Meet the Leicester businesses aiming to reach net zero by 2030

Some 70 Leicestershire businesses have signed up to a year-long carbon emissions reduction programme in partnership with sustainability platform Zellar.

Supported by the Leicester Business Gateway and LLEP, Zellar aims to help Leicestershire businesses reach Net Zero by 2030, well ahead of government targets.

Zellar celebrated its Leicester launch with an event at The National Space Centre earlier this week (Tuesday 2nd November) celebrating the 70 companies across Leicestershire already going green by joining Zellar. These include: NS Engineering, MWS, DPI (UK), KS Composites, James Sellick, Countrywide, Boards4Agents, Three Point Design, Rosie Made a Thing, Pure Table Top, Northfield Farm and R&T Ensor.

Zellar helps businesses tap into growing consumer demand for green business by making sustainability an accessible and affordable reality for small businesses. The platform brings together all the services SMEs need to benchmark, manage, offset and promote during their sustainability journey. It also allows companies to support local biodiversity projects, find volunteering opportunities and adopt green technology or energy.

Hosted by Chris Brindley MBE, chair of Zellar, the event featured a panel discussion from industry-leading sustainability experts and local business leaders including: Chas Bishop, CEO of The National Space Centre; Nigel Reynolds, Chief Information Officer of Mattioli Woods; professor Rick Greenough, head of energy at De Montfort University; Catherine Douglas, CEO of Small Business at Co-Op Bank; and Sue Tilley, head of business & innovation at LLEP.

Syyles said: “I’m passionate about helping small businesses become more sustainable because I care about the planet we’re leaving behind for our children. I’m glad I’m not alone – it’s so motivating to have had such a positive response from so many Leicestershire businesses that want to make real change by going green. We invite more businesses – both locally and across the UK – to join us and lead the way in reaching Net Zero by 2030, well ahead of government targets.”

Tina Tailor of Boards4Agents said: “I am excited about getting started with this programme as we really want our business to become more sustainable.”

Marianne Chala, director of Willoughby Book Club, said: “Here at The Willoughby Book Club we’re deeply invested in making sustainability central to how we work, and we’re looking forward to working with Zellar and other businesses in the Leicester area on our journey toward improvement.”

Peter Charlesworth, Zellar’s COO, said: “We understand that businesses face many challenges in trying to reach Net Zero, and it’s not always easy to know where to start. That’s why we created Zellar. Until now, smaller companies would have had to rely on several different consultants, brokers and apps, which is time consuming and doesn’t guarantee success. Helping smaller businesses will make a huge difference in our national efforts to reach net zero.”

Zellar has been in development for two years and 90 Leicestershire-based businesses are already signed up, with the platform now available to businesses across the UK. For more information and to sign up, visit: https://zellar.com/