Sustainability

Bristol BIDs work with Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership hailed a success

Two of Bristol’s Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have furthered their commitments to tackling climate change

09/09/2024

BID Lead

Tom Swithinbank

Bristol City Centre BID and Redcliffe & Temple BID have successfully advanced their commitment to sustainability through a series of impactful events delivered in conjunction with Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership.

First established in 2022 following discussions between Redcliffe & Temple BID and the Partnership on engaging businesses on climate action, Bristol City Centre BID joined the collaboration earlier this year.

Since April 2023, a number of climate action-focused events have been held for local BID businesses, along with the publication of a number of guides and case studies. These include six Climate Action breakfasts, four Intention to Action clinics, six Climate Leaders meetings and a Climate Action Programme networking event. Offering insights and practical actions to enhance sustainability across their operations, these events and resources have engaged levy paying businesses with climate action – no matter at what stage of the environmental journey they are at.

With over 350 attendees interacting with the Climate Action Programme since the launch of the BIDs’ partnership, turn-out rates have increased by 15% since the start of 2024, with 100% of feedback from engaged businesses rating the events 4/5 and 5/5 in their participant feedback.

Bex Shreeve, Engagement Officer at Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, said:

“Through the Climate Action Programme we’re starting to see real results with businesses across Bristol, and their feedback has been extremely encouraging. We want to see more businesses seizing opportunities to reduce their environmental impacts, and we hope that through our programme we are making this easier than ever for them.”

Feedback from businesses including BDC Structural Engineering Ltd, Estrella Ventures, Novotel Bristol Centre and Veolia indicates that the programme has been highly beneficial. Participants reported feeling inspired and motivated to adopt more sustainable practices, empowered by the success stories of their peers. Attendees left events with a renewed commitment to embedding climate action into their business models.

Maddy Andrews, Risk Management Professional at National Friendly, said:

“Attending these events has helped focus our direction and provided insight into what has worked for other companies. It's also great to know there are local companies all working towards a common goal.”

International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, a member of the Partnership’s Climate Leaders Group, has already reduced its carbon footprint by 54% since it began its net zero strategy, winning several awards in the process. As well as having created a net zero working group with volunteer environmental representatives in each office, they also offer a range of environmental training, workshops and volunteering opportunities to educate and engage their staff with their net zero strategies.

The Partnership will be hosting three events in collaboration with Bristol City Centre BID and Redcliffe & Temple BID across the next six months, with a Senior Leadership Engagement Intention to Action Clinic, a Supplier Engagement Climate Action Breakfast and a Data and Reporting session. The Partnership also offers the opportunity for one to one support via its Engagement Officer, Bex Shreeve.

Womble Bond Dickinson

Tom Swithinbank, Senior Project Manager at Bristol’s BIDs, said:

“We’re really pleased with what we’ve achieved in the last year together, it’s been fantastic to witness such a range of businesses engaging with the programme, people from different organisations and at different levels of seniority too, all learning and networking with peers. We know that the advice provided by these sessions is helping to progress this work and will help Bristol city centre become a leader in sustainability.”

Businesses can get involved in the Climate Action Programme by joining Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership and becoming part of this growing community of organisations taking climate and nature action. To find out more about how to get involved, visit the Redcliffe and Temple BID project page.

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Sustainability

Bristol BIDs work with Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership hailed a success

BID Lead

Bex Shreeve, Engagement Officer at Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, said:

Maddy Andrews, Risk Management Professional at National Friendly, said:

Tom Swithinbank, Senior Project Manager at Bristol’s BIDs, said:

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