How are you progressing with your Race to Net Zero plan?

When you start looking into the requirements to achieve Net Zero within your business, it can seem like a mind-boggling minefield.

The Government’s first target date of 2030 aims to halve the country’s carbon footprint, followed by the big push to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. This means that now is the time for action and it’s essential that you start to really embrace New Zero and begin to take the steps you need to reduce the carbon footprint your business is creating.

This forms part of the wider ESG agenda, referring to Environmental, Social and Governance practices. More customers, shareholders, employees, and investment institutions are making their buying, investment and indeed employment decisions based on these ESG factors. Where do you start? Start with the Environmental aspect of ESG. Dorset Chamber is building a library of online resources available to all and we’ll also be sharing examples of practical steps that other businesses are taking. We’ll also be drilling down in to sector-specific issues and helping provide solutions.

We’ll also be running a range of events and workshops with expert speakers as well as local business leaders who are truly embracing Net Zero.

But this isn’t something that is just driven by business owners in isolation.

Engagement, co-operation and communication will be key to success. Involve your business partners, suppliers and most importantly your employees to ensure commitment towards the end goal. Sharing ideas and best practices can only improve the achievement of these targets, creating a ripple effect that helps you and other businesses with positive change, and encourages everyone involved to engage and believe in this. Share and communicate the positive changes you are making.

Bear in mind some changes will soon be forced upon you, as the Government progress their 10-step plan, part of their Green Industrial Revolution. For example:

Gas Boilers will be banned from new builds from 2025 and you will no longer be able to buy a new gas boiler from 2035. Most current gas boilers only have a useable life of 10 years.

From 2030 you will be unable to buy a new petrol or diesel car and hybrids will be banned from 2035. Be mindful, taxes will be increased to make owning any of these cars more uncomfortable. Currently, there is no fixed date for the phasing out of diesel HGV’s.

We are calling on Dorset businesses to join our race to Net Zero and our commitment to you is we will do all we can to support you.

OnBuy reveals new Bournemouth HQ as it continues to drive the ‘Silicon Beach’ tech start-up scene

UK-based online marketplace, OnBuy, continues to support the Southwest, announcing a deal for new office space in Bournemouth Town Centre.

The move follows an incredible year of growth for the eCommerce innovator, resulting in a need to scale up its headquarters to accommodate the influx of new employees joining the company. After a recruitment drive that mirrors its impressive company growth, OnBuy has seen its team expand from a humble few to more than 100 members. Furthermore, this number continues to rise after the launch of its employee equity scheme in December 2021, making 100% of the team shareholders in the business.

As OnBuy prepares for some significant milestones including product developments and international expansion, its team has chosen to invest not in the ‘London bubble’ but instead the region that has supported its growth to date. Deemed ‘Silicon Beach’ for its obvious parallels to the Californian Silicon Valley, OnBuy is just one of the lucrative tech companies to reside in the Southwest, creating a hub of innovation on the British coastline including Nokia, BT and Vodafone.

Starting its journey in a small office space in Poole, the new headquarters - OnBuy House - will provide a 12,049 sq ft base for OnBuy’s growing team, to complement its Manchester presence and army of remote workers nationwide. Occupying 4 stories of office space and ample break out areas, along with a spacious roof terrace with stunning sea views, the enviable building will be a home for the innovative thinkers working for the company.

Cas Paton, Founder & CEO of OnBuy commented, “We’ve always been on a steep growth trajectory, but we realised quickly that we needed to upgrade our space - particularly when we ran out of desks! While plenty of companies are downsizing in favour of ‘WFH’ or hot-desking, I’ve always believed in creating a space where our team can think, do, and thrive. We have fully adopted the need for a hybrid model ensuring we attract and develop the very best talent, but the offices are here to be the heart of the company, to provide a fantastic hub for collaboration and a place to come and enjoy being at work.

“The Southwest is where OnBuy was born, and I truly believe that there is a world of talent beyond the M25 to be tapped into. We’re known for hiring the best and brightest, and with our coastal base we’ve been able to bring on board a range of people with diverse skills that will help take us to the next level.”

Supporting business development in the local area, Chief Executive of the Dorset Chamber of Commerce, Ian Girling said “I’d like to offer my congratulations to Cas and the team at OnBuy on their move to their new HQ in Bournemouth. We work closely with OnBuy as Dorset Chamber Premier Business Partners as one of the leading tech businesses in the South and this move mirrors the meteoric growth of the business over the last couple of years. This achievement is another step on this incredible journey, and we are proud to be working with OnBuy.”

Goadsby Commercial acted on behalf of the landlord and James Edwards, Director commented “We are naturally delighted to have secured the letting on behalf of our client, particularly as it is to a company of OnBuy’s stature.” James continued “The building presents OnBuy with a rare opportunity to occupy a prominent selfcontained office building in the Town Centre and it is one of the most significant lettings to take place during the pandemic.

The formal move will happen in February 2022, where the OnBuy team will start to populate the space in line with COVID regulations. With more than 100 roles still currently open, 2022 will be a year to watch for OnBuy, with its eyes set on further significant growth in the next 12 months.