SMEs say that lockdown has made them braver about the environment

Two thirds of Britain’s SME business leaders say they are now more environmentally conscious in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey, jointly commissioned by Opus Energy and Haven Power. The report claims that small and medium business bosses are having to make bolder decisions as they prepare for a brave new business world. 66 percent say that their own leadership requires a greater degree of bravery in decision making since the pandemic. 

The news comes as the UK begins to move out of lockdown, and businesses begin to identify processes for the new world. Although over half (59 percent) say the pandemic has increased the importance of sustainability, the need to stabilise their business is holding them back from making bigger leaps in the sustainability agenda.

Three quarters (75 percent) of those questioned feel they need to run their businesses differently, with a focus on new ways of working, and almost half (45 percent) are looking to offer the option of working from home as they seek to provide employees with more flexibility.

Paul Sheffield, Managing Director of Drax’s Customer’s Businesses, said: “Dealing with COVID-19 and the climate emergency is the greatest?challenge the world has possibly ever faced. Business leaders recognise they need to be braver and more agile in their decision making to manage short-term priorities of stabilising their businesses and protecting employees. But they also realise that as we navigate out of lockdown, it’s more important than ever to make sure sustainability is at the heart of their operations.

Image by FelixMittermeier