BESST Business Environmental Support Scheme for Telford Annual Review 2013

1. Business Environmental
Support Scheme
for Telford
Annual Review Document
‘“To enhance the environmental performance of local
businesses, in turn, boosting efficiency and reducing
the impact on the global environment”
2012—2013

2. Chair’s Report 2013
Dear BESST Member
BESST has been continuing to develop and grow for over 10 years now, and despite
economic business pressures and “short-termism” aspects that continue to change
goals and rules, our members continue to develop and deploy innovation in the
field of sustainability.
BESST’s Steering Group expertise has continued to challenge and engage our
increasing stakeholder network. Our members’ understanding and adoption of the increasing scope of
sustainability models continue to attract the attention of others.
The joint BESST/ METNET event saw a workshop which openly discussed the future of sustainability, and
how the leadership and continuity of this journey was being increasingly taken on by the business sector,
with investment groups wanting to support environmental innovation to receive faster and greater
financial returns.
Our Back-2-Basics event was a result of the Steering Group recognising that newer members and those
that are beginning their journey to sustainability can learn from the larger companies. The Steering Group
members presented case studies, freely sharing their developed BESST practice.
The joint BESST/ Sustainability West Midlands Business Resilience event saw both myself and Paul Nelms
presenting our organisations’ approached to the increasingly important subject of business continuity.
Our annual Legislation event saw The Environment Agency continuing to update us, with BESST supporting
them with a “1-2-Many” approach. The direct partnership we have with the Agency through Steering
Group member (Paul Hayward) is something which we value greatly.
The Corporate Biodiversity event explained the business facing benefits of engagement in this area. The
case studies explained employee development, social responsibility, aspects of stakeholder engagement,
pollution prevention control and even contribution to the Business Excellence Model. The Hierarchy of
Corporate Biodiversity (developed through BESST collaboration) has now become a business model. Such
is the dichotomy in this area that it’s now not uncommon to hear our Business members talking about the
value of nature, and Shropshire Wildlife Trust extolling the values of corporate strategy!
Membership continues to grow, and the innovation being developed here should not be underestimated. I
engage with stakeholders on a regional and national basis, and from a sustainability viewpoint BESST
always raises eyebrows at what it continually achieves.
In 2013, we were asked by Sustainability West Midlands to Chair the West Midlands Green Business
Networks forum, and we have continued to help develop Local Nature Partnership and Local Enterprise
Partnership working. Through our involvement in the WM European Service Cross-LEP workshops and the
Telford Business Board, we have been promoting the Low Carbon & Environment aspects.
This exposure to a wide scope of stakeholders promotes BESST, our member’s achievements and supports
the Invest in Telford program, advocating the readily made sustainability support that we can
offer new and existing organisations.

3. BESST is now privileged to have teamed up with the Zen Communications. In my position as
Chair I have seen BESST develop and share sustainability best practice, and our next step was
to better understand how to promote these achievements. Zen now provides the expertise we
have been missing, and moreover Felicity Wingrove (MD) has the visionary foresight to deploy
this on a pro-bono basis, using this opportunity as a win-win to develop both her account
executive and promote our achievements and values.
Telford & Wrekin’s Business Support team has been the backbone of BESST for some time, and
their Business Networks Coordinator (Jaclyn Kitson) has been at the forefront of this. The
Council’s’ efficiency measures are pushing us towards finally having a paid membership in
2014. This will bring us in line with the other Telford business networks, however, these costs
will be kept to a minimum and will be used to cover future events. A new constitution will be
published to explain these costs in the near future.
Throughout 2013 BESST members have continued to receive due recognition. Vice Chair Manel
Roura (Lyreco) scooped the BOSS Federation Environmental Award for the second year in a
row. Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust achieved a gold Green Tourism award, and The Best
Western Valley Hotel (Steering Group Member Sally Priding) impressively retained the same
accreditation for a second year running. Also, Epson’s (Justin Pike) work with Valpak has
actually created a new Zero Waste award.
Being Chair of BESST (through Ricoh’s sponsorship) continues to be a privilege, and the shared
expertise within the Steering Group and Membership is something we should all value.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and contributions, and look
forward to continued development and sharing of sustainability 2014.
Regards
Andy
Andy Whyle
Chair of BESST

