Digital Connectivity Forum launches Net Zero: Guidance for SMEs in the telecoms sector

The Digital Connectivity Forum is delighted today to be launching our latest piece of work: ‘Net Zero: Guidance for SMEs in the telecoms sector’.

With telecoms in the UK connecting 97% of homes and being used by 44.6 million customers daily; connectivity has become essential to our lives, whether that involves remote working, socialising or consuming content.

SMEs currently represent 99% of UK businesses, forming a vast proportion of the UK economy and will play a key role achieving the UK’s 2050 net zero goals.

As a result of this pivotal space occupied by telecoms and the importance of SMEs, the DCF’s Climate & Sustainability Work Group, formed earlier this year, selected SME engagement as a focus point for 2023.

As a result, and in collaboration both with its members and numerous SMEs from across the telecoms industry, they have produced the Net Zero: Guidance for SMEs in the telecoms sector document in the hope of driving positivity and progress across the industry.

This guidance, aimed specifically at Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the telecoms sector, includes easy to follow guides on how to calculate carbon footprint, as well as how to set a credible carbon reduction goal.

In addition to this it provides practical solutions for SMEs looking to reduce their emissions and make a positive impact on the environment, helping to create a sustainable future for telecoms.

Other key information includes where to access funding, offering valuable insights into resources and real-life examples of SMEs turning climate action into business opportunities. With this step by step information and coordinated links to valuable resources, the guidance supports SMEs taking aim at a more sustainable future.

A study last year of UK Small Businesses found that 91% felt overwhelmed and did not know where to start when it came to tackling emissions and creating a robust and sustainable approach to their business. With this in mind the Digital Connectivity Forum’s Climate & Sustainability Work Group targeted SME Engagement as one of their key 2023 workstreams.

As a result of this I am pleased to be launching this Telco SME Net Zero Guidance in collaboration with the DCF’s Work Group and its members. With SMEs representing 99% of UK businesses, they form the engine of the UK economy and will be vital in achieving the UK’s 2050 net zero goals.

I would like to thank the SMEs, industry members and stakeholders that have contributed their time and effort to producing this guidance, which we hope will go on to empower change. As always, I am delighted by the enthusiasm and support for the DCF’s working group on climate issues and look forward to continuing the mission of a more sustainable telecoms industry.

Will Ennett, Head of Sustainability, TalkTalk and chair of the Climate & Sustainability Work Group

The DCF is delighted to launch our new climate guidance for small and medium-sized telecoms enterprises. The UK telecoms sector is a thriving and competitive one, including hundreds of smaller participants. It is therefore essential that all parts of the industry commit to taking action to decarbonize to ensure that the maximum potential impact is realized

Alex Mather, Head of the DCF