< Previous30 Business Link www.blmforum.net ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT As global warming takes hold of the globe and millions are displaced by fires and floods, the UK must step up its response to the climate emergency. The UK government became the first major economy to pass laws to end its contribution to climate change by 2050, aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero. Our region is making its own commitments, with the Humber, which hosts the highest industrial CO2 emissions in the UK, aiming to become net-zero carbon by 2040, and the Leeds City Region looking to become net-zero carbon by 2038. The UK’s engagement with energy is key in achieving this and continues to evolve. A transition to renewables is clear, from investment in offshore wind farms to a focus on hydrogen as a clean energy source, and a wider range of energy options are coming to the forefront as businesses and the public look to gain better value for money and become more interested in how their energy is generated. This will only be compounded by the fact that all commercial properties will need to be able to show an EPC report of C by 2025 and B by 2030 or face fines. This has yet to spark a renewable revolution in most cases, what with post-lockdown and the war in Ukraine dominating the headlines, but with only three years to go before the first of the Net Zero targets, that is likely to change, and it would be best if local businesses got on top of the issue sooner rather than later. While our region hosts forward- thinking research, policy and facilities, with the climate emergency and net-zero goals in mind, businesses in all sectors will need to play their part to operate In search of energy efficiency In search of energy efficiency With rising energy costs thanks to the diplomatic uncertainty with Russia, and Net Zero Carbon emissions set by the Government, businesses in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire can’t afford to sleep on improving their energy efficiency. 32 Á 30-33.qxp_Layout 1 04/05/2022 14:05 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 31 ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT © stock.adobe.com/Proxima Studio 30-33.qxp_Layout 1 04/05/2022 14:05 Page 232 Business Link www.blmforum.net ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT more sustainably, reducing greenhouse gas emissions to not just help achieve government aims but improve their bottom line. Mitigating a business’s carbon footprint is beneficial on numerous levels. Of course one helps the environment but making this commitment can also increase sales from conscious consumers, see one win business from those seeking suppliers that will improve the carbon emissions across their supply chain, attract talent and retain employees, reduce energy costs and those associated with the cost of complying with regulation. Furthermore, it reduces reliance on energy and gas provided by foreign powers, who may suddenly turn out to be a lot less reliable than previously believed. As of the writing of this, with energy prices jumping, one can easily see the financial benefits to improving energy efficiency. Switching to a cleaner energy supplier is a good start, but there is also more a company can do to offset and reduce costs without that initial investment. Comparison websites are useful tools here, facilitating the exploration of options and tariff comparison to discover the perfect provider and best deal. Firms might also consider investing in onsite energy generation and battery storage. One of the simplest ways to minimise your footprint and save money though is to reduce energy consumption. Changing to LED lighting, and using motion sensors to automatically turn lights off, as well as switching off appliances, laptops and monitors rather than leaving them on standby can make a huge difference here, and simultaneously reduce energy costs. Just leaving a photocopier on overnight uses energy equivalent to making 5,000 copies. A report from the Green Alliance highlights that UK businesses are 30-33.qxp_Layout 1 04/05/2022 14:05 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 33 ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT wasting £60 million in unnecessary energy bills. To keep track of energy use, digital technology such as smart sensors and algorithms can be used across buildings, and AI energy optimisation systems, according to the Green Alliance, could slash commercial building energy use by fourteen per cent and generate payback within a few months. Sophisticated smart meter reading will allow active management of energy and enable forecasting. In addition, when moving offices businesses should look out for a building’s energy performance ratings. Fortunately, new buildings are primarily being built to high energy efficiency standards (to comply with Net Zero regulations almost certainly) and older buildings are being transformed to comply with the same regulations. Minimising waste, recycling and avoiding landfill as far as possible are also essential to reduce harmful greenhouse gases. Begin by tracing sources of waste and address bad practices like over and unnecessary use of paper. Buy recycled paper, and print and photocopy as little as possible, instead digitising documentation as far as feasible, allowing for online contract signing for instance, and using cloud computing, which also adds convenience in enabling access from various devices from any place at any time. Eradicating emissions from transport within businesses is another aspect to consider, especially where companies dealing in logistics are concerned. Installing a telematics system on a fleet will provide a wealth of data to be used to make fleets more efficient. One might also look to train drivers in ecodriving to save fuel, or invest in fuel efficient vehicles, those powered by alternative fuels or electric vehicles which are usefully exempt from clean air zone charges. © stock.adobe.com/Andrey Popov© stock.adobe.com/vchalup 30-33.qxp_Layout 1 04/05/2022 14:05 Page 434 Business Link www.blmforum.net SECURITY © stock.adobe.com/pickup 34-37.qxp_Layout 1 04/05/2022 14:07 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 