Hosted by Groundwork Greater Manchester

It’s a word used a lot, but what does sustainability mean? Here at Groundwork, we believe it’s about prioritising people and planet as equally as profit. We believe that the transition to net-zero should be fair and inclusive, allowing businesses, communities, and nature to thrive.

We’ve supported businesses with sustainability initiatives for over 30 years, reducing carbon emissions, diversifying workforces, and supporting community projects.

Sustainable Business Membership

Our Sustainable Business Membership scheme is an easy and effective way for businesses to understand & enhance their sustainability performance, whilst simultaneously joining a network of local, like-minded businesses.

Members are supported to go beyond net-zero targets with an annual sustainability assessment, which tracks not only a business’s carbon emissions but their wider environmental and social activity.

The Sustainable Business Membership scheme provides a framework that helps businesses progress on a journey to sustainability, at their own pace, with our sustainability experts on hand to guide them along the way.

Sustainability Assessment

Although the businesses we support are all at different stages of their sustainability journey, Sustainable Business Members all share the ambition to be more sustainable than they were in previous years.

The businesses we work with all commit to an annual sustainability assessment, undertaken within the first 3 months of membership, which reviews their environmental, social, and economic commitments and activities in seven areas:

  1. Sustainability policies
  2. Waste & recycling
  3. Energy & carbon
  4. Travel
  5. Training & awareness
  6. Nature & biodiversity
  7. Supporting the local community

Groundwork’s sustainability consultants will complete the assessment with the business online, asking to see evidence of work and providing guidance and template documents where needed.

Once the sustainability assessment has been reviewed by our consultants, members are acknowledged at bronze, silver, or gold level, which they can celebrate and share with their stakeholders.

Membership Benefits

In addition to the sustainability assessment, we are committed to building a community of likeminded businesses and supporting those businesses to improve their understanding of sustainability.

Each month we host a Sustainability Surgery, where members can discuss their
sustainability challenges with our consultants and other members.

Sustainable Business Members will also receive a monthly e-newsletter that provides
suggestions on how to engage your workforce in a different area of sustainability each month, linked to significant events such as World Environment Day and Clean Air Day. These newsletters are supported by quarterly webinars, providing Sustainability Leaders in your organisation with the opportunity to delve into more detail and to ask questions to our consultants and industry guests.

For businesses looking to speed up their journey to sustainability, additional business support is available from our sustainability consultants, with members benefiting from a 15% discount on their first two consultancy days.

Additional Business Support

Our experienced team can help businesses progress on their journey with the following additional services:

  • Carbon Footprinting
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Environmental Training (including Carbon Literacy)
  • Sustainability Audit
  • Pollution Prevention
  • Landscape Design & Build
  • Community & Climate Action Programme Development

Get Started

Sustainable Business Membership fees start at £499 + VAT for one year.

To discuss joining, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on sbs@groundwork.org.uk or call 0161 220 1000.