Grosvenor has helped put 28 of its SME suppliers on track to gain a Science Based Target in the next few months thanks to a free eight-month mentoring programme established by the developer.
Suppliers including architects, building surveyors and contractors, security, recruitment, construction and maintenance firms, gained support across workshops, clinic sessions and 1:1 mentoring in calculating their baseline, setting an action plan and submitting for a validated Science Based Target, which is the globally recognised gold standard carbon reduction pledge.
Maggie Berry OBE, director at Heart of the City, which delivered the eight-month mentoring programme, said “I’m so pleased that at Heart of the City, we’ve been able to help the SMEs in Grosvenor’s supply chain to achieve a science based target. We know that net zero isn’t an easy topic for SMEs – they have limited resources to dedicate to sustainability and are facing many current business challenges. But we also know that SMEs are fundamental to the UK’s economy and as a country, we won’t reach net zero unless all businesses can make changes.
“That’s why I’m so happy that Grosvenor, as an ambassador for Heart of the City, wanted to commit to helping their SMEs through this mentoring programme. I hope this project will inspire other bigger businesses to think about how they too can offer this kind of practical support to the smaller companies they work with, and I look forward to partnering with those businesses to help more SMEs across the UK make similar steps towards net zero.”
Sam Field, director at Murray Birrell Chartered Surveyors, the first SME from the programme to achieve a validated target, said: “Murray Birrell is extremely proud to be part of the Science Based Targets initiative. As a busy SME with limited resources and lack of designated qualified manpower in this discipline, Grosvenor’s initiative has enabled us to commence our pathway to achieving net zero. The scheme has provided us with the calculation tools, support, and motivation to measure our baseline and to create an action plan for moving forwards towards our target. Grosvenor’s invitation to join them on this wonderful initiative has been both invaluable and inspiring.”
Rachael Owens, head of sustainability at Buckley Gray Yeoman, added: “Thanks to Grosvenor’s support we’ve been able to accelerate the rate at which we’ve scoped our emissions and put targets in place. All companies are faced with a mammoth task, and the best intentions won’t be enough. We’re part of an ecosystem in which we’re all connected by our impact on this planet.
“Science Based Targets are essential in holding ourselves and each other to account and are fundamental to giving practices like ours that ‘north star’ to guide our decision making. We’re incredibly grateful to Grosvenor for the support and for nudging us into taking some very big first steps. Our carbon reduction plan will be published by the end of this year.”
