Southwark high streets beyond waste
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.
What’s on offer?
Thanks to Southwark Council’s Southwark Pioneer Fund, high street businesses in the borough will be 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.
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, you must fall into one of the high street categories below, be a registered and established, small or medium sized business with fewer than 250 employees, and have a bricks-and-mortar trading address in Southwark.
-
1
Food and drink
- eat inBusinesses that prepare food/drink for customers to consume on the premises:
- Pub/bar/taproom
- Restaurant/diner
- Café/coffee shop
-
2
Food and drink - takeaway
Businesses that prepare food/drink for customers to take away:
- Takeaway shop/kiosk
- Hot food market stall/van
- Butcher/baker/deli
-
3
Retail
Shops with a physical location that sell the following consumer items:
- Fashion
- Homeware
- Electricals/hardware
- Grocer/cornershop/
off licence
-
4
High street
servicesServices accessible to the general public, limited to:
- Hairdressers/barbers
- Beauty/nail salons
- Drycleaners/launderettes
- Pharmacies/opticians
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
- Grants of up to £5,000 are available for up to 20 businesses
- Applications will be open from 17th June-24th July
- If successful, receive support from a business advisor to make your activities a triumph
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.
Get a head start: Events
‘Business beyond waste’ workshops – various dates
Sign up for this workshop to take a deep dive into your business and identify the biggest wins when it comes to making better use of stuff. Afterwards, receive a bespoke action plan that could form the basis for your ‘High streets beyond waste’ grant application.
Beyond waste showcase: Quick wins for high street businesses – 20th June
There’s no need to start from scratch and try to go beyond waste alone. There are businesses offering innovative solutions to help high street businesses make better use of stuff. Attend this showcase to hear about some solutions you could bring into your business with the help of a ‘High streets beyond waste’ grant.
Register now for one of our free-of-charge events to learn how you might use a high streets beyond waste grant
““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
17th June
Grant applications open
20th June
'Quick wins' online showcase
26th June
'High streets beyond waste: Get started' workshop
24th July
Applications for grants close
Sep-Dec
Grants awarded and activities begin
Jan 2025
Programme wrap up and celebration
