City leaders unite at Climate Action for SMEs event

City-based small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gathered at Mansion House this month for Heart of the City’s annual Climate Action for SMEs breakfast event to discuss how to take positive action against the climate crisis.

Hosted by the charity’s co-president, the Rt Hon Lord Mayor of London, Michael Mainelli, the event offered SMEs a unique opportunity to discover how to get started their net zero journey, learn about the City of London’s role in driving positive climate action, and hear success stories from businesses who have completed our Climate for SMEs: 4 Steps to Action course, funded by the City of London Corporation.

“Unifi.id has been one of the first companies to graduate from Heart of the City’s programme, and we are hugely enthusiastic about ensuring other companies also benefit from this invaluable experience. The Climate for SMEs: 4 Steps to Action course offers a clear and manageable pathway to developing a net zero action plan, making it accessible and actionable for SMEs operating within the Square Mile” comments Paul Sheedy, Founder of Unifi.id.

Guest speakers from SD Engineers including Co-Founder & Director Mike Davies, Project Structural Engineer Harry Furnival-Doran, and Graduate Structural Engineer Oscar Tyson Blake shared inspirational insights into their journey on our Climate course, highlighting the tangible business benefits and positive outcomes that can be achieved whilst demonstrating why and how SMEs should approach net zero.

We were honoured to have a selection of facilitators at the event to coordinate table discussions on net zero and offer practical guidance on how to make a positive impact on the planet.

“Having been on our net zero journey with Heart of the City for three years now, we were invited to attend the event as expert advisors to help others just starting out. Great to see so much enthusiasm and commitment from the City’s many SME’s to both play their part, and encourage their suppliers, customers and clients to take action to develop their entire net zero supply chain” – Jon Bradbury, Partner and Executive Business Coach at The Berkeley Partnership

Heart of the City would like to extend a huge thank you to the Lord Mayor, Michael Mainelli, for hosting this important event, and spotlighting why climate action is important. We also thank our fantastic guest speakers Mike Davies, Oscar Tyson Blake, and Harry Furnival-Doran for sharing their stories and insights on how small businesses can approach net zero, and why they should.

If you’re a small business based in or operating in the Square Mile, get in touch to find out how you can develop your net zero plan and start taking action. Email a member of our team here: info@theheartofthecity.com

Start your journey to net zero today

Climate for SMEs: 4 Steps to Action

Our Climate for SMEs: 4 Steps to Action course is designed to support SMEs through four comprehensive modules with guidance from a wide range of industry experts. The modules cover the basics of net zero, how to build the business case, measuring your carbon footprint and ending with a net zero action plan.

The course is flexible, combining workshops, masterclasses, and online resources. It is free for SMEs based or operating in the Square Mile, funded by the City of London Corporation as part of their Climate Action Strategy.

Click here to apply 

Climate Action Toolkit

Our Climate Action Toolkit is a free online resource, designed for SMEs in collaboration with experts in sustainability and climate change to guide you through the four online courses from our climate course.

Click here to download our Climate Action Toolkit.