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Scottish Enterprise: free online Net Zero Accelerator tool launched

Scottish Enterprise is to help companies accelerate their net zero targets after research showed fewer than one in ten SMEs has a plan for measuring their carbon output. The agency is promoting a tool which helps companies analyse the impact of their operations on the environment and make the necessary changes.

The free online Net Zero Accelerator tool will support more businesses to develop sustainability plans. It makes recommendations across five key areas on how companies can adapt and work towards developing a practical, data-led, and people-focused net zero roadmap. The tool provides an actionable report that benchmarks a company’s performance and suggests areas of improvement.

Firms using the tool can analyse the impact of their operations on the environment to help identify opportunities to innovate or adapt. The tool also looks at leadership and staff engagement on climate change issues.

In April 2022, the Scottish Government launched an update to the Single Procurement Document (SPD) standardised statements which updated the Environmental Management Criteria, allowing public bodies to ask suppliers for Scottish contracts for information about its capabilities to meet Scotland's climate change targets in the form of a climate change plan.

Ian Carstairs, Sustainability Team Leader at Scottish Enterprise, said: “Scotland hosted COP26 in Glasgow last year, but we need to maintain the momentum and encourage action to further the economic and ecological advantage for Scotland.

The free tool launching today will help more companies accelerate their journey to net zero as Scotland has huge potential in this area and we are fully committed to grasping the net zero opportunities that will deliver a just and fair economic transformation.”

Gillian Cameron, Supplier Development Programme, Programme Manager said:

“Scottish Enterprise are members of the Supplier Development Programme and we are delighted to highlight the launch of the free Net Zero Accelerator tool to help Scottish SMEs work towards a net zero future, the tool will help them create a plan to support their answers for tender questions relating to environmental management.”

Support from the Supplier Development Programme

The Supplier Development Programme provides Scottish SMEs, supported businesses and third sector organisations free tender training to help them get tender ready for any opportunity. View the latest tendering training courses and opportunities to “Meet the Buyer “events can be accessed here.