East Midlands firms address challenges and opportunities in sustainability and governance

Sharing best practice, overcoming hurdles and seizing the benefits in achieving net zero, sustainability and governance goals were among areas addressed by the region’s business leaders and academics at the East Midlands Sustainability and CSR Conference 2025 on 11th September.

Delivered by East Midlands Chamber, in partnership with and hosted by the University of Derby, with sponsors Epson UK, Blueprint, Flogas (part of DCC Energy) and Geo Green Power, the conference brought businesses and researchers together to share insight, experiential evidence and data in the context of the current economic and political climate.

Initial findings from soon to be published research, conducted by the University of Derby and East Midlands Chamber into the extent to which the region’s firms have embraced Green Growth were shared. The full report - Green Growth Trends in the East Midlands - is expected to be released shortly.

East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore chaired panel discussions on community support. Speaking afterwards he said: “Getting firms from across the East Midlands together in a place where the very latest research can be presented, where businesses can share what’s going well in their own journey toward becoming more sustainable and embracing CSR, but also hearing of the challenges they’ve faced is invaluable.

“While firms are progressing on that path, the conference proved there are important conversations to be had to get the approach right so that it does not just tick a box but brings significant benefit to a business.  Sharing best practice from multiple industries and sizes of firm, engaging with academics that are analysing findings and having open discussions in workshops can only be productive.” 

University of Derby Associate Professor of Strategy and Sustainability Dr Polina Baranova shared findings from the latest East Midlands Chamber and University of Derby research into Green Growth Trends, now in its tenth year and expected to be published soon. Speaking afterwards she said: “In academia we talk about impact. The partnership with the University of Derby and East Midlands Chamber on conducting Green Growth Trends research has been going on for more than ten years now. What we do is impactful, is helpful to lots of stakeholders around the region and that's what research is all about, as far as I'm concerned.

“What we're seeing generally is that businesses are increasingly trading in green goods and services so the market for green goods and services is developing well. When there is more competition, more engagement from businesses, consumers buy products and carbon reduction is applied, that is a positive sign."

Loughborough University Lecturer in Accounting and Finance and Small Business Engagement Co-ordinator Dr Elaine Conway shared insight on CSR engagement. Afterwards she said: “CSR can be everything – there is reputational benefit to a business on one hand but ultimately it's staff helping and volunteering. It can benefit retention - there are new ideas coming into the business. You can look at ways a charity can help in training your employees with something they may need, like marketing support.

“It hits your bottom line because you're not necessarily paying for those things but you're trading together in a relationship and just making it work so much more effectively.”