A new training programme, Growing Green, will help horticultural, food and drink businesses in Kent meet net-zero targets by giving them the skills, knowledge and funding to become more sustainable.
Led by NIAB as part of the Growing Kent and Medway project, Growing Green is inviting up to 40 micro- and SME businesses to volunteer in the pilot. Their input will help to develop a bespoke sustainability training package for the horticultural and plant-based food and drink sector.
Priority for the pilot scheme will be given to businesses based in Thanet, Swale, and Tonbridge and Malling. If successful, the project will be rolled out more widely.
The training package will analyse the business’s current carbon emissions and its potential to reduce them. A sustainability action plan will look at operations across the business to identify areas for improvement. Grants will be awarded to the businesses taking part so they can put their plans in to action.
Dr Nicola Harrison, programme director for Growing Kent & Medway, said: “Growing Green aims to give businesses a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities to reach net-zero carbon emissions in their operation.
“Having the confidence to invest in innovation and adopt new processes or technologies is a barrier for many businesses, particularly if there is uncertainty about the commercial benefit that the change will bring.”
Rob Robinson, Sustainable business project manager for Kent County Council, said: “An important part of this programme is demonstrating viable net-zero technologies, behaviours and processes to the participants, which will give them the confidence and knowledge to adopt into their own organisations.”
For more information, visit the Growing Green web page: growingkentandmedway.com/growing-green/