- Three quarters of business leaders (75%) based in the West Midlands claim the pandemic has made them more environmentally conscious
- Four fifths (84%) feel they need to run their businesses differently with a renewed focus on flexibility
- Two thirds (68%) say that the pandemic has increased the importance of sustainability, but the need to stabilise their business is holding them back – compared to the national average of 59 percent
Three quarters of business leaders in the West Midlands say they are now more environmentally conscious in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to new research released today.
The survey, jointly commissioned by B2B energy suppliers Opus Energy and Haven Power, part of Drax Group, found bosses are having to make bolder decisions as they prepare for a brave new business world. 69 percent admit that their own leadership requires a greater degree of bravery in decision making since the pandemic.
The news comes as the West Midlands begins to move out of lockdown, and businesses begin to identify processes for the new world. Although two thirds (68%) say the pandemic has increased the importance of sustainability, the need to stabilise their business is holding them back from making bigger leaps in the sustainability agenda.
Four fifths (84%) of those questioned in the West Midlands feel they need to run their businesses differently, with a focus on new ways of working, and almost half (46%) are looking to offer the option of working from home as they seek to provide employees with more flexibility.
Paul Sheffield, Managing Director of Drax’s Customer’s Businesses, said: “Dealing with COVID-19 and the climate emergency is the greatest challenge the world has possibly ever faced. Business leaders recognise they need to be braver and more agile in their decision making to manage short-term priorities of stabilising their businesses and protecting employees. But they also realise that as we navigate out of lockdown, it’s more important than ever to make sure sustainability is at the heart of their operations.
“Drax is committed to enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. We are working with our customers as an energy partner, enabling them to become more sustainable, to reduce their emissions by using renewable electricity, EVs, batteries and smart technologies which are better for the environment but can also have a positive impact on their bottom line as well.”
Haven Power and Opus Energy are both specialist energy suppliers to businesses across the UK. As part of Drax Group, both brands are committed to delivering a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. By providing 100% renewable energy tariffs, developing end-to-end electric mobility solutions, and working with more than 2,300 small independent generators to provide customers with renewable energy, Drax is enabling the businesses it works with source and use their energy effectively, reducing costs and carbon emissions, whilst helping them to grow better businesses.
For more information on the report and to learn more, please visit: www.havenpower.com/news/our-planet-whitepaper
