Opportunity Harlow, Breakfast Meeting: Sustainability: What is it and why is it important?

With Rob Robinson, Sustainable Business Project Manager, LoCASE

Sustainability – What is it and why is it important when bidding

With more emphasis placed on sustainability and carbon usage, businesses today should have an environmental strategy or policy outlining how much carbon they are using, or contributing to, which is a necessary first step towards reducing it. Importantly, evidence of sustainability and carbon reduction are increasingly being taken into consideration by buyers when awarding contracts.

To accredit a business’s capability by calculating how much carbon it uses, there is an ISO standard 14001 on Environmental Management Systems. An increasing number of buyers specify ISO 14001 accreditation from suppliers as part of their purchasing policies. Even buyers who don’t expect the ISO standard, may still want suppliers to have an environmental strategy or policy, and be able to report on progress made towards its goals.

The speaker will be Rob Robinson from the LoCase project, which offers free training to companies in Essex called Steps to Environmental Management. He will outline the processes and systems you need to follow to help you design your environmental strategy.

Who is this event for?

This event is for suppliers in and around Harlow that want to learn more about sustainability and carbon reduction. Businesses who don’t have an environmental strategy or are unsure of buyers’ expectations should attend. Even those that do have an environmental strategy can discover how LoCase offer match funded grants of up to £10k towards a technology that reduces the carbon in a business.

Learning Outcomes

1. What is business sustainability and why is it important?
2. What environmental policies do buyers expect from suppliers?
3. Processes and systems to help design your environmental strategy.

12th May 2022 8:00 am – 9:30 am

Programme

• 8am – Registration, breakfast and refreshments, networking
• 8.15am – Presentation
• 9.15am – Networking
• 9.30am – Close

Meet your speaker

Rob Robinson, Sustainable Business Programme Manager, Kent County Council

Rob heads up the Low Carbon Kent team at Kent County Council. Low Carbon Kent is the business-facing arm of Sustainable Business & Communities. It brings together a range of projects and programmes (including LoCASE), that aim to support and grow the low carbon economy. Low Carbon Kent works across Kent, Medway, and the wider South-East region.

Rob has a broad knowledge of (and access to) many business support opportunities. This includes the last tranche of EU-funded grants through LoCASE and C-Care. Helping firms design and carry out a range of plans for a green recovery. Rob can also highlight support. Helping you find ways to baseline your carbon footprint. Supporting your work with supply chains and local firms, to reduce and re-purpose a range of waste streams.

Venue

Harlow Study Centre, Netteswellbury Farm, Harlow, CM18 6BW