Government must help us go green, say UK entrepreneurs

UK owner managers are calling for stronger government incentives to encourage green behaviour.

New research by entrepreneur think tank, the Tenon Forum, reveals that almost half (48 per cent) of UK owner managers think the government isn’t doing enough to support their efforts to implement environmentally friendly policies in the workplace, with entrepreneurs citing tax credits as one of the most effective ways for the Chancellor to motivate green behaviour.

Most of the nation’s small businesses, however, are embracing environmental practices in the workplace. The Tenon Forum findings show that three quarters of SMEs recycle paper, eight in ten (81 per cent) entrepreneurs encourage staff to turn off equipment when not in use, and a quarter (24 per cent) promote car sharing and public transport to their employees. Nearly one in ten (9 per cent) small businesses have also measured their carbon footprint.

When it comes to decreasing their carbon footprint, business and finance and retail sectors are leading the way through recycling in the workplace, while the transportation and communication sectors are encouraging staff to turn off computers and printers when not in use.

Andy Raynor, Chief Executive Officer of Tenon, said: UK entrepreneurs are sending out a clear message to government. While most support implementing policies that reduce their environmental impact, they also cannot do so alone. SMEs need government to motivate and reward best environmental practices with tax credits so that green behaviour also makes a genuine difference to their bottom line.