Business Sustainability
In 2020, Thame Town Council adopted a ‘Green Living Plan’ – a 10 year plan for a greener, cleaner Thame. Read more about it here. The plan has over 190 actions and in order to achieve them all will need engagement from the whole community – individuals, schools, community & voluntary groups, other layers of council and, of course, businesses. This engagement requires businesses to
- take steps towards sustainability within their own practices,
- explore whether or not they can reach out to support wider sustainability journey of Thame as a whole through involvement or sponsorship,
- promoting the action they are taking to encourage other businesses to take their own steps.
If there is anything specific you would like to discuss that is not already shown here, please contact Thame Town Council’s ‘Environmental Project Officer’ at becky.reid@thametowncouncil.gov.uk
Business Breakfasts
In 2024 Thame Town Council delivered a series of business breakfasts to help local businesses take action towards improving their sustainability. The project was funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with South Oxfordshire District Council as the lead authority.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund was part of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provided funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aimed to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.
In total 3 Businesses Breakfasts were delivered as follows:
- Low Carbon Hub Energy assessments: introducing businesses to this opportunity and offering partially funded assessments to interested businesses. In total 7 buildings took up energy assessments following this workshops, with others taking them up at a later date.
- Decarbonising your website: Delivered by local business Pentangle, this workshop focused on the (often missed) carbon impact of business websites, and what could be done to minimise these.
- Rural England Prosperity Funding: South Oxfordshire District Council were invited to share details of this grant fund, available for businesses to apply to support decarbonisation of their business.
Following overwhelmingly positive feedback from these workshops, additional workshops are being planned for the future, subject to capacity and funding. To make sure that you dont miss out on any future events, sign up to Thame Town Councils Newsletter, or register your interest using the form below:
Sign up for info about future Business Sustainability Breakfasts
Local projects you can support with time or money
more information coming soon
Who else can support you locally:
Take a look at what changes you could make or influence at work.
Whatever your job role you can make suggestions to reduce the environmental impact of the organisation you work for.
These changes could save money, improve efficiency and your working environment, and reduce emissions in Oxfordshire. It’s a win, win.
SODC’s Economic Development team provides businesses across the district with free and impartial support, advice and up-to-date business information.
21st Century Thame is a town-wide partnership, driven by a committed group of local volunteers (some representing local organisations), together with representatives of the Town and District Councils. At the moment they are running a ‘Business Spotlight’ feature – promoting what part local businesses are already doing to tackle climate change. If you want to be featured as part of this email them at admin@21stcenturythame.co.uk.
… and more to come.
Watch this space for more information as we get it.