Carbon Literacy for SME's and Micro-enterprises - Friday 3rd May

Carbon Literacy training aims to support the transition to a low-carbon culture, foster an understanding of the scale of the climate problem, and encourage participants to take action. If the UK is going to meet its climate targets and transition to Net Zero by 2050 deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are required across all sectors. To achieve this we need to change the culture, as well as the technology.

Attending the course will empower businesses to take positive action by providing the knowledge, skills, and confidence to act to reduce your business's carbon footprint, whilst remaining competitive and resilient to future change.

“As a director of an SME, Fiona’s course stood out as being the most relevant available. I wasn’t disappointed and, since attending I have been much more focused on what I can do to both at work and in my personal life to live and work more sustainably.” Sarah Lambie, Director, Traineasy Ltd.

Along with increasing your knowledge on how to save energy and carbon through behavioral, low-cost, and other measures, know the benefits of being a business with a low-carbon culture. In particular be prepared to benefit from the ever-increasing procurement policies of larger organisations, intent on lowering the emissions from their supply chains.

The training is highly interactive and encourages participants to identify the potential to reduce their personal and business carbon footprint.

As part of the course, participants will be asked to commit to an individual and group action that relates to their specific business. Upon completion, individuals gain a Carbon Literacy Certificate which confirms that they meet the standards required by the Carbon Literacy Project.

​Course content

Held over one day with a morning and afternoon session.

Part 1. Friday 3rd May - 9.30 - 12.30 pm

&

Part 2. Friday 3rd May 1.30 - 4.00 pm

Part 1

This course provides participants with knowledge and skills around.

• Climate science & the bigger picture - economic and legislative drivers for action
• Business benefits of committing to act.
• How to get to Net Zero - Key steps
• Carbon accounting - understanding your business emissions and measuring your Carbon Footprint.
• Setting science-based targets that support the pathway to reduce global warming by 1.5 degrees.

Part 2

• Action planning - identifying 'hot spots' for energy saving and carbon reduction.
• Resources available and where to go for expert advice.
• Communicating climate action - employee engagement, avoiding greenwashing, and ensuring you don’t miss out on future opportunities.
• Links to wider sustainability reporting.

The course requires 1 hour of pre-learning and further to the training completion of the Carbon Literacy Project 'evidence form' where participants identify one individual and business action relating to their enterprise. Support is provided with this.

Who should attend?

• Business Owners
• Staff with responsibility for carbon reduction/Net Zero or sustainability
• Managers
• Employees
• Self-employed

Business benefits

The business benefits are clear. Evidence shows that consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious and are increasingly supporting more sustainable businesses. Likewise, larger organisations that smaller businesses supply to, are also looking for the environmental credentials of those they purchase from. You as their supplier form part of their overall supply chain and consequently carbon footprint.

Other benefits include lower energy and business running costs, a cleaner environment, and a healthier workforce. Action in this area also supports wider sustainability goals and reporting.

Other dates

All other dates can be seen at www.carbonscope.co.uk

The cost of the training is £120. Upon completion, participants will gain a Carbon Literacy Certificate confirming they meet the standards required by the Carbon Literacy Project.

About your trainer

Fiona Swan set up Carbonscope in response to the Climate Emergency. During the Pandemic Fiona undertook the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership course Business Climate Change - Transition to Net Zero, which looked at what large businesses should do to make the transition. The course had numerous representatives from large global brands, all with significant resources to enable action to be taken. This made Fiona think, well what are Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) doing in this area?

​SMEs make up 99% of all businesses in the UK and contribute to 25% of UK emissions. Currently, only 1 in 10 firms are measuring their Carbon Footprint. British Chamber of Commerce.

Carbonscope aims to help businesses meet sustainability goals and take positive steps towards UK Net Zero targets.

“If the UK is to stand even a chance of hitting the net zero target by 2050 then businesses must be put at the heart of the strategy to achieve it. They will be the ones who create and produce the technology to allow us all to live greener lives and will be vital in driving the consumer behavior required to reach net zero. It will also be business that provides one of the biggest dents in CO2 emissions by making the transition themselves." Shevaun Haviland, Director General British Chamber of Commerce.

​Fiona Swan has an MSc in Thermal Energy Processes from Cranfield University and a BSc in Environmental Science from Coventry University. She has worked extensively in the energy/climate change industry since 1995 on various projects and initiatives for Energy Saving Trust, The Centre for Sustainable Energy, and the European Commission. She's also interested in climate adaptation and has worked at the Environment Agency as Regional Climate Change Adaptation Co-ordinator. See Fiona' LinkedIn Profile

As a qualified teacher in further and adult education, Fiona now provides Carbon Literacy Training for SMEs and Micro-enterprises which the Carbon Literacy Project endorses.