FSB: Small businesses lack the support they need to go green

FSB-ICM research shows that the Government needs to provide better information to small businesses to help them go green.

Small firms feel that energy efficiency can provide their business with cost savings but said they need the Government to put systems and business support incentives in place to help, according to the findings of a Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) survey of 10,000 members.

The survey found that 57 per cent of businesses believe that energy efficiency can provide their business with cost savings but they said that there is insufficient advice for small firms to help them understand the role they can play in the transition to a low carbon economy.

More than half (57%) have changed the way the business operates because of concerns about climate change. Nearly half (47%) of businesses surveyed have recycled waste with 32 per cent reducing energy use and 24 per cent buying energy efficient appliances.

The FSB is calling on the Government to introduce three measures to help small businesses be more environmentally friendly:

An effective smart meter rollout that meets the needs of small businesses
Setting commercially viable rates for Feed-In tariffs for micro-renewable energy facilities
Extending the scope of the Carbon Trust loans programme for small businesses

David Caro, Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses Environment and Energy Committee said: “With the start of the Carbon Reduction Commitment on Thursday 1 April – a mandatory carbon emissions trading scheme for large businesses – small firms are worried that similar tough measures will be forced upon them in the future. In reality, many businesses want to become more environmentally friendly but don’t feel they have the support to do so.

“The FSB believes that the Government needs to give small businesses the incentive to proactively embrace the low carbon agenda rather than force them through heavy handed regulation. We are calling for more tailored advice and support for SME’s so that businesses can maximise energy efficiency and the use of smart metering. It is also important that local recycling infrastructures be put in place to better meet the needs of local businesses that perhaps don’t meet the high levels needed to take advantage of commercial recycling facilities.”

Ends:

Notes to Editors:

1) Full results follow on actions taken by businesses to change the way they operate in the environmental field:

· 47% have recycled waste

· 32% have reduced energy use

· 25% have reduced landfill/amount of rubbish

· 24% bought energy efficient appliances

· 23% raised awareness of waste with staff

· 19% sourced materials locally

· 17% reduced water consumption to save resources

· 15% used raw materials more efficiently

· 7% used and encouraged the use of public transport

· 5% encouraged the use of video and teleconferencing

2) The FSB is the UK’s leading business organisation with over 213,000 members. It exists to protect and promote the interests of the self-employed, and all those who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk

3) The Carbon Reduction Commitment is a mandatory carbon emissions trading scheme to cover all organisations using more than 6,000 MWh per year of electricity (equivalent to an annual electricity bill of about £500,000).

4) For more information on the Carbon Trust loans available to small businesses click here

5) The research was undertaken using a self-completion methodology (postal and online) between September and October 2009, and 9,761 responses were received. The study was carried out by ICM Research on behalf of the FSB.

Media contact:
Sara Lee
020 7592 8113/07595 067068
sara.lee@fsb.org.uk