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Net Zero: MK

What’s good for the planet can also be good for business, so if your organisation is based in Milton Keynes and you are looking to cut carbon emissions, save money and minimise waste, we are here to help.

Net Zero MK is a new project that aims to support businesses in Milton Keynes on their journey to Net Zero.

• Ever wondered what your business’s impact is on the turbulent environment we live in? We’ll tell you your carbon footprint and help you reduce it. 
• Bring your questions and concerns to our environmental experts for their unbiased advice.
• Reduce energy bills by reducing energy waste – we’ll help you set realistic and practical actions.
• You’ll get a Net Zero Action Plan, clearing your path towards Net Zero and showing your customers that you care.
• Improve your energy security in volatile times – we’ll tell you about more support to improve your energy efficiency.

What is involved?

This is a time-limited and fully-funded offer.

• Register your interest in acting on your carbon emissions
• Book a 30-minute appointment to walk through a carbon calculator with one of our Low Carbon Advisers
• Receive a bespoke Decarbonisation Plan and 1-2-1 support
• Access a £250 voucher to help you implement carbon-saving initiatives in your business
• Attend workshops and events which will help you connect and collaborate with other businesses going through the same journey, as well as demystify climate jargon

Who is it for?

Net Zero MK is for all small and medium-sized businesses in Milton Keynes with an aspiration to understand their current carbon footprint so that they can measure and set targets to reduce their carbon emissions.

The Net Zero MK project is part of Milton Keynes City Council’s £500,000 Green Business Recovery Fund which is intended to help local businesses improve their green offer to local residents and create more sustainable jobs.

Net Zero MK is funded by Milton Keynes City Council and delivered by Ngage Solutions in partnership with Buckinghamshire Business First.

If your business is based outside of Milton Keynes, please contact Digital Future First to find out what other ways we can help.

SEMLEP’s Growth Hub launches a Cost of Living Business Support Hub to help local organisations find the support they need

Many businesses are under pressure because of recent price rises. In response to the energy situation, the UK Government has announced a cap on wholesale business energy bills to help keep costs down.

However, in addition to this new support from the Government, there is plenty that businesses can do to help mitigate these price rises, and there are a wealth of existing tools, resources, programmes, and information already available to assist.

To make accessing these as easy as possible, SEMLEP’s Growth Hub has created a Cost of Living Businesses Support Hub, collecting together a wide range of resources for businesses. These resources are grouped into three broad categories:

• Boosting business resilience and maintaining growth.
• Reducing costs by increasing the efficiency and sustainability of your business.
• Helping you maintain the mental and physical wellbeing of yourself and your staff members.

The Cost of Living Businesses Support Hub is searchable by geographical area to give organisations the most accurate information.

Vicky Hlomuka, SEMLEP’s Growth Hub Manager, said: “We know that a lot of business owners are concerned about rising costs and how these might affect their businesses. Fortunately, there are already lots of great tools and resources out there to help them cut their costs, build resilience and look after their staff. It’s really important that businesses are aware of the help that’s available to them, and the Cost of Living Business Support Hub is an excellent way of achieving this.”

Posted by SEMLEP (South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership)

Digital Skills Bootcamps are now available.

What are Digital Skills Bootcamps?

Flexible training courses for aged 19 and over to fast-track specialist skill development, for existing or new talent for your business.

Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for adults aged 19 or over. They give people the opportunity to build up valuable sector-specific skills based on local employer demand and provide a direct path to a job on completion.

Skills Bootcamps are primarily aimed at delivering flexible training at levels 3-5 (medium to higher level technical skills), and level 2 in some sectors.

They are co-designed or shaped with employers to respond to their skills shortages.

This training is for adults who are either in work, self-employed, unemployed or returning to work after a break.

Skills Bootcamps are available in:

• digital courses such as digital marketing or coding

• technical training in areas like construction, logistics (HGV driving) or engineering

• green skills, for instance solar energy or agriculture technology

Employers can work with training providers to develop and deliver Skills Bootcamps to help them fill skill shortage vacancies.

Employer cost

There is no cost to employers who recruit individuals who have completed a Skills Bootcamp.

Employers contribute to the cost of training if they want to use Skills Bootcamps to train their existing employees.

Large employers contribute 30% of the cost, and small or medium employers (SMEs) contribute 10%.

Existing employees may need time to study and attend classes depending on their working hours and status and the flexibility of the course.

Benefits of Skills Bootcamps

They help your business:

• develop a loyal and talented workforce with the skills you need quickly

• futureproof your business in a rapidly changing labour market

• improve your productivity; learners are motivated to learn new skills, provide new ideas and a fresh perspective

• recruit staff with the right training and skills from the outset

• get access to a pipeline of skilled adults by working with existing Skills Bootcamp providers