Press Release
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.
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Notes to Editors
About Tenon
Tenon is a leading provider of accounting and business advice to entrepreneurs. Tenon provides clients with expertise in Business Services, Tax, Financial Services, Corporate Finance, Recovery, Outsourcing and Forensic Accountancy. Tenon is a top 9 accounting firm with 1500 staff operating through a network of 28 offices across the UK offering local expertise with the backing of a national plc.
About the Tenon Forum
A regular survey of SMEs is carried out every six months for the Tenon Forum by GfK NOP. These findings, combined with the analysis by an independent think tank of entrepreneurs, form the Tenon Forum report. The Tenon Forum is an independent think tank made up of leading entrepreneurs from the UK’s small and medium sized business community. The Tenon Forum Think Tank meets to analyse issues arising from this research.
About the research
GfK NOP interviewed 600 MDs, FDs and other senior directors of small and medium businesses - firms with between 5 and 499 employees. The survey covers all business sectors across the whole of England, Scotland and Wales and the results have been weighted to provide a representative sample of the British economy.
Contact
For more information, to arrange an interview with a Tenon Forum spokesperon or case study, please contact Marsha D’Angelo at 020 7419 8630 or marsha@bbpr.com or Heather Wilson 020 7419 7322 or 07968 357327 heather@bbpr.com
