In March 2025, Heart of the City concluded their Net Zero Accelerator programme – a 10-week pilot designed to help small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) take meaningful climate action.
Small Businesses, Big Impact: Celebrating our Climate for SMEs Journey
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11 April 2025 |
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Over the course of the 10-week programme, 21 SMEs took part in expert-led workshops, receiving tailored guidance, tools, and one-to-one support to measure their baseline carbon footprints and develop practical net zero action plans.
Of these, 17 SMEs are either based in the Square Mile, operate within it, or supply the City of London Corporation. The programme saw an average workshop attendance of 73% — a testament to the commitment and enthusiasm of our members.
So far:
- 62% (13 of 21) SMEs have measured their carbon footprints.
- We project science-aligned emissions reductions of 12,555 tCO2e when these businesses collectively reach net zero.
- Of this, 11 are City SMEs, contributing 9,683 tCO2e in projected reductions.
We’re pleased to report that 11 SMEs have graduated from the programme — meaning they have measured their emissions, developed an action plan, and set science-aligned net zero targets. Nine of these are City-based SMEs.
The final session of the Net Zero Accelerator programme at SBREC
“A big thank you to Katie Rogers and the Heart of the City team for your support and guidance throughout the Net Zero Accelerator programme. Your knowledge and advice throughout was invaluable. I recommend this programme to any SME considering the implications of net zero for their operations or supply chains.” Nick Hamilton, Founder at Data Heat Dynamics
A special thank you goes to the Small Business Research + Enterprise Centre (SBREC) for generously hosting several sessions and helping us kick off the programme in January.
Showcasing Heart of the City’s impact
The end of the Net Zero Accelerator programme also comes at a time where we mark the end of an important phase in our partnership with the City of London Corporation, and say thank you for their continued funding, dedication and support.
To mark the end of this triumphant phase, we launched a mini-documentary to showcase the impact of our Climate for SMEs programme. Created by Verve TV, home of Student Media at London Metropolitan University, the video features stories from SME participants, celebrates our partnership with the City of London Corporation, and highlights how our programme has helped businesses understand net zero and take meaningful first steps steps.
”Our partnership with the City of London Corporation has been groundbreaking in supporting SMEs on their journey to net zero. It’s already led to carbon reduction commitments equivalent to a city the size of Bath!
Andy MeliaDirector at Heart of the City
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Verve TV for their creativity and hard work, and to our featured SMEs Robert Watkins at Sykes & Son Limited, Sarah Williamson at Signature Recruitment, and Harry Furnival-Doran at SD Engineers.
Climate for SMEs – A Legacy
Since its launch in 2021, the Climate for SMEs programme has empowered small businesses to act on climate and social value. In just the past year, we have:
- Supported 213 SMEs to embed net zero in their operations, including 138 in the Square Mile
- Engaged 878 additional SMEs with tools and educational resources like our free Climate Action Toolkit
In addition, across our wider programmes we have also:
- Helped 176 SMEs improve social value by adopting the Living Wage and recycling initiatives
- Enabled 280 ethnic minority-owned SMEs to become supplier-ready through our Minority Business Matters programme with MSDUK
- Hosted 78 events to educate and guide SMEs on climate and social value
Looking ahead
As this phase of the programme comes to a close, Heart of the City continues to be a key delivery partner for the City of London Corporation’s SME Strategy. We will keep supporting SMEs by providing access to expert guidance and networks through workshops, masterclasses, and mentoring — helping them on their responsible business journeys.
Together, we’ll continue driving SME climate action and building a greener, more sustainable future for the Square Mile and beyond.
Thank you once again to all our SMEs, partners, and supporters — your dedication and energy have made this work possible.
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