Sustainability Cafe: Net Zero
This in person meet up will discuss net zero: what it means, how to achieve it and the implications for small businesses & organisations.
What's it about?
The first in a monthly programme of informal events will explore the topic of Net Zero. What does it mean, what are the implications for businesses and how can it be achieved?
The session will take place at Flo’s, The Place in the Park, and will be led by local sustainability and social innovation expert, Julian Cottee.
The aim is to encourage an informal but supportive environment for businesses to:
- be inspired and learn from others
- share knowledge and examples of best practise
- develop your own sustainability strategy and policies
- encourage collaborations and partnership development
- stimulate interest and thinking on what is desirable and possible
Themes and topics for the Sustainability Cafe sessions will include:
- Net zero - what it means, how to achieve it, implications for SMEs
- The food system - how to think about impacts and how to make change
- Biodiversity - why it's important now and how to save it through what you do as a business
- Retrofitting your business
- Waste and circular economy
- Green finance, pensions and investments
Flo's lovely cafe will be open for drinks for the first half an hour of each event.
There will be a short inspiring talk followed by time for questions and discussion.
This month's speakers
Julian Cottee
Julian is a sustainability and innovation expert, who works with Oxfordshire-based sustainability advisory firm, 3Keel. Julian was a co-founder of Good Food Oxford and has also worked with the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford. He is a trustee of PPP Ltd.
Alison Grunewald
Alison Grunewald, from the Low Carbon Hub will speak about the role of energy efficiency and renewable measures in achieving net zero. She will give details of the fully funded support available for businesses through the Hub's Energy Solutions Oxfordshire programme, using their support for Flo's premises as an example. The Low Carbon Hub is a non-profit making social enterprise that’s out to prove we can meet our energy needs in a way that’s good for people and good for the planet.
The venue
Flo’s is a Community Benefit Society and Social Enterprise Hub with community-owned café, nursery, refill shop, community midwives clinics and more. Based in Florence Park, it opened in September 2018 and has become a popular place for people to meet, eat, work, play, create, and learn. Located in the middle of a park with a strong environmental ethos it has nature in mind and wellbeing at its heart.
Flo's is run by People Place and Participation Ltd (PPP Ltd) - a charitable community benefit society which set up Flo's - the Place in the Park as a community enterprise hub. Flo's is currently on a journey to reduce 0 carbon through solar power, energy efficiency measures and better waste management.
About eScalate
eScalate, is a three-year project, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which runs until September 2022 to support Social Enterprises, social entrepreneurs, enterprising charities and purposeful businesses in Oxfordshire. Support includes one to ones, workshops and peer support sessions.
For more information about the eScalate programme, visit www.oxfordshirelep.com/escalate
Please note that this event is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is delivered as part of the eScalate programme to help SMEs. By engaging in this programme you are being offered assistance under the De Minimis regulation which allows a company to receive up to but not exceeding €200,000 of public funding (at the applicable exchange rate) of De Minimis aid over a rolling three-tax year fiscal period. This De Minimis declaration does not cover undertakings engaged in: the primary production of agricultural goods and fisheries/aquaculture, road freight, services of general economic interest and export related activities and activities favouring domestic over imported goods. Please note, support cannot be given to undertakings (businesses) in difficulty. In order to receive support from this programme, you will be required to complete an application form and other relevant documentation. If you need to check your current position for state aid please contact us. If you would like any further information on De Minimis aid and Special Drawing Rights (SDR) subsidies, please see the state aid page on the OxLEP Business website:
https://www.oxlepbusiness.co.uk/state-aid