4. Vice-Chair’s Reports
Dear BESST Members
June 2012 – June 2013 has been another very good year for BESST
environmental network. We have managed to organize a number of events
ranging from legislation update to climate change mitigation.
The events have been combined with interesting best practices case studies
visits, Tudor Griffiths “Wood Lane Local Nature Reserve” is a great example of how industry and biodiversity protection can co-exist together.
In a personal note, it has been a challenging year for me as I am still adjusting myself to
the new industry I have moved to. In logistics and retail the environmental pollution
risks are minor comparing to manufacturing, however the carbon footprint is spread
across many more areas. Lyreco’s carbon footprint reduction activity has been focused
in energy efficiency, transport efficiency, movement of employees and waste
minimization.
Hopefully, as my experience grows in this industry, I should be able to share it with all
BESST network.
Best wishes
Manel
Manel Roura
BESST Vice-Chair (joint)

5. Vice-Chair’s Reports
Dear BESST Members
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the SME's that are continuing to fight the
good fight.
It is easy in these difficult times to become so focused on getting the next order or shipping the
next delivery that businesses lose sight of the real benefits that engaging with environmental
improvements within the company and networking with BESST can have.
BESST members represent the most progressive companies in Telford and the surrounding area
and between them have a wealth of knowledge and examples of best practice that is shared with
such freedom the consulting world must wonder how they can compete.
Caring about environmental issues not only improves the profitability of a company by reducing
costs incurred from utility bills and waste disposal but also adds real value to companies by
attracting the best kind of employees and should the time come the best kind of buyers.
This coming year is bound to be as challenging as last year, and successful companies will
have to continue to find ways to innovate and keep a differential between themselves and
their competitors and BESST will continue to help you support your companies achieve this.
On behalf of the SME members a massive thank you to all involved in making BESST possible.
Warm regards
Mark
Mark Simmonds
Simmonsigns
BESST Vice-Chair (joint)

6. BESST Steering Group
Meeting every 6-8 weeks, BESST has 12 Steering Group Representatives, each with their
own area of expertise, who work hard to ensure that BESST delivers a strong service
for its members.
We are always keen to expand the range of skills and representation of the Board and
would welcome enquiries from any member who would like to consider applying to join
the Steering Group
BESST Steering Group Members
Name
Organisation
Specialist Area
Andy Whyle (Chair)
Ricoh
Zero Waste / Biodiversity /
Networking
Manel Roura
(Vice Chair)
Lyreco
Zero Waste / Logistics /
Biodiversity
Mark Simmons
(Vice Chair)
Simmonsigns
SME Representation and
Development
Paul Nelms
Epwin Group
Zero Waste / EMS
Paul Hayward
Environment Agency
Legislative compliance Support
Mark Anderson
Ricoh
CO2 Energy Reduction /
Strategy
Martin Booth
Denso
Environment & H&S Officer
Sally Pridding
Best Western
Eco-Tourism
Iain Wheeler
Telford & Wrekin
EMS / Planning
Hannah Noakes
Zen Communications
PR & Comms
Steve Hill
Telford & Wrekin
Business Support Team Leader
Jaclyn Kitson
Telford & Wrekin
Business Networks Coordinator

