PRESS RELEASE
23rd November 2022
The Disruption House is partnering with NatWest to offer SMEs an easy way to embed ESG-led success in their business
An easy way to embed ESG-led success in your business
The Disruption House (TDH), providers of algorithmic risk analytics on the ESG and business resiliency capabilities of SMEs, has developed a platform for their clients to rapidly assess and benchmark their ESG performance for free. This is done via a 5-minute online ESG Starter Quiz which asks questions relating to the status of your business’ ESG capabilities. It’s an easy way to embed ESG-led success in your business
In the current cost of living crisis, being sustainable can really help businesses thrive and survive.
Sustainability is critical for every company, whether large or small, it helps to build resilience and recent studies show a strong relationship between customers’ sustainability performance and a lower risk of being in arrears in their borrowing.
NatWest understands that having available and scalable sustainability expertise is rarely possible for SMEs and with ESG constantly evolving, the ongoing monitoring and adjusting to reflect changes in the ecosystem is a further challenge.
Recognising this gap in the market, NatWest has worked alongside TDH to build the ESG Starter Quiz to help SMEs on their discovery journey and allow them to tackle it one step at a time. The ESG Starter Quiz has been developed from TDH’s proprietary analytics developed on internationally recognised frameworks, which enable all stakeholders to better understand and monitor the resiliency and sustainability of the SMEs they wish to work with, for, lend to or invest in.
NatWest’s Springboard to Sustainable Recovery report found that the UK needs 40,000 new SMEs in key sectors between now and 2030 if the country is to meet its net zero ambitions. With the right support SMEs could contribute up to 50% of UK 2030 emission targets through pursuing decarbonisation. It also found that the UK economy could benefit from a potential £175 billion revenue opportunity by 2030, with over 260,000 new jobs created in the process, as it aims to meet world-leading decarbonisation and emissions targets.
James Close, Head of Climate Change, NatWest Group said:
“We know many SMEs are unsure about where to start on their sustainability journey, and many don’t have the time or resources needed to understand their environmental impact. But with the right support there are opportunities across all sectors of the economy for SMEs in the UK to tackle climate change and future proof their businesses.
“Our work with The Disruption House and the ESG Foundation to deliver the ESG Starter Quiz, adds to the growing toolkit of support NatWest is providing to help SMEs focus on their long term sustainability.
“This quiz helps customers quickly understand and take their first steps towards transition to net zero, with the long-term aim of ESG being core to their business plans.”
Rupert Bull, CEO and Founder at The Disruption House, said:
“In this volatile and highly competitive market environment, speed to change is a game-changer. And while the desire to become sustainable is very strong, many companies find it both challenging and time-consuming. This is where The Disruption House comes into its own. Our goal is to democratise access to sustainability and accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices, enabling firms to inject much-needed resilience across their businesses in a time and cost-effective way.
“As a result, we believe this unique collaboration marks a significant turning point for SMEs for both NatWest customers and non-customers alike, as access to the ESG Starter Quiz is available to all SME users, who can now reap the proven benefits of our ESG expertise and begin their own sustainability journey. We look forward to working with NatWest for the common good of all SMEs.”
About NatWest
NatWest Group is a relationship bank for a digital world. We champion potential; breaking down barriers and building financial confidence so the 19 million people, families and businesses we serve in communities throughout the UK and Ireland can rebuild and thrive. If our customers succeed, so will we.
Alongside a wide range of banking services, NatWest offers businesses specialist sector knowledge in areas such as sustainable energy, commercial property and technology, as well as access to specialist entrepreneurial support.
https://www.natwest.com/business/green-banking.html
