Follow up to Transition Town Brighton & Hove 1st Meeting 25 July 07 by Martin Grimshaw
Business working group
I was inspired by the presentation from Lewes TT to jot the words Business (economics?) on a sheet and see what happened next. A handful of people gathered and we started a discussion, which could at best be termed preliminary and exploratory. Below is a few provoking thoughts scribbled down listening to those discussions.
I have thoughts but I do not have any particular aims because I would like the aims of this group to evolve from discussions among anyone who cares to participate. Anyone else interested?
Thought shower summary:
What is this group for, what should it try to achieve?
How do we go about it?
Role of new technology, transition technology (Business Development Agency)
Engagement, what can we learn, what can we share?
Examples of Best Practice
What can we learn from good examples in business community in B&H? (ie Sam's employers...200 employees, not particularly 'green'....planning to go carbon neutral, reduce impact, fly less etc)...what is Amex doing?
Enable network of local businesses >> link up with + into TTBH
Forging links
Is there already a business network already that is specifically for greening business? If yes, can we link up and exchange ideas? If not, why not??!! [there are business networks and Brighton Business Forum has a climate change page but it's rather lightweight. The president of Brighton Chamber of Commerce is also an academic at one of the Universities so likely to be interested...there may be others??]
Small business / big business
Small, local sustainable business networks (advice, support etc)? [Big and sustainable??]
Growing trend of green 'trendiness'...turn a trend into something solid?
Money is the big motivator for business, ie saving costs.....
....or is it? Job / life satisfaction, feeling of wanting to do our bit., look good against competitors, customers....
I am willing to help push this forward, especially as it overlaps with other interests, but I will be limited as to how much energy I can put into the project over the next few months.
Kind regards
Martin
Business working group – notes from 25th July meeting
