Going green is the right thing to do, but the current Net Zero rules are crushing small businesses. A typical SME now faces £30,000–£50,000 a year in carbon reporting, energy audits, and mandatory upgrades, according to Planet Mark’s 2025 SME Net Zero Survey. Meanwhile, 35 % of members say they simply can’t afford the transition.
Large corporations get generous subsidies and dedicated sustainability teams. Small firms get spreadsheets, deadlines, and the threat of fines. That’s not a level playing field; it’s a recipe for closures.
The answer is straightforward: create a £500 million Net Zero Compliance Fund that covers 50 % of the costs for any business with fewer than 250 employees. Pair it with free, on-site energy audits and a one-stop online portal so owners aren’t drowning in paperwork.
This isn’t about delaying climate action; it’s about bringing small businesses along instead of pricing them out. A £500 million fund is a rounding error in the national budget, yet it would keep thousands of cafés, factories, and shops open while still cutting emissions.
Britain’s SMEs employ 16 million people and generate 50 % of private-sector turnover. If we force them to choose between going green and staying in business, we all lose.
The 1832 Club is fighting for these changes. The more members we have, the louder our voice in Westminster.
Join today from just £5/month or £40/year and help to support pro-SME candidates.
Together we can make a difference.