Build a Business with Environmental Purpose

Join us for an informative and inspiring session on starting and building a business with a focus on the environment and sustainability. We all know how important this subject is, and there are many ways businesses can operate around this theme, from community energy schemes to recycling companies to charities working on community gardens and projects to save wildlife.

Learn about how David Mason and his colleagues established the Dane Valley Community Energy scheme. This “not-for-profit mutual society” was created to build and operate a hydroelectricity generation project at Havannah Weir, just north of Congleton in Cheshire. The project aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by generating enough electricity to power the equivalent of 60 homes. It will also create a Community Benefit Fund to explore the importance of the environment and its sustainability, especially concerning core subjects such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We will learn about the project's origins, the challenges the team faced, and the factors contributing to its success. David will also discuss plans to expand the project with solar energy.

Engage in discussions with Support Staffordshire, Keele University Climate Ambassadors, Staffordshire Green Network, and Business Enterprise Support. These established organizations are at the forefront of sustainable business practices and can provide valuable insights and support for your ideas.

Connect with fellow entrepreneurs and community advocates to learn from their experiences and discover how your ideas can contribute to the sustainable business landscape.

Discover what is involved in running a community project, a social enterprise, or a commercial business and which is the right way forward for you.