• Free mentoring programme helps 28 SMEs to gain a Science Based Target, the gold standard carbon reduction pledge 
• 65,000 tonnes of carbon to be eliminated by 2030 – equivalent to heating 26,000 UK homes a year
• Programme increases number of UK SMEs with Science Based Targets by c20% 

Twenty eight small and medium sized companies are set to gain a Science Based Target, the globally recognised gold standard carbon reduction pledge, in the next few months thanks to a free mentoring programme established by Grosvenor Property UK.

Building on the business’ experience of gaining a validated Science Based Target in 2021, Grosvenor created a free 8-month programme delivered by Heart of The City to help its SME suppliers, those with less than 500 employees, map and reduce their own carbon footprint.

Just 140** UK SMEs have validated near-term targets with the Science Based Targets initiative. With 28 participants committing to gaining validation, this programme will increase the number of small independent businesses with Science Based Targets by c20%.  

Companies including architects, building surveyors and contractors, security, recruitment, construction and maintenance firms gained support across workshops, clinic sessions and 1:1 mentoring in calculating their baseline, setting an action plan and submitting for a validated Science Based Target.

Having baselined their emissions and now committed to achieving a near term Science Based Target, the programme will support the companies in abating an estimated 65,000 tonnes of carbon by 2030, equivalent to heating 26,000 UK homes for a year.

Reasons for joining included low internal resource and knowledge around sustainability, gaining support and peer group networking opportunities as well as ability to meet future client demand for aligned net zero committed partners.

Victoria Herring, Sustainability Programme Director, Grosvenor, commented “Our SME partners are incredibly supportive of our environmental ambitions, but they don’t have the resources of larger businesses. Transformative partnerships are a key part of our own net zero ambition. And, as a critical part of our supply chain we created this programme to help SMEs on their journey but also to support them in remaining competitive with clients.

“The response has been fantastic and we’re proud to be contributing significantly to the number of SME’s with Science Based Targets. We’ll be looking at how we can expand the programme to support other parts of our value chain.”

Maggie Berry OBE, Director, Heart of the City, said “I’m so pleased that at Heart of the City, we’ve been able to help the SMEs in Grosvenor’s supply chain to achieve a science based target. We know that net zero isn’t an easy topic for SMEs – they have limited resources to dedicate to sustainability and are facing many current business challenges. But we also know that SMEs are fundamental to the UK’s economy and as a country, we won’t reach net zero unless all businesses can make changes. That’s why I’m so happy that Grosvenor, as an ambassador for Heart of the City, wanted to commit to helping their SMEs through this mentoring programme. I hope this project will inspire other bigger businesses to think about how they too can offer this kind of practical support to the smaller companies they work with, and I look forward to partnering with those businesses to help more SMEs across the UK make similar steps towards net zero.”

Sam Field, Director - Murray Birrell Chartered Surveyors – the first SME from the programme to achieve a validated target commented: “Murray Birrell are extremely proud to be part of the Science Based Targets initiative.  As a busy SME with limited resources and lack of designated qualified manpower in this discipline, Grosvenor’s initiative has enabled us to commence our pathway to achieving net zero. The scheme has provided us with the calculation tools, support, and motivation to measure our baseline and to create an action plan for moving forwards towards our target. Grosvenor’s invitation to join them on this wonderful initiative has been both invaluable and inspiring.”

Rachael Owens, Head of Sustainability, Buckley Gray Yeoman added: “Thanks to Grosvenor’s support we’ve been able to accelerate the rate at which we’ve scoped our emissions and put targets in place.

“All companies are faced with a mammoth task, and the best intentions won’t be enough. We’re part of an ecosystem in which we’re all connected by our impact on this planet. Science Based Targets are essential in holding ourselves and each other to account and are fundamental to giving practices like ours that ‘north star’ to guide our decision making.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Grosvenor for the support and for nudging us into taking some very big first steps. Our carbon reduction plan will be published by the end of this year.”

Grosvenor’s UK property business has some of the most stretching environmental sustainability targets in its sector. As the first European property company with a long term Science Based Target, it is committed to reducing emissions by 90% by 2040. With supply chain emissions accounting for almost 50% of the business’ carbon footprint between 2019 and 2030, working with partners committed to net zero will be a critical success factor.

By 2030, the business expects 40% of its supply chain by emissions to have a Science Based Target and aims to only award contracts over £1 million to partners with a Science Based Target.

However, success is not achieved by placing excessive demands on suppliers’ businesses, and Grosvenor takes a partnership approach. The launch of the first of its kind programme is one step it is taking in supporting its varied supply chain in taking climate action.

Participating SME’s submitting for, or now with, a validated (+) Science Based Target *:

AKT II                                                                                                                          Mason Navarro Pledge
Buckley Gray Yeoman+                                                                                     Morgan Spencer
Edward Pearce LLP                                                                                            Murray Birrell Ltd +
Elliott Wood                                                                                                            P J Harte Limited
Environmental Dimension Partnership                                                    Pi Group+
Exigere                                                                                                                      SW Bruce & Co Ltd
Gaysha Ltd                                                                                                              Taylor Project Services LLP
GDM                                                                                                                           Terence O'Rourke
Hurst Peirce + Malcolm                                                                                    TF Architecture Ltd
ISS UK                                                                                                                       The Lift Consultancy +
Jackson Lift Group                                                                                              Thompson Cole Limited
Knight Harwood Limited                                                                                  Trident Building Consultancy
Knight Protection Ltd                                                                                        Tuffin Ferraby Taylor LLP
Leslie Clark Construction Consultants                                                     Useful Studio

NB:
*Some of Grosvenor’s SME suppliers already have a Science Based Target or are preparing independently to achieve one.
** Correct as at 4 January 2023

Grosvenor’s property businesses create great places where communities, business and nature thrive globally.

 In London’s West End, we support c11,000 residents, c1,000 businesses and 60,000 workers every day. We also create and manage sustainable neighbourhoods in London, Liverpool and across the South East of England.

 We are one part of a global, family business that has pioneering change and new ways of thinking about property for over 340 years.  Thinking long term allows us to give equal weight to the environmental, social and commercial impact of everything that we do.

 Find out more about Grosvenor Property UK’s environmental sustainability goals here.

Find out more about Science Based Targets for SMEs here.