Up to one hundred businesses, social enterprises and community organisations across the Highlands and Islands are being offered specialist support to build their climate plans and strengthen their ability to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise is partnering with the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute to deliver the proven Climate Springboard programme to local organisations across the region.
The partnership brings a six week online course that helps participants calculate their current carbon emissions and create a clear, practical plan to reach net zero by twenty forty five.
The programme focuses on the steps that organisations can take straight away to lower emissions and cut operating costs while building the confidence to meet growing expectations from funders, contractors and customers.
More and more organisations are being asked to provide carbon data when applying for grants or competing for work, and the aim of Climate Springboard is to give them the tools and certainty to respond without stress or guesswork.
The programme also tackles adaptation as the region faces greater disruption from storms, erosion, flooding and supply chain pressures.
Flooding alone already costs the Highlands around eleven million pounds each year, and projections suggest the figure could reach twenty million pounds annually by twenty fifty.
Climate Springboard is designed to help organisations prepare for those realities before they arrive at the door.
The Edinburgh Climate Change Institute has already supported more than two hundred and seventy five organisations across Scotland through its approach of straightforward, jargon free climate action training.
Participants take part in interactive workshops, receive one to one guidance and gain access to a growing peer network that shares ideas and experience.
Keith Masson, head of net zero transition at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said the partnership puts vital tools into the hands of organisations across the region.
“This partnership gives businesses and organisations across the Highlands and Islands access to leading expertise and practical tools to help them plan and take climate action.
“It’s about giving local enterprises what they need, the data, the plan, and the confidence to help secure contracts and funding.”
Mhairi Cochrane, Climate Springboard programme manager at the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, said the team wants to remove barriers rather than add to them.
“We’re very excited to welcome more organisations from the region onto the programme.
“Our aim is to take away the overwhelm and make preparing for net zero simple and relevant for those facing so many pressures right now.
“Climate action doesn’t have to be costly or complicated, in fact when people are supported to get started, it brings immense economic and social benefits, we’re here to help organisations harness those.”
Climate Springboard will be delivered in group workshops throughout the coming year.
The first cohort begins on the second of December.
The expectation is that demand will be high as organisations across the Highlands and Islands strengthen their climate plans and look towards the opportunities created by the transition to net zero.
