Kent businesses concerned about the impact of an economic downturn are being encouraged to think about minimising the use of resources to make cost savings and protect the bottom line.

Business Link, the free business information and advisory service, offers guidance and support on reducing energy costs, as well as practical and efficient tips on energy saving.

Business Link’s Erica Russell said: “When money is getting tight there are many ways in which being more environmentally friendly will really help your bottom line. Cutting even a few hundred pounds of costs from your business – and this need not affect the level of customer service you offer – is equivalent to thousands of pounds of extra sales. Start off by considering your energy use and transport costs, as these are two large areas that you can make savings in quickly.”

Elaine Sharp, Envirowise Programme Manager, added: “The current economic climate requires us to be wise spenders both as individuals and business people. Getting started on the road to resource efficiency can be simple and straightforward. And while senior management buy-in is crucial to success, the fact is that any member of staff in an organisation – at any level – can make a positive difference.”
It is a common misconception that taking environmental steps will be an extra cost to the business. Business Link offers the following low and no-cost tips to help Kent businesses take steps to lower their environmental impact and add to their bottom line:

• Get your staff to switch off computers, lights and high-energy guzzlers such as electric tea or coffee machines or speakers. Taking these basic steps can cut energy costs by 10-20%.
• Consider investing in new, more efficient equipment, as older pieces may use more energy. If financing is an issue, you may be eligible for a Carbon Trust interest-free loan – something worthwhile in these credit tight times.
• For many small companies delivering goods or running company cars has really begun to hit the bottom line. So make sure that all deliveries or sales team routes are carefully planned to keep mileage as low as possible. If you run a fleet of over 50 cars or trucks, get a free green review from the Energy Saving Trust. Also, train your drivers to use minimal fuel. Drivers who have been through a Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) training course use on average 18% less fuel, which typically equates to a £500 saving per van driver each year.
• Try to substitute some of your client face-to-face meetings for web-based video conference calls. This will also help you to keep down your carbon emissions by significantly reducing travel.
• If you are questioning the need to have actual business premises, then consider working from home. Network with other colleagues and have a dedicated space, which you can use for catch-up meetings. Offering flexible hours so staff can work from home will also reduce their carbon footprint and can often improve productivity and motivation.
• Strive to be a paperless office. Encourage staff to minimise the amount of printing in the first instance but also make changes to extend toner life and reduce paper. Change the generic ‘print default’ settings so that the quality is always ‘draft’ and opt to print on both sides.

To take advantage of Business Link’s guides and interactive tools to help your business save money, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast/environment. Alternatively, call on 0845 600 9 006 to book a session with an experienced Business Link adviser. They can help you identify opportunities to improve your business performance, and point you in the direction of available sources of support.

Businesses keen to learn more about streamlining and becoming more efficient would also benefit by attending a free workshop, developed by Envirowise, which is being held at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday 23 September. For further information or to book a place, visit envirowise.gov.uk/profitablefuture