Sustainable practice – social goals

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Sustainable practice – social goals

26th March 2019 by Accounting for Energy

By Accounting for Energy – (4 min read)

Sustainability is a big word. We all know the dictionary definition, yet in daily usage, it has taken on a wider meaning. In fact, it can refer to almost any activity or goal likely to benefit the environment. In terms of doing business, sustainability can mean recycling your waste, or reducing vehicle journeys. One aspect that is often overlooked, however, is how business goals can be used to promote social outcomes.

In 2015, the UN introduced its Sustainable Development Goals – 17 aims for countries, both rich and poor, to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. The ethos was that economic success need not come at a cost to the environment. However, it also went a step further, calling for sustainable business to end poverty. The UN goals include a commitment to work towards a world with no poverty; decent work and economic growth, and reduced inequalities.

While it may be easy to assume that in the UK, a developed nation and the fifth highest performing economy in the world, we are all well-heeled, in fact, poverty is on the rise. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s most recent report, UK Poverty 2018, 4.1 million children and four million workers are living in poverty, a rise of 500,000 in the last five years. The UK is clearly not a land of milk and honey for all.

Recycling enterprises have always been well-placed to drive socially conscious business. At the dawn of recycling in the UK, Friends of the Earth and others spearheaded paper recycling and, for many years, a thriving community sector drove multi-material recycling schemes.

Today, social businesses such as Greenstream Flooring in Wales continue to challenge preconceptions. Since 2011, Greenstream has saved 500,000 tonnes of used office carpet tiles from landfill or incineration, selling them for business reuse or donating them to low-income families and organisations that would not otherwise be able to afford them. It also provides training and volunteering opportunities to help people back into work.

The breadth of socially-centred enterprise extends from the Reuse Network’s members, which collect, refurbish, sell and donate goods to low income families and the public, to used wood from the construction centre – sourced through the National Community Wood Recycling Project. Social enterprise businesses such as Manchester’s Emerge provide recycling services, confidential data shredding, and food redistribution through the FareShare programme.

With a stronger focus on corporate social responsibility, wider business is also reflecting the need for greater social obligations. Reconomy, for example, recently launched its social value programme to build community relationships. In practice, this means ‘breaking barriers’ for ex-offenders and the homeless, and ‘supporting change’ in wider industry.

In today’s uncertain climate, it is encouraging to see that social goals still have value in business. In the words of Ellen Petts of Greenstream Flooring, “Basically, we like helping people. We have to earn money to do it, but it all goes into helping people.”

To check whether your land rent payments are accurate, get in touch with our specialists auditors today.

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Green Economy begins at home

By Accounting for Energy – (3 min read)
UK recycling infrastructure is stepping up as waste exports come under scrutiny. The last two years have brought intense examination of routes to export and the impact these may be having on nations that take in waste from the UK. Awareness of the negative impact of certain wastes is nothing new – the Basel Convention, which has been raising awareness around the toxic processing of electrical waste for decades – is just one example. However, recent events have created a perfect storm that has finally led to outrage in all the right places.

Testimonials

“We found your report informative and easy to read, it was good to see how the wind farm is performing and we were pleased with the results of the audit”

Mark Charles, Exeter
“Job well done”

Sara James, Durham
“Early non-payment discovered so very happy with outcome”

Martin Roberts, Peterborough
“Excellent service. The review has given me peace of mind”

Tracy Maria, Cumbria
‘We found the report very thorough and really interesting and were pleased that the payments have been corrected and appreciate your help with this very much’

David Terrence, Devon
“In every instance Accounting for Energy have identified and recovered shortfalls in rent for my clients. Not only do the landowners receive back payments but they are also keen to show developers that they are being held to account.”

Chris Thyer MRICS FAAV Land Agent, GSC Grays
“We don’t have comparable leases in renewable energy meaning there are few examples to draw from, so it’s always good to have checks and balances in place. We would recommend Accounting for Energy for their diligence.”

Ali Walker Property Co-ordinator, Bath and Wells Diocese, Church of England
“The information provided by the turbine owner seemed to be comprehensive. The issue comes with knowing if all the data is complete and the audit was able to identify areas that we should have been receiving royalties on.”

Ben Ardern Financial Controller, Dewlay Cheesemakers
“I worked with Travis on a set of arbitral proceedings to recover unpaid royalties on behalf of the landowners of a large renewable energy site. I was very inspired by his passion for his industry and his tireless commitment to getting the best results.”

