SME decarbonisation in the UK: emerging market trends and their implications for Government
Earlier this year Antonio Messina, our Managing Director and Founder, provided his insights into the current state of market-led SME decarbonisation and we have just been sent a copy of the research findings. The Institute for Sustainability and Climate Change (ISCC) is now pleased to share the report authored by Dr Sam Hampton, Lucia Burtnik and Erica Russell: “SME Decarbonisation in the UK: Emerging Market Trends and Their Implications for Government.”
Funded by Research England and created in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), timely new research explores the emerging market support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their transition to Net Zero. The report offers practical recommendations for policymakers, including targeted funding, sector-specific interventions, and improved data standards.
Key Insights
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- SMEs are key to Net Zero: They produce 50% of UK business emissions but face barriers like cost, trust and knowledge
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- Market is growing rapidly, uptake is low: Many tools exist, but SMEs use them sparingly due to price and priorities
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- Government action is vital: Clear policy, targeted support and procurement power can drive change.
The report, authored by Dr Sam Hampton, Lucia Burtnik and Erica Russell, is available from the University of Bath: SME Decarbonisation in the UK. A blog post, based on the report, can be found on the Institute of Policy Research website.
