Adapting Sustainable Processes Will Benefit Your Business

Tuesday 1 September 2020

Businesses are facing increasingly challenging trading conditions.

Ongoing supply chain disruption, not to mention stabilising post-pandemic; and the direct or indirect impact of recent increases in energy prices, are some of the biggest challenges currently facing businesses.

The manufacturing, construction and hospitality sectors have been disproportionately impacted.

So, it’s perhaps not surprising that against this backdrop businesses are looking to develop and adapt energy efficiency to sustain longer term resilience and help deliver net zero ambitions.

Fife Council Economic Development is encouraging businesses to invest the time to look at their operations and take advantage of the support available to make sustainable changes and remain competitiveness in an ever-changing landscape. There is a range of support available, from national and local economic development services, which are seeking businesses to engage to mitigate and reduce the risks from some of the current and emerging challenges, and position well for the future.

Pamela Stevenson, Service Manager, Economic Development, Business and Employability at Fife Council, commented:

“With the current pressures that businesses are under, efficiency and sustainability need to be at the top of their list of priorities. Diagnostic assessment will help reduce the risk for businesses, identify solutions, unlock support to enable investment. Whether this be micro energy generation on site solutions, cooperative buying to negotiate with suppliers or investing in new energy efficient plant and equipment.

“There are also many benefits that sustainable changes can create, such as reducing emissions through energy efficiencies, re-directing waste, improved competitiveness via digital adaption and green workforce upskilling, as well as preparing for upcoming environmental legislation.”

Pamela added:

“The first step to assessing a business’ carbon footprint, is to undertake an energy audit and sustainability health check, which is available via our partner, Scottish Enterprise.  Information about available funding such as the Net Zero Transition Fund, a small non-repayable grant to help businesses make progress towards net zero carbon emissions, can be sought from Business Gateway Fife. And, there’s also Scottish Enterprise’s  Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund, a scaled fund supporting innovative projects that will reduce carbon emissions in the manufacturing sector.”

To find out more about business energy audits, sustainability health checks, funding availability, and general business support, email Business Gateway Fife: success@bgfife.co.uk.