7. BESST Membership Support
BESST members can receive support on several levels.
Potential new members can now gain membership through the website and also have a copy of
the BESST Carbon Monitoring Tool to capture their environmental data to help highlight targets
and best practice.
BESST also offer the free use of Energy Monitoring Equipment which is available for any member of BESST
to use and can be downloaded from the BESST website (presume it is ok to upload this to the Downloads ?)
Existing members can raise issues either confidentially through the Telford Business Network Coordinator,
or openly through the BESST website forums to access the entire BESST membership network.
The results are the development of environmental best practice and local case studies which can be
shared amongst members to collectively reduce environmental impacts.
BESST
Business led Steering Group
Telford & Wrekin
Coordination
BESST
Membership Support
BESST
New
Membership
Enquiry
BESST
Member’s
Questions
BESST Website
http://http://
www.telfordbesst.co.uk/sites/
www.telfordbesst.org
default/files/
BESST%20Membership%20F
orm%202012.pdf
T&W
Business
Networks
Coordinator
Visit /
Member’s
Certificate
Carbon Monitoring Tool
used for BESST results
and to identify best
practice case studies
Non
Confidential
Confidential
Steering
Group
Mentoring
T&W
Business
Networks
Coordinator
BESST Website
Members Forum
BESST
Steering
Group
LinkedIn: BESST
Members Group
BESST
Steering Group &
Membership knowledge base
Environmental BESST
practice
BESST Website
Deployment of BESST practice

8. BESST Members
BESST currently has over 200 registered members, covering 150 key local businesses, and year on
year, continues to grow. Members represent a wide range of businesses and sectors:
BPS
Charity
Construction
Environmental Services
Manufacture
Public Sector
Retail
14
2
6
16
69
9
5
9.3%
1.3%
4.0%
10.7%
46.0%
6.0%
3.3%
Storage And Distribution
Tourism
Waste Management
Other
5
7
16
1
150
BPS
0.7%
3.3%
4.7%
10.7%
0.7%
10.7%
9.3%
Charity
1.3%
Construction
4.0%
4.7%
Environmental Services
3.3%
Manufacture
10.7%
3.3%
Retail
6.0%
Storage And Distribution
Tourism
Waste Management
Other
46.0%
BESST Members—Awards
Typical examples of some of our members achievements:
BOSS Federation Environmental Award (view news article)
Gold Award, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust—Green Tourism
Business Scheme (view news article)
Epson Achieves Zero Waste to Landfill (Read more)
Gold Award, Green Tourism Business Scheme
Congratulations to Best Western Valley Hotel for
retaining their Gold in Green Tourism Business
Scheme !
Public Sector

9. Events 2012—13
Follow link on event overview to review previous events
September 2013—Biodiversity
Event , Ricoh
(event overview)
July 2013—Legislation Event, Denso
(event overview)
May 2013—Back 2 Basics Valley Hotel, Ironbridge
(event overview)
April 2013—Business Resilience to Severe Weather
(event overview)
February 2013—Creating a Sustainable Future
(event overview)
November 2012—Best Practice Visit—Tudor Griffiths
(event overview)
Other previous BESST events are available on the Past Events
field on

10. BESST Members
Example Case Studies & Best Practice Visits
Epson Telford Achieves Zero Waste
Epson Telford became the first company in the United Kingdom to be
awarded the prestigious Zero Waste to Landfill Award and in doing so,
set the benchmark for other companies to achieve this environmental
recognition. Since the award is assessed annually for continuous improvement... Read more
Tudor Griffiths—Best Practice Visit
Following up on September’s Corporate Biodiversity event at Ricoh, a
BESST practice visit was held in conjunction with Shropshire Wildlife
Trust and kindly hosted by Tudor Griffiths Group (TGG) in Ellesmere.
Tudor Griffiths (CEO of TGG) opened the event and welcomed everyone,
giving an overview of their Wood Lane Local Nature Reserve
Read more
DENSO – Madeley Academy CSR Project
During early 2013 most ambitious project to date was launched with
a new interested party: Madeley Academy 6th Form Students. The
challenge being to design, source materials and build on site, an
environmentally themed structure of use for anyone visiting the Eco
Garden. The brief was to build a feature of their choice entirely from
recycled materials in keeping with the Eco Garden philosophy of
minimal environmental impact… read more
Cosgriff Whitehouse - Anaerobic Digester Plant,
- Anaerobic Digester Plant,
Abbots Moor Farm
Swancote, Bridgnorth

11. To find out more about BESST
please call us on
01952 567 578
besst@telford.gov.uk
visit
www.telfordbesst.co.uk
2012—2013