SME Info Notes: Helping small business meet its climate change challenge
This series of information notes has been produced for small and medium businesses (SMEs) in Scotland. It will help you to understand how you could be affected by weather, including extreme events, and how you can improve your chances of a quick recovery.
The information in these notes has been focused on actions that are relatively easy for small businesses to achieve, tackling issues that are within your control or influence. You might not be able to stop flooding or an extreme storm event affecting your business, but you can take a few simple steps to reduce the impact these might have on your business so that you can remain operating. The list of suggested actions is not exhaustive and ticking all the boxes does not guarantee you are resilient. You must consider your specific circumstances. Whilst some of the actions will have an initial cost they should save you money in the long term.
Preparing for a changing climate makes good business sense. Experience has shown that extreme weather could have some serious consequences for your business operations; not just for your premises and staff, but also by disrupting your suppliers, distribution or customers.
So, what’s in it for my business?
Like any other issue facing your business, it is important to understand how extreme weather and climate change impacts could affect you. Planning ahead rather than responding reactively will help you to:
- save your business money in the long term;
- give your business the best chance to continue to operate and meet customer orders, in spite of the weather; and
- identify possible business opportunities e.g. new products or services, reduced costs etc.
What are the effects of a changing climate likely to be?
See our sections on climate information and business and industry to see some of the effects of a changing climate.
What can I do to prepare?
Understanding how your business will be affected by weather and climate change impacts is a crucial first step, but what should you do next? These info notes cover some common issues, questions to ask yourself and where to go for more information.
Acknowledgement
This information has been adapted from a business guide produced by Climate West Midlands, the Climate Change Partnership for the West Midlands. The concept originated and was developed by the following funding partners within the West Midlands, in collaboration with the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) and the Government Office West Midlands:
The West Midlands Climate Change Adaptation Partnership, Advantage West Midlands, The Environment Agency, Business Link West Midlands and DEFRA
All rights to the original material are reserved.