Environmental law website to benefit SMEs

ACCORDING to recent research, more than half of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) do not believe that good environmental practice can lead to reduced operating costs, despite the fact that last year poor awareness of environmental law led to SMEs being hit by fines totalling around £2.4 million for pollution and environmental damage.

However, a government survey conducted earlier this year has found that, collectively, many small businesses in the UK are already saving at least £58 million a year by using a free online service to help them gain a better understanding of environmental law, which, in turn, is giving them an edge over their competitors.

The independent survey commissioned by NetRegs, a free website providing guidance on environmental law, found that small businesses in the mining and quarrying industry who use this government-backed service and sign up for its regular e-alerts are saving at least £4,000 a year, largely from more efficient handling of their waste and through financial savings on consultancy fees and time spent researching legislation, as well as avoiding fines that would have been incurred through non-compliance.

‘The NetRegs website as an extremely useful resource that provides easy-to-digest information on environmental law that is not only comprehensive, but uniquely relevant to small business needs, commented John Holbrow, chairman of the Environment and Energy Policy Unit at the Federation of Small Businesses. ‘It also offers an added strength in its valuable, free e-alert service that allows businesses to keep up to date with the latest legislation.’

Martin Brocklehurst, head of external programmes at the Environment Agency, added: ‘We know SMEs within the mining and quarrying industry struggle to keep on top of environmental regulations, but in such a challenging financial climate it is more important than ever that they take advantage of the potential savings of going green.

‘This research dispels the assumption that environmental compliance often comes with an added cost. With free, plain English guidance, NetRegs can show how compliance can make businesses more economical and competitive, and we urge all UK SMEs to sign up to NetRegs to keep on top of environmental law.’