Net Zero Strategy & Carbon Planning
Charting Your Course to a Low-Carbon FutureThe pressure on businesses to act on climate change has never been greater. Whether driven by regulation, investor expectations, customer demands, or simply a sense of responsibility, reaching Net Zero is no longer a distant ambition—it’s a commercial and environmental imperative.
At Grow Forward, we help SMEs and organisations across the built environment, construction, and supply chain sectors develop robust, realistic, and impactful Net Zero strategies. Our approach is grounded in real-world business understanding, technical expertise, and a passion for accelerating the shift to a low-carbon economy.
What Is Net Zero?
Net Zero means balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with the amount removed from the atmosphere. For businesses, this requires deep emissions reductions across operations, supply chains, and energy use, with any remaining emissions neutralised through credible carbon removals.
Achieving Net Zero is not just about carbon offsetting—it’s about transforming how your business operates, from energy sourcing to procurement, logistics, and beyond
Why It Matters
For SMEs and supply chain companies in construction and manufacturing, Net Zero strategies are increasingly a requirement for:
Tendering and procurement – clients and contractors expect carbon transparency and action
Regulatory compliance – UK government and local authorities are tightening climate disclosure rules
Funding and investment – green finance is prioritising low-carbon businesses
Brand reputation – sustainability builds trust with customers and employees
Our Net Zero Strategy Service
At Grow Forward, we provide end-to-end support to help you understand your emissions, identify opportunities, and build a step-by-step plan to decarbonise. Our services include:
1. Carbon Footprinting & Baseline Assessment
We begin by measuring your Scope 1, 2, and where relevant, Scope 3 emissions using recognised methodologies such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. This gives you a clear and credible starting point from which to plan action.
2. Materiality & Hotspot Analysis
Not all emissions are equal. We help you identify which areas of your business are responsible for the highest emissions—your “carbon hotspots”—and prioritise them for action.
3. Net Zero Roadmap Development
We work with your leadership and teams to co-create a tailored roadmap to Net Zero. This includes:
Short, medium, and long-term targets
Emissions reduction pathways
Energy efficiency and clean energy integration
Behavioural and operational change strategies
Supplier engagement and circular economy opportunities
Monitoring and reporting frameworks
4. Implementation Planning & Support
We don't just hand over a strategy and walk away. We support you through implementation—whether it’s identifying grant funding, engaging suppliers, or communicating progress to stakeholders.
5. Carbon Literacy & Internal Engagement
Change starts from within. We provide workshops, toolkits, and training to build awareness and alignment across your organisation—ensuring everyone is part of the journey to Net Zero.
Why Choose Grow Forward?
Industry expertise: We understand the challenges facing construction SMEs, merchants, and supply chains. We speak your language.
Independent advice: As a consultancy, we are technology-agnostic and always act in your best interest.
Trusted credentials: Our founder is an MSc-qualified Sustainability Practitioner, IEMA member, and SME Climate Hub signatory.
Strategic + Practical: We combine systems thinking with grounded, achievable action plans.
Start Your Journey
Whether you're responding to supply chain requirements, looking to future-proof your business, or aiming to lead on climate action, a clear Net Zero strategy is your foundation.
Sustainability: A Practical Path to Long-Term Success
Successful companies increasingly recognise that sustainability is not just an ethical choice—it’s a strategic one. Across every sector, including SMEs in construction and manufacturing, the shift toward sustainable business practices is being driven by necessity: to remain competitive, resilient, and aligned with changing market expectations.Sustainability today extends beyond environmental responsibility. It’s about creating long-term value through smarter resource use, operational efficiency, and responsible governance. For SMEs, this doesn’t mean adopting large-scale or expensive programmes designed for global corporations. Instead, it’s about implementing practical, right-sized measures that fit the business’s scale, revenue, and capabilities.
Simple steps—such as improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, investing in renewable energy, or rethinking supply chains—can lead to immediate savings and strengthen market reputation. Customers, investors, and contractors increasingly favour businesses with visible sustainability commitments, seeing them as lower-risk, future-ready partners. This makes sustainability a critical factor in winning tenders, attracting investment, and maintaining brand trust.
Furthermore, regulatory change and carbon reduction targets are reshaping how companies must operate. Those who act early gain a competitive edge, avoiding compliance pressures later and positioning themselves as leaders in their field. For SMEs in particular, sustainability offers resilience—insulating against rising energy costs, supply disruptions, and shifting consumer demands.
At Grow Forward, we help businesses translate sustainability ambition into practical action. We understand that each organisation’s journey must reflect its unique size, structure, and financial reality. By focusing on achievable goals and measurable outcomes, we ensure sustainability becomes a source of growth—not a burden.
In short, sustainable companies don’t just survive—they adapt, innovate, and thrive. For SMEs, embracing sustainability isn’t about doing everything; it’s about doing what’s right, realistic, and effective for lasting success.