At the heart of Simply GB are our values of people, places and planet. Emily, founder of Simply, has been a green advocate in business since her first eco venture 20 years ago. With years of experience and expertise, Emily, an executive business coach and mentor, has been supporting other businesses to be more sustainable ever since, most recently working with Aston University’s Centre for Growth on their Green Advantage programme and as an assessor for the Environmental Quality Mark.

 

As a membership organisation for micro business owners, we are committed to continue our own sustainability journey as well as supporting those in our community to do the same. Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a guide, we are building sustainability into all that we do, say and promote. Being responsible humans is essential to us.

 

Our micro business members have already committed to people, places and planet as they became Simply Club member and we are here to support them on their journey. They are transforming lives where they are and we are celebrating, supporting and connecting them on their journey to a better future.

 

We believe that micro businesses play an essential role in the British sustainability landscape, not just because of their sheer numbers (5.2 million, making up 96% of all private business in the UK) but because of their commitment to communities, short supply chains, efficient waste management, lower energy consumption, promoting green practice and seeking to create the most human and nature friendly options in all that they do.

 

Below is a little list of the things we do now and the things we are working towards. We have mapped our Sustainability policy to some of the 17 UN SDGs too which are included in each action below.

​

​

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

• Our members are curated to ensure that they align with our own values of people, places & planet [SDG 13 - Climate Action]

• We help transform lives by helping member build a life they love through micro business ownership [SDG 8 - Decent Work & Economic Growth and SDG 3 - Good Health & Wellbeing]

• We provide business support to help our members make more sustainable choices

• We have an EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) policy to ensure everyone feels welcome inside Simply Club [SDG 5 - Gender Equality and SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities]

• We provide training to help micro businesses thrive as well as be more sustainable [SDG 4 - Quality Education]

• We are founder accredited award holders of the SEQM (Staffordshire Environment Quality Mark) where HQ is based.

• Emily, our founder undertakes continued CPD to ensure her knowledge and experience remains in step with latest sustainable developments.

• We are a paper free business & our banners are on bamboo frames [SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption & Production]

• We have pledged to be 'Net Zero' by 2030 through the UK SME Climate Hub [SDG 13 - Climate Action]

• We use a 100% green energy tariff in our offices [SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption & Production]

• Our domains & email server is hosted sustainably [SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption & Production]

• We look after our electronic hardware (current laptop nearly 10 years old!) & only buy reconditioned phones & laptops [SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption & Production]

• We are chemical free at Simply HQ so no chemicals on the land or in any cleaning products [SDG 14 - Life Below Water and SDG 15 - Life On Land]

• Emily delivers regular sustainable training to businesses across the UK [SDG 4 - Quality Education and SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals]

• We give back to local and national communities. Non-profit members pay less for membership. We donate to Fareshare UK, who are working towards reducing hunger and food wates in the UK, for every new member that joins our club. We donate every month to Unicef. [SDG 1 - No Poverty and SDG 2 - No Hunger]

 

What we’re working towards in 2023:

​

• We’re applying for our new website to be accredited as a green website

• We’re working toward becoming the UK’s first EQM national award holder

• We’re developing a sustainability award for our micro business members

• Emily is going for IEMA accreditation in 2023

​