Southwark high streets beyond waste (applications closed)
Calling Southwark’s high street businesses!
We’re offering support to help you improve your environmental impact and benefit your business, including the opportunity to apply for a grant to trial new ‘beyond waste’ ideas.
Read on for more information, some inspiration and how you can get involved.
Applications for Southwark High Streets Beyond Waste grants are now closed
Watch this space to find out which businesses were successful!
What’s on offer?
Thanks to Southwark Council’s Southwark Pioneer Fund, high street businesses are now able to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to try out ideas to ‘go beyond waste’; making better use of ‘stuff’ to benefit the environment AND your business. We also invite applications for up to £10,000 from Southwark’s markets for projects that make it possible for a group of traders to go beyond waste together.
Successful applicants will also receive support from ReLondon’s expert business advisors to bring your ideas to life.
Who is this for?
To be eligible for support, you must fall into one of these high street categories and meet the business eligibility criteria below:
-
1
Food and drink
- eat inBusinesses that prepare food/drink for customers to consume on the premises e.g.:
- Pub/bar/taproom
- Restaurant/diner
- Café/coffee shop
-
2
Food and drink - takeaway
Businesses that prepare food/drink for customers to take away e.g.:
- Takeaway shop/kiosk
- Hot food market stall/van
- Butcher/baker/deli
-
3
Retail
Shops with a physical location that sell the following consumer items e.g.:
- Fashion
- Homeware
- Electricals/hardware
- Grocer/cornershop/
off licence
-
4
High street
servicesServices accessible to the general public, limited to e.g.:
- Hairdressers/barbers
- Beauty/nail salons
- Drycleaners/tailors/
launderettes - Pharmacies/opticians
-
5
Markets
Groups of traders looking to work on a joint project, led by one organisation such as a market operator or other business.
Business eligibility requirements
Businesses (or lead applicants for market projects) that fit into the categories above must also:
- Be a small or medium sized business (fewer than 250 employees)
- Be a B2C high street business, accessible to the general public
- Have a physical trading address in the borough of Southwark
- Be an established business registered on Companies House with a turnover of at least £10,000 in the last financial year
Market projects should include at least 4 market traders to work together. They should also include one lead applicant that meets these criteria who will complete the application and manage the grant if successful.
For more detailed eligibility criteria and examples of excluded businesses, download the application guidance.
What's included
Attend a workshop
Get inspired and generate ideas
- Explore ideas of how your business can make better use of ‘stuff’ and reduce waste
- Receive a tailored action plan to guide you when you apply for a grant
Apply for a grant
Make your ideas a reality
- 15-20 grants of up to £5,000 available (up to £10,000 for market projects)
- Applications will be open from 17th June-24th July
- If successful, receive support from a business advisor to make your project a success
Lead the way
Build your profile within Southwark and beyond
Unite with Southwark Council and likeminded, Southwark-based businesses to demonstrate the power of the high street to create a more sustainable city.
Why go ‘beyond waste’?
You may have already considered your energy efficiency but have you ever considered the impact of all the ‘stuff’ that you or your customers buy, make, use and throw away? That could be waste created during food prep, food left on customers’ plates, packaging from supplies, single use takeaway containers, or unloved clothing. All of this contributes to the carbon footprint of your business and also costs money!
Ideas to tackle stuff might include making better new recipes using waste ingredients, offering reusable packaging or product refills, repairing clothes or electricals, upcycling homeware, renting jewellery or clothing, or sharing space and equipment, to name just a few!
By taking these steps within your high street business, you can reduce costs, create new revenue and attract sustainably minded customers. All while reducing the impact your business has on the environment.
Need some ideas?
- Food and drink businesses can hear from innovative businesses who offer ready-made ‘Beyond waste’ solutions here
- Browse our quick guides to find businesses offering solutions that can help you go beyond waste
- Browse inspirational case studies from other businesses who are tackling ‘stuff’
- Follow the circular businesses in our community on Instagram: @ReLondon_CircularChamps
““ReLondon has opened our eyes to how much hairdressers chuck into the bin and got us to turn around completely, and it's absolutely incredible how much we can recycle.” ”
Miranda Alund, Barhairink
What’s happening when
17 June
Grant applications open
24 July
Deadline for applications
Sep 2024
Successful grantees notified
Sep-Dec 2024
Projects delivered
Jan 2025
Programme wrap up and celebration
Applications are now closed. Visit our services page to find out other ways we could support your business.
This support is funded by Southwark Council’s ‘Southwark Pioneer Fund’ and supported by ReLondon’s business transformation team which is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