35 SECURITY W ith new data revealing that the frequency of cyber attacks is increasing, it is critical that businesses bolster their security standards. Almost one in three businesses (31%) suffering attacks say they now experience breaches or attacks at least once a week, according to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2022 report from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The report also indicates that though the frequency of cyber attacks is rising, the number of businesses experiencing attacks or breaches remains the same as 2021 levels; two in five businesses (39%) reported cyber security breaches or attacks in the last 12 months. However, the findings highlight that enhanced cyber security leads to higher identification of attacks, suggesting that less cyber mature organisations may be underreporting. From the 39% of businesses who identified an attack, phishing attempts (83%) were the most common threat, while around one in five (21%) pinpointed a more sophisticated attack type, including a denial of service, malware, or ransomware attack. Recent high profile cases have reemphasised the threat businesses face, from the ransomware attack hitting KP Snacks’ IT systems to the cyber attack pausing orders at the WH Smith-owned online greeting cards business Funky Pigeon, but smaller businesses too are being increasingly targeted, and fears over Russian hackers scaling up attacks is also on the rise. Indeed, The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is urging businesses to improve security in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As more business continues to be completed online and remote working expands, especially in the wake of the pandemic, companies are being asked to place extra focus on cyber security, no matter how big or small they are. The aforementioned survey indicates that firms do see the importance of this with Supporting cyber security Cyber attacks are on the rise, making it more crucial than ever for businesses to improve their security levels. 36 Á 34-37.qxp_Layout 1 04/05/2022 14:07 Page 236 Business Link www.blmforum.net SECURITY four out of five senior managers (82%) in UK businesses now viewing cyber security as a ‘very high’ or ‘fairly high’ priority, up from 77% in 2021. This is the highest figure seen in any year of the Cyber Security Breaches Survey. There is still much work to be done, however, with only around half of businesses acting in the past 12 months to identify cyber security risks, and incident management policy is limited, with just 19% of businesses having a formal incident response plan, and 39% having assigned roles should an event occur. On the contrary, businesses show a reactive approach should breaches happen, with 84% of businesses saying they would inform the board, while 73% would make an assessment of the attack. The Cyber Essentials scheme is a good place to start for businesses needing to shore up their protection. The Government-backed scheme helps to guard organisations, no matter their size, and involves two levels of certification. Cyber Essentials is a self-assessment option showing how to build protection against a variety of common cyber attacks. It teaches businesses how to defend themselves by securing internet connections and devices, controlling access to data, and understanding how to protect against ransomware. Cyber Essentials Plus meanwhile involves a hands-on technical verification being carried out. There are a plethora of benefits to certified cyber security, such as reassuring and demonstrating to customers that your IT, and data held, is secure against cyber attacks, attracting new business with the promise you have cyber security measures in place, gaining a clear picture of an organisation’s cyber security level, and being able to win © stock.adobe.com/Thapana 34-37.qxp_Layout 1 04/05/2022 14:07 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 37 SECURITY some government contracts which require Cyber Essentials certification. Outside of this, there is a wealth of advice to be found. This includes simple steps such as ensuring staff use strong passwords, utilising 2-step verification or multi-factor authentication, installing updates, and backing up vital data so an organisation can continue operating even during a cyber incident. Offering further assistance, the NCSC presents ten steps to cyber security. This includes taking a risk-based approach to securing data and systems, ensuring that technology, systems, and information are protected in the most appropriate way, and resources are centred on the things that matter most to a business. Creating awareness, providing training and engaging with staff is also crucial - good security should be formed through collaboration, consider how people work and shouldn’t hinder it, while educated employees are essential to preventing and detecting incidents. Furthermore, designing systems to be able to detect and investigate events is important, and collecting logs is key to understanding how systems are being used and facilitates security monitoring. Where a potential security incident occurs sound logging practices will enable a business to retrospectively look at what has happened and comprehend the impact. Ultimately, actions taken should be proportionate to the threat a firm faces. Cyber security is vital to the resilience of all businesses utilising digital technology, and with the current climate of increased risk, there has never been a more important time to assess and improve protections, with any incident able to have a major impact on an organisation whether that relates to cost, productivity, or reputation. © stock.adobe.com/knowhowfootage 34-37.qxp_Layout 1 04/05/2022 14:07 Page 438 Business Link www.blmforum.net CORPORATE HOSPITALITY celebrations celebrations Summer 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 04/05/2022 14:08 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 39 CORPORATE HOSPITALITY Perfect for entertaining clients and showing employees they are valued, it’s almost the season for summer parties. 40 Á © stock.adobe.com/ halfpoint 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 04/05/2022 14:08 Page 2Next >