Project Overview

Better Bankside, a dynamic business improvement district in London, is known for its dedication to fostering economic, social, and environmental progress within the Bankside and wider Southwark community. Recognising the critical role small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play in achieving UK carbon reduction goals, Better Bankside partnered with Temple to support local businesses on their journey towards decarbonisation. This collaboration formed an integral part of the Southwark Climate Collective, a programme dedicated to equipping businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to address the challenges of climate change and contribute to the UK’s net-zero goals.

What was the challenge?

SMEs often face unique challenges in adopting sustainable practices, including limited resources, and lack of specialised expertise. Addressing these challenges requires targeted support and practical guidance tailored to their operational realities. Understanding this, Temple designed a comprehensive training programme focused on one of the most significant yet complex sources of carbon emissions: supply chains, particularly Scope 3 emissions. Temple also provided training on waste and energy management.

What was our solution?

Temple’s training programme was developed using a hands-on, sector-specific, and efficient approach, ensuring that each session was directly relevant to Southwark’s diverse range of SMEs. The programme was structured to provide participants with the knowledge and tools to reduce Scope 3 emissions within their supply chains while considering SMEs’ specific operational challenges. The focus was on theoretical concepts and actionable strategies that businesses could implement immediately, fostering tangible outcomes.

Each session integrated interactive exercises and real-world case studies, enabling participants to apply the knowledge gained directly to their business operations. This practical approach ensured that participants could see the immediate relevance of the training to their day-to-day activities, making the learning experience far more engaging and actionable. Additionally, the programme fostered a collaborative learning environment, promoting peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. SMEs were encouraged to share their experiences, challenges, and solutions, which created a sense of shared responsibility for collective carbon reduction.

In terms of project delivery, the first session, titled “Climate Change and Supply Chains,” provided an essential overview of the relationship between supply chains and carbon emissions. Through interactive mapping exercises, participants learned how to link specific activities in their supply chains to their carbon impacts, making the invisible problem of Scope 3 emissions more tangible and actionable. This session helped businesses understand the scale of the issue and identify key areas where emissions could be reduced.

The second session, “Sustainable Supply Chain Management,” provided sector-specific strategies for reducing Scope 3 emissions, with content tailored to industries such as hospitality, construction, FMCG, professional services, and freight. This session introduced practical tools, such as supplier self-assessment questionnaires, to help businesses engage directly with their supply chains. By involving suppliers in the emissions reduction process, businesses could identify opportunities for improvement and drive meaningful changes across their supply chains.

The final session, “Embedding Climate Considerations into Procurement,” was focused on integrating sustainability into procurement practices. This session provided businesses with concrete strategies for responsible sourcing, offering practical steps to evaluate suppliers based on environmental and ethical standards. By incorporating sustainability into procurement decisions, businesses were

empowered to align their purchasing choices with their broader sustainability goals, ensuring that their entire supply chain was contributing to reducing carbon emissions.

What was the outcome?

The training programme delivered by Temple helped SMEs in Southwark gain a much deeper understanding of the carbon impacts within their supply chains. Through a combination of sector-specific insights, practical tools, and hands-on learning, businesses were empowered with the knowledge they needed to take immediate action.

In addition to the immediate benefits, the programme laid a strong foundation for long-term sustainability initiatives, as its scalability ensures that it can have a far-reaching impact beyond the local Southwark community. Its adaptable framework can be easily replicated in other regions and sectors, offering a proven model for businesses to decarbonise their operations effectively, thereby contributing further to global climate goals