Sarah Bishop, Commercial Disputes Solicitor
“Travis is the go-to person for renewable energy landowner royalty payments. He gets into the details of a case, and is very tenacious in identifying and recovering any monies owed to landowners.”

Grant Jones, Chartered accountant, solicitor and practicing arbitrator
“I would recommend Accounting for Energy because they are clearly experts in this area, and they were good to work with. It was an easy decision to get them on board because we really didn’t have the expertise or the time to be trawling through the lease and power purchase agreement.”

Nick Kenyon, CEO, Dewlay Cheesemakers

Testimonials

“We found your report informative and easy to read, it was good to see how the wind farm is performing and we were pleased with the results of the audit”

Mark Charles, Exeter
“Job well done”

Sara James, Durham
“Early non-payment discovered so very happy with outcome”

Martin Roberts, Peterborough
“Excellent service. The review has given me peace of mind”

Tracy Maria, Cumbria
“We found the report very thorough and really interesting and were pleased that the payments have been corrected and appreciate your help with this very much”

David Terrence, Devon
“In every instance Accounting for Energy have identified and recovered shortfalls in rent for my clients. Not only do the landowners receive back payments but they are also keen to show developers that they are being held to account.”

Chris Thyer MRICS FAAV Land Agent, GSC Grays
“We don’t have comparable leases in renewable energy meaning there are few examples to draw from, so it’s always good to have checks and balances in place. We would recommend Accounting for Energy for their diligence.”

Ali Walker Property Co-ordinator, Bath and Wells Diocese, Church of England
“The information provided by the turbine owner seemed to be comprehensive. The issue comes with knowing if all the data is complete and the audit was able to identify areas that we should have been receiving royalties on.”

Ben Ardern Financial Controller, Dewlay Cheesemakers
“I worked with Travis on a set of arbitral proceedings to recover unpaid royalties on behalf of the landowners of a large renewable energy site. I was very inspired by his passion for his industry and his tireless commitment to getting the best results.”

Sarah Bishop, Commercial Disputes Solicitor
“Travis is the go-to person for renewable energy landowner royalty payments. He gets into the details of a case, and is very tenacious in identifying and recovering any monies owed to landowners.”

Grant Jones, Chartered accountant, solicitor and practising arbitrator
““I would recommend Accounting for Energy because they are clearly experts in this area, and they were good to work with. It was an easy decision to get them on board because we really didn’t have the expertise or the time to be trawling through the lease and power purchase agreement.”

Nick Kenyon, CEO, Dewlay Cheesemakers

Testimonial with bg

“We found your report informative and easy to read, it was good to see how the wind farm is performing and we were pleased with the results of the audit”

Mark Charles, Exeter
“Job well done”

Sara James, Durham
“Early non-payment discovered so very happy with outcome”

Martin Roberts, Peterborough
“Excellent service. The review has given me peace of mind”

Tracy Maria, Cumbria
‘We found the report very thorough and really interesting and were pleased that the payments have been corrected and appreciate your help with this very much’

David Terrence, Devon
“In every instance Accounting for Energy have identified and recovered shortfalls in rent for my clients. Not only do the landowners receive back payments but they are also keen to show developers that they are being held to account.”

Chris Thyer MRICS FAAV Land Agent, GSC Grays
“We don’t have comparable leases in renewable energy meaning there are few examples to draw from, so it’s always good to have checks and balances in place. We would recommend Accounting for Energy for their diligence.”

Ali Walker Property Co-ordinator, Bath and Wells Diocese, Church of England
“The information provided by the turbine owner seemed to be comprehensive. The issue comes with knowing if all the data is complete and the audit was able to identify areas that we should have been receiving royalties on.”

Ben Ardern Financial Controller, Dewlay Cheesemakers
“I worked with Travis on a set of arbitral proceedings to recover unpaid royalties on behalf of the landowners of a large renewable energy site. I was very inspired by his passion for his industry and his tireless commitment to getting the best results.”

Sarah Bishop, Commercial Disputes Solicitor
“Travis is the go-to person for renewable energy landowner royalty payments. He gets into the details of a case, and is very tenacious in identifying and recovering any monies owed to landowners.”

Grant Jones, Chartered accountant, solicitor and practicing arbitrator
“I would recommend Accounting for Energy because they are clearly experts in this area, and they were good to work with. It was an easy decision to get them on board because we really didn’t have the expertise or the time to be trawling through the lease and power purchase agreement.”

Nick Kenyon, CEO, Dewlay Cheesemakers

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