The Willow Review offers the following recommendations to government, SMEs, and financial services to ensure UK small businesses realise the commercial case for sustainability.
The Review highlights the importance of Government developing long-term consistency and clarity around policy and regulation as it impacts SMEs, ensuring that they can have confidence in their sustainability efforts.
Government
Local Sustainability Champions - Assign sustainability champions at the council level to provide tailored support to SMEs, linking to local funding.
Reframe Sustainability Messaging - Focus on growth, competitiveness, and profitability rather than compliance to better engage SMEs.
Campaign to Enhance uptake of existing resources - Develop ways to enhance uptake of existing resources such as UK Business Climate Hub
Support SME Transition through engaging landlords to facilitate SME energy usage transition.
Improve Access to Finance - Improve visibility and accessibility of sustainability grants by simplifying application processes and enhancing signposting; consider adapting existing initiatives such as Start-Up Loans with Green-Up Loans to support transition.
Small Businesses
Adopt a 5-Point Plan for Sustainability – Encourage SMEs to take 5 simple, actionable steps:
Switch to sustainable materials.
Reduce travel and optimise logistics.
Minimise waste through circular economy initiatives.
Adopt renewable energy sources.
Partner with sustainable suppliers and clients
Join SME Sustainability Networks – Participate in mentoring programmes and networks to share best practices, facilitated by Government, financial services and business support organisations.
Financial Services
Provide Green Finance Education – Offer advisory services to help SMEs understand green commercial opportunities.
Support Sustainable Business Planning – Help SMEs develop business plans that clarify return on investment (ROI) for sustainability initiatives.
Innovate Green Finance – Explore new green finance options as SME demand grows.
