Castle Hedingham Parish Council

Businesses can now learn how to be greener with Essex County Council's easily digestible Great Start programme.

A series of free educational videos aim to support local businesses on their journey to becoming net zero.

The benefits of being a green business are plentiful. Not only can organisations save money, but they also enhance their reputation.

Greener businesses also often experience boosted staff morale. Furthermore, sustainable practices can unlock new market opportunities and drive innovation.

The new videos are available to businesses of all shape and sizes across Greater Essex. Available on YouTube, the ever-expanding series covers a range of content for supporting the transition to net-zero.

Some of the topics covered include developing a Sustainability Action Plan and establishing green procurement practices.

With hundreds of views secured within the weeks of launching, the demand for this easy-to-digest content is clearly strong.

The team behind the initiative is now reviewing feedback and engagement to inform new content, helping to keep the modules fresh and relevant.

To reward viewers for their learning, each business or individual will receive a digital badge for every module completed by scanning the QR code at the end of each video. Businesses and individuals can proudly display these on their digital platforms to demonstrate their sustainability commitments to partners and clients.

Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability said: “The Great Start programme is an invaluable tool for businesses to help them develop sustainable practices. It also helps them meet national and international regulations and stay competitive in a fast-changing market. This programme is for all businesses of any sector to ensure we are all on the same ambitious journey to net-zero.

“Our goal is to ensure our business community is not left behind in the shift to greener ways of working. We encourage feedback from businesses — after all the programme was born from local organisations expressing their interest in sustainability, but not quite knowing where to start on their journeys.”

Councillor Peter Schwier, Essex County Council Climate Czar and Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling added: “We are committed to reaching our net zero goals by 2050 and bringing businesses along with us. The programme is an essential tool to ensure organisations are set to thrive in a greener economy.

“This programme complements our newly updated Business Advice Pack, offering businesses easy-to-follow advice for cutting their environmental impact. With these new resources under their belt, we’re confident our business community have the tools they need to significantly reduce their carbon footprint and make Essex a greener and healthier place for everyone.”

View the full Great Start programme and start your journey towards a sustainable future.