South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) has increased its commitment to supporting small businesses better manage their environmental impacts and reap the benefits of going green.

SLDC has increased its contribution to its partnership with Green Small Business (GSB) to offer a heavily subsidised deal for businesses to get environmental advice and certification.

GSB provides streamlined environmental management systems and net zero support for small businesses. Their environmental action planning and certification package, which includes 12 months Green Small Business certification, usually costs from £299. SLDC is paying 50 per cent of these costs for businesses in South Lakeland.

The package of support includes:

• A high-level but systematic review of the environmental impacts of the business (via video-call or phone)
• A draft environmental action plan and policy for the business, to adjust as necessary
• 12 months Green Small Business certification

The benefits to a small business of becoming Green Small Business certified include:

• Providing evidence of environmentally-friendly practices which can help secure contracts with government, public or private sector bodies
• Saving money by understanding and managing how you use energy and water, where your raw materials come from and how you dispose of waste
• Enhancing reputation by demonstrating commitment to the environment to clients, customers and potential customers
• Improving your environmental performance by reducing resource use, energy use and waste

If you are a business based in South Lakeland, email info@greensmallbusiness.com to receive your discount code.

To find out more and read feedback from other businesses who have accessed support visit Green Small Business.