Better Business / YTKO
Campaign to grow Bristol’s sustainable businesses launches this Earth Day
A new campaign hopes to raise awareness of sustainable goals for businesses and the contribution they can make to the city.
The campaign will follow the recent UN Climate Change Conference COP26, and more locally, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees’ One City Plan, which looks to make the city net zero by 2030.
The initiative will be led by YTKO, a company that provides free business support to startup businesses and existing small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) across Bristol and the West of England.
Currently, YTKO runs two programmes – North and East Bristol Enterprise Support (NEBES) and South Bristol Enterprise Support (SBES), which provide fully-funded business support to small businesses in north and east Bristol to help grow local economies and create jobs.
The NEBES and SBES will run as usual with an enhanced focus on sustainability throughout the campaign period and into the future.
Their first event is a Sustainability for Business webinar which will take place on Friday, April 22. The programme aims to promote the steps that startups and existing businesses can take to contribute to the sustainable goals of the city as well as raise the profile of climate issues within the local community.
For every business that enrols in one of YTKO’s support programmes, and for every workshop held, the company has pledged to plant a tree with Forest of Avon Trust.
Speaking about the campaign, Sarah Ives, project director at YTKO, stressed the importance of small businesses owners investing in long-term strategies.
“For some small business owners, the immediate benefits to implementing a sustainability strategy may not seem to be a high priority against the other demands of running a company,” said Sarah.
“However, consumers are making more ethical decisions about purchases and which brands they trust and sustainability credentials are becoming more important in that decision-making process.”
Businesses who have already undertaken YTKO’s programmes include Rosie Reiter, a small business owner who makes art prints. Rosie praised the programme for allowing her to explore different ways to integrate sustainability strategies into her business model.
The campaign will continue until May 31 and you can get your free ticket for the webinar on Friday via www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sustainability-for-business-tickets-305437671297
Main photo: Bristol City Council
Read more: ‘I want to see diverse businesses growing and thriving throughout Bristol’
Listen to the latest Bristol 24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
