Climate change has in the last year become one of the most urgent political and business issues. Action, innovation and investment from the forward-thinking business community will be crucial if the UK is to meet its challenging commitments to emission reductions and the challenge, nay opportunity to produce a low carbon economy. It is clear environmental issues and corporate social responsibility are becoming increasingly important to the way we run our businesses. Climate change has moved from being an issue of social responsibility to one of competitive advantage. Atlantic Business Resources would like to encourage clients who have received substantial cost reductions in areas of indirect spend through our ‘Business Support Programme’ to re-invest some of those monies in technology or programmes to further reduce their carbon emissions and ultimately to become more energy efficient.

To achieve the above, we must make carbon management and emission reduction part of our ‘business as usual’ activity in the vein of profit creation. Clearly inaction on the issue will cost more than action. We are perceived as ‘the cost reduction company of choice’ for our clients and as such Atlantic Business Resources is committed to communicating the high cost of inaction but also that from action new markets and commercial opportunities will emerge.

Our beliefs are linked and dove-tail to almost every facet of cost control we strive to perform for our clients, from Gas, electricity, water conservation, renewable products such as stationery through to waste management. We see these as a seamless processes, not separate products and services.

Leadership

Making a profit is at the top of the agenda for the majority of business leaders – it would be it’s their bread and butter - it’s certainly ours! Atlantic Business Resources would like to point out that making profit and addressing climate change are not necessarily mutually exclusive and we would like to take a lead on climate change. We believe those companies that take the initiative and exploit the opportunities will be winners.

Taking action 

There is little doubt that climate change is having an impact on business. All forward –thinking companies know this and have taken a positive approach by turning risk into an advantage by addressing their company’s impact on the environment. Whether the influence is personal concern, reputation, shareholders or legislation, who can afford not to act?

Compliance culture

What does the current regulatory framework mean for our clients?
As the issue of climate change has climbed the political agenda, not surprisingly in our increasing ‘red-tape’ world, regulations have proliferated. Please see below just some of the initiatives. Whether you agree with them or not you can clearly see the ramifications for the future in terms of the general direction we are heading.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)
We now have a ‘market in emissions allowances which covers 2,000 of the most energy intensive sites in the UK; emit more than your government-allocated allowances of CO2 and you have to buy more; emit less and you can sell your surplus’. A financial incentive if ever there was one!

The government is looking at whether to extend carbon trading to small and medium-sized businesses..

Climate Change Levy
All businesses are subject currently to the Climate Change Levy; a tax on energy use that is offset by cuts in National Insurance contributions and extra support for energy efficiency schemes and renewable sources of energy.

Climate Change Agreements
These set additional CO2 reduction targets –if companies meet them, they receive an 80 per cent discount on the Climate Change Levy.

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
UK building regulations have been revised, with buildings now graded for ‘greenness’ on a scale from A-G, in much the same way as white goods. This labelling of products for their ‘carbon intensity’ is likely to extend to other sectors including vehicles.

Businesses will need to think more carefully about the types of vehicles they buy or lease and their decisions about energy supplies

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Programme
Requires 5 per cent of all UK fuel sold on UK forecourts to come form a renewable source by 2010; this will make it easier for a ‘green fleet’ to refuel.

Summary

All of the above measures combine with other factors to bring environmental and climate issues to the fore. Atlantic Business Resources believes it is our responsibility to keep our existing and potential clients aware of the issues and keep them at the forefront of our forward-thinking business community. We are committed to bring about environmental and climate change for the better good of all of us.

Stakeholder expectations are rising, as are customers, suppliers, investors and employees (both existing and potential). They all demand we not only become greener, but that we can back up our environmental policies with concrete evidence and audited reports.

We believe we can assist companies win advantage through low carbon enterprise via a number of ‘affiliated’ companies as well as our own direct cost reduction strategies.

What measures are Atlantic Business Resources taking?

Firstly we are measuring our own carbon footprint and we are committed to reducing it by 20% in the current financial year and by a further 30% in the next 4 years, effectively halving our carbon footprint over 5 years.

Franchising

As a business set in beautiful Sussex countryside we are very lucky, however we do ‘clock up the miles’. We are in the process of launching a nationwide network of 150 licenced agents who will promote our services to their local business community. Largely based from home or a small office they will have very small stem mileages form their home/place of work to a client; much smaller than if we were to visit them from Sussex

Waste and Energy Management

The very first service we try to introduce to our prospective clients is Waste and Energy Management. It is by far the most topical and pressing issue of  today's business world.