Skip to main content
Across London and wider UK, there is a clear and shared direction towards sustainable future. Most London boroughs have committed to net zero by 2050, setting ambitious targets for their own operations and for the places they govern.
But there is a growing gap between commitment and delivery, and it largely sits with local businesses.
The SME challenge at the heart of net zero
The majority of businesses operating in London boroughs are SMEs. While many want to play their part in reaching net zero, most lack the time, expertise, and financial capacity to plan for a 2050 target on their own.
For councils, this creates a real risk – strong climate strategies at borough level, but limited traction on the ground.
Without intervention, net zero commitments can become aspirational rather than achievable.
Why funded decarbonisation programmes matter
This is where funded, council-led decarbonisation programmes become critical.
They provide SMEs with:
- Clear, practical actions rather than long-term theory
- Hands-on support and guidance from our GreenMark experts
- A structured route to environmental improvement that feels achievable
- Credible evidence of progress for councils and funders
For councils, these programmes offer a fast route to ESG maturity – translating policy into measurable action across the local economy.
Moving faster without losing credibility
A fast route to ESG maturity does not mean lowering standards. It means:
- Prioritising action that can be delivered now
- Making sustainability accessible to SME’s with limited resoyrces
- Creating consistency across hundreds of SMEs
- Generating evidence quickly for reporting, funding, and scrutiny
Phased programmes allow councils to show momentum while still aligning with long-term climate strategies.
What this looks like in practice
Across London, councils are already demonstrating how this approach works through funded business support programmes, including:
- Go Green Scheme with Sutton Council and the Green Enterprise Partnership
- Green Business Accreditation Scheme with Enfield Council
- Kingston Green Business Challenge II delivered with Kingston Council
- Making Businesses Greener programmes with Richmond Council and Wandsworth Council
- Greener Bromley Scheme with Bromley Council
- Go Green Business Support Scheme with Waverley Council
These initiatives focus on rapid onboarding, practical actions, and ongoing support – helping SMEs reduce emissions while enabling councils to evidence progress at scale.
ESG maturity as a local outcome
For councils, ESG maturity is not just about internal governance or corporate reporting. It is about enabling the wider local economy to move forward quickly, credibly, and inclusively.
By investing in funded decarbonisation programmes, councils can:
- Support SMEs who would otherwise be left behind
- Accelerate progress towards net zero targets
- Strengthen funding, reporting, and audit positions
- Demonstrate real leadership at a local level
The road ahead
Net zero by 2050 will not be delivered through strategy documents alone. It will be delivered through accessible, well-supported action, especially for SMEs.
Councils that prioritise fast, practical routes to ESG maturity will be best placed to turn ambition into impact, ensuring their climate commitments are not just stated, but achieved.