This in person meet up will discuss net zero: what it means, how to achieve it and the implications for small businesses & organisations.

The first in a monthly programme of informal events will explore the topic of Net Zero. What does it mean, what are the implications for businesses and how can it be achieved?

The session will take place at Flo’s, The Place in the Park, and will be led by local sustainability and social innovation expert, Julian Cottee.

The aim is to encourage an informal but supportive environment for businesses to:

be inspired and learn from others
share knowledge and examples of best practise
develop your own sustainability strategy and policies
encourage collaborations and partnership development
stimulate interest and thinking on what is desirable and possible
Themes and topics for the Sustainability Cafe sessions will include:

Net zero – what it means, how to achieve it, implications for SMEs

The food system – how to think about impacts and how to make change

Biodiversity – why it’s important now and how to save it through what you do as a business

Retrofitting your business

Waste and circular economy

Green finance, pensions and investments

Flo’s lovely cafe will be open for drinks for the first half an hour of each event.

There will be a short inspiring talk followed by time for questions and discussion.

This month’s speakers

Julian Cottee

Julian is a sustainability and innovation expert, who works with Oxfordshire-based sustainability advisory firm, 3Keel. Julian was a co-founder of Good Food Oxford and has also worked with the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford. He is a trustee of PPP Ltd.

Alison Grunewald

Alison Grunewald, from the Low Carbon Hub will speak about the role of energy efficiency and renewable measures in achieving net zero. She will give details of the fully funded support available for businesses through the Hub’s Energy Solutions Oxfordshire programme, using their support for Flo’s premises as an example. The Low Carbon Hub is a non-profit making social enterprise that’s out to prove we can meet our energy needs in a way that’s good for people and good for the planet.

The venue

Flo’s is a Community Benefit Society and Social Enterprise Hub with community-owned café, nursery, refill shop, community midwives clinics and more. Based in Florence Park, it opened in September 2018 and has become a popular place for people to meet, eat, work, play, create, and learn. Located in the middle of a park with a strong environmental ethos it has nature in mind and wellbeing at its heart.

Flo’s is run by People Place and Participation Ltd (PPP Ltd) – a charitable community benefit society which set up Flo’s – the Place in the Park as a community enterprise hub. Flo’s is currently on a journey to reduce 0 carbon through solar power, energy efficiency measures and better waste management.