped workspace customers calculate the emissions impact of using workspace offices.

Workspace’s Sustainability Manager, Melisa Gooding’s Summary:

Behavioural Change: Even though Workspace electricity is renewable, reducing energy is everyone's business. We looked at different behaviours and implementations that can be implemented to reduce energy, such as taking the stairs or fitting LED lights.
Understanding Greenhouse Gases (GHGs): Did you know there are seven primary greenhouse gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere? Together, they make up what we commonly refer to as "carbon emissions"—a term we all need to get familiar with as we strive for sustainability.
The Broad Scope of Carbon Footprints: From the smallest purchases to intangible services like cloud storage, every product and service contributes to a business’s carbon footprint. It’s a vast network, and mapping it is essential to making meaningful change.
Importance of Measuring Carbon Footprint: To manage and reduce environmental impact, you first need to measure it. During the workshop, we calculated Scope 1, 2, and some Scope 3 emissions using a tool.

Nearly one million benefits from all-weather cricket pitches as part of ECB project

Cricket is more accessible than ever, thanks to the installation of over 230 all-weather pitches, with 40 more expected by year-end. This project has already benefited nearly 1 million people, bringing the sport to urban areas traditionally underserved by cricket facilities.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has headed the transformation through partnerships with organisations and businesses such as KP Snacks, Sport England, and the London Cricket Trust (LCT).

The efforts are part of a broader £55 million investment aimed at making cricket the most inclusive team sport in the region.

Key projects include KP Snacks’ “Everyone In” programme, which aims to install 100 non-turf pitches by 2025, and the LCT’s success in bringing cricket back to London’s parks with 94 new pitches and 15 net facilities.

Additionally, IG’s “Net Gains” campaign is funding state-of-the-art training centres, further boosting grassroots cricket.

The ECB’s focus on equity and inclusivity is evident, with £12.7 million invested in women’s and girls’ cricket and nearly £5 million dedicated to diversity initiatives.

“The combined efforts of the ECB, IG, KP Snacks, the London Cricket Trust and many of our other delivery partners across the country are helping to ensure that cricket is accessible to all, bringing the game back to communities that have historically lacked the necessary facilities. By targeting urban areas where the need for facilities is highest, we are not only expanding access but creating long-term opportunities for people from all walks of life to engage with the game.” - Bruce Cruse, Director of Facilities, ECB

Virgin StartUp Empower100 Demo Day

On Thursday, Fiona attended the Virgin StartUp Empower100 Demo Day, where a dynamic group of founders pitched their businesses to investors, mentors, partners and supporters. The event marked the culmination of the 8-week Empower100 accelerator.

The MC was Steven Betts, (from Virgin) and the event was kicked off by Deputy Mayor, Howard Dawber with a heart-warming and passionate talk about the future potential of businesses in London, AI and unicorns.

Highlight stats:

100 founders have completed the programme so far
69% are ethnic minority led businesses
59% are women led businesses
20% are disabled led businesses.

Fiona’s summary:

“We heard from businesses like Enrich360, Frankie's Brownies, and Been London among others.

Frankie Brownies - a confident and charismatic founder who has turned a passion into a scaling business.

Been London - asking themselves the simple question 'What if we could make the stuff we need from the stuff we throw away' - inspiration 2 billion tonnes of waste, only 11% recycled.”

Our co-founders, Mike and Alex, are mentors to the Virgin StartUp Community throughout the programme. It was a fantastic opportunity to support emerging talent and witness the next wave of entrepreneurial success.

Eco-Summit at Chichester College

On Wednesday, two of our Sustainability Executives, Sami and Louisa, participated in the Chichester College Eco-Summit, a sustainability-focused careers day designed to inspire and educate students.

Participation in this event was established through our ongoing collaboration with Chichester District Council to support SMEs in our Accelerator Programme.

Alongside stands from local charities, businesses, and the council, Sami and Louisa engaged students in thought-provoking conversations about sustainability. They explored how everyday activities contribute to emissions, discussed the broader, interconnected aspects of sustainability, including social and community initiatives, and introduced the FuturePlus platform, showcasing its potential to drive positive change.

The day was an incredible opportunity for FuturePlus to learn directly from students about the mindsets of today's younger generation regarding sustainability and how they envision its role in shaping their future.

As a generation poised to make a significant impact, it's crucial for them to recognise the importance of embedding sustainability into every aspect of society. We're proud to be helping equip them with the tools and knowledge to do just that.

14.5 million Brits consider boycotting Black Friday

A new report reveals that 14.5 million UK adults, 27% of the population, are ready to “boycott” Black Friday this year (29 Nov).

According to a survey by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, concerns about the event’s environmental and social impact are driving this trend, with 31% of respondents admitting they “hate” the shopping event.

While Black Friday generates an estimated £3 billion in UK sales, its environmental toll is significant. In 2020, Black Friday-related deliveries in the UK alone produced 429,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Buy Nothing New Month campaign offers an alternative. The initiative, which champions sustainable habits like reusing, repairing, and buying preloved items, aims to reduce waste and encourage thoughtful consumption.
With 63% of adults supporting such campaigns, the push for sustainable shopping is gaining traction.

Are you joining the 'Buy Nothing' movement this year?