2030hub and East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce (ELCC) have announced an innovative partnership to further accelerate the impact of sustainable businesses across Lancashire to better support Covid recovery, climate change and level-up social inequalities.
This new collaboration will be the first in the world for a Chamber of Commerce with this place-based focus on accelerating private sector awareness and adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in combination with B Corp certification. These will act as two separate yet complementary tools to better inform and guide businesses of all sizes to profitably manage the increasing demands and complexity of Covid recovery, climate change and social justice whilst delivering the biggest impacts in local communities.
According to a UN report there are £9 trillion of new revenue opportunities every year if we can achieve the 17 aspirational Goals of the SDGs. How do East Lancashire business win their share of that, and how do those same businesses help the furthest behind locally in the process? B Corp is a rapidly growing private sector certification and movement for social good that already includes leading brands such as Patagonia, Danone, Brewdog, Ben & Jerry’s, Hootsuite, The Guardian, Body Shop and Triodos Bank.
By combining ELCC’s knowledge of local businesses, their immediate needs and their future plans with 2030hub’s world-leading specialist expertise in the SDGs & B Corp certification plus 2030hub’s influential global networks, the new partnership aims to provide an exciting regional pathway to further competitive advantage for businesses of all sizes preparing for a Covid and COP26 dominated short-term landscape.
Local business will receive access to free specialist online advice surgeries, exclusive webinars, pro bono support for selected aspiring B Corps via the new B Start initiative, plus access to international thought-leadership, a global community of commercial best practice and additional business support resources.
2030hub’s David Connor said:
“I bet not many hairdressers, pubs, solicitors or engineers in Accrington were worried about health issues in China back in Christmas 2019. Just over a year later, the world has changed for ever. 2021 will be yet another demanding year as we explore what normal is again in a world dominated by economic recovery and a reinvigorated climate change focus.
“The impact of the COP26 climate conference and the race to net-zero cannot be overestimated, but Covid has also shown the need for us all to better understand the connection between global and local, economic, social and environmental issues.
“The SDGs and B Corp are the strongest, most flexible and powerful roadmaps to better identify innovation, new markets, new products, new collaborations and commercial success whilst also reaching those furthest behind first.”
Miranda Barker, Chief Executive of East Lancashire of Commerce, said:
“2020 was indeed a year of changing perspectives for our whole community across East Lancashire, businesses included. With new realisations about the importance of our mental health, our business communities’ survival and a growing focus and awareness of all things climate and net zero.
“It has been a year of transition, from climate being seen as a pressure issue, a challenge to the corporate and public sector community alike, to now the journey to a low carbon future and net zero, being coined as a major escape route from the COVID-19 economic damage.
“Working together to embrace the B Corps opportunity, East Lancashire Chamber and the 2030hub hope to support our local business community to not only survive but thrive as part of a low carbon, responsible and proactive Lancashire environment.”
Find out how the Sustainable Development Goals and B Corp can add value to your business by calling +44 (0)1254 356 400 or emailing info@chamberelancs.co.uk.
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