120+ SMEs supported
Plain-English approach
We’ve worked with 120+ SMEs across the UK – directly and through Net Zero Horizons – and the shape is the same: cut costs, secure funding, train the team. If you’re completely new to sustainability, that’s exactly the right starting point. We meet you where you are.
SMEs supported
Cheapest entry
Funding secured
Why SMEs work with us
Forget virtue signalling. The reason SME owners pick up the phone is the same every time: it pays back. Here’s how.
01
Looking properly at energy, waste, logistics and procurement nearly always finds 8–18% cost reduction in year-one operating spend. We map where the savings are, you act on them, and the savings pay for the next phase of work.
02
Solar, heat pumps, EV infrastructure, energy efficiency – most SMEs don’t realise that the kit they want is often grant-funded or eligible for low-carbon finance. We’ve secured multi-millions for clients. Most don’t know which fund applies to them; we do, and we write the bid.
03
Sustainability sections now make up 10–30% of the score on most public-sector and large-corporate tenders. SMEs typically lose marks here against larger competitors who have full sustainability teams. We close the gap so you compete on a level playing field.
Advisory · Why now
A lot of SME owners we speak to feel that sustainability is something they’ll get to “next year.” In our experience, businesses that do something modest now end up far better placed than those that wait. Here’s why.
01
Large companies are now legally required to ask their suppliers for carbon and sustainability information. If your biggest customer is in CSRD or TCFD scope, those data requests are coming — often within the next 12 months. Having something credible to send them keeps you in the supply chain.
02
Public-sector and large-corporate tenders now allocate 10–30% of marks to sustainability and social value. SMEs that turn up with a costed plan and a trained team consistently out-score competitors who don’t.
03
Lending and insurance terms are increasingly affected by your climate position. Small businesses with a clear footprint and a plan are unlocking better lending rates, longer terms and lower premiums.
04
The exercise of measuring your footprint nearly always finds 8–18% in operational savings (energy, waste, logistics, procurement). Most SME engagements pay for themselves inside year one – before you count any tender wins or funding.
05
Younger workers in trades, hospitality, logistics and professional services routinely ask about sustainability at interview. Having a real answer is a recruitment edge — particularly in tight labour markets.
06
The threshold for mandatory reporting is dropping every year. SMEs that start with a Quick-Start or a short engagement now build the muscle gradually. SMEs that wait pay more later, in a hurry.
Entry points
If you’re not sure which is right for you, book a 15-minute call. We’ll be honest about which one fits — and which doesn’t.
01
A live, tailored 90-minute briefing for your leadership team. You leave with a one-page action plan you can use the same week.
02
Practical, hands-on support for a single project, scoped to what you need. Working alongside your team to deliver one piece of work and hand it over.
03
A full 12-month renewing engagement, sized for SMEs. Plan, training, reporting and funding all under one team. Lock Stock are our flagship example.
"We left with a one-page action plan, a funded Solar Panel bid and a bilingual training programme for our team. None of which we'd have done on our own this year without support."
Common questions
Yes – SMEs are the heart of what we do. We’ve worked with 80+ businesses directly and another 40 through Net Zero Horizons. The work is sized to fit SME budgets and SME calendars – short engagements, plain language, real outcomes you can see in the P&L.
Most SMEs we meet have never thought about sustainability formally. That’s fine – that’s our starting line. Book a free 15-minute call, we’ll walk you through what’s involved in plain English, tell you whether a Quick-Start, a funded programme or the full Package is the right fit, and let you take the decision in your own time.
Anything from a 90-minute Quick-Start to a full 12-month renewing Sustainability Package (Lock Stock Self Storage are our flagship example of the longer engagement). Most SMEs first land in the 3-month range – a clear plan, training for the team, and a first funded application.
Across SME engagements, the operational savings we find (energy, waste, logistics, procurement) typically more than cover the cost of the engagement inside year one. On top of that, most SMEs see a step-change in their tender win rate where sustainability scoring is applied. The numbers usually move quickly.
Book a free 15-minute call. We’ll tell you in plain English which funded programmes you’re eligible for, what a Quick-Start would cover, and whether the full Package would suit your business.
Get in touch with the One Earth Education team!
