Net Zero

Supporting Scotland’s Net-Zero Journey

Introduction

Scotland has shown both awareness and action in tackling climate issues. One reason for this is strong political support, with Scotland’s First Minister making tackling the climate emergency one of the four key priorities in his programme for Government. Another key factor is the active involvement of communities, who have played an important role by supporting or working with organisations focused on solving climate challenges.

Firstport being the first call for social enterprise have been supporting the start-up social entrepreneurs contributing to the journey towards reducing our carbon footprint. Here are some of the organisations we’ve helped with our grants and investment programmes.

Energy Training Academy- Promoting Green Jobs

Energy Training Academy (ETA) is specialised in providing high-quality training and education in the gas and renewables industry, from entry-level courses for those just starting in the industry to advanced certifications for experienced professionals. 

Firstport supported the establishment of ETA’s 12000 sq. Ft training facility in Dalkeith through investment from the Catalyst Fund in mid-2023. These funds have allowed the Energy Training Academy to open and operate the new facility which provides education and training courses in the renewables sector for a more sustainable future in the community.

This initiative boosts the local economy by creating green jobs and contributes to Scotland’s efforts to tackle the climate emergency, aligning with the First Minister’s climate goals. For instance, ETA’s Net Zero Home initiative showcases how to achieve a net-zero EPC rating, inspiring practical steps toward a sustainable future.

You can explore about their course, please visit their website by clicking here.

Sustainable Thinking Scotland- Sustainable agriculture

In 2016, Sean and Steve recognised the growing issue of food insecurity in the Falkirk region and decided to take action by founding Sustainable Thinking Scotland (STS) to address these challenges. Initially focused on tackling food scarcity within their community, the organisation received significant support from Firstport through programmes such as Start It (2018), LaunchMe (2019), Boost It (2020), and the Catalyst Fund (2021).

Sean working with Biochar

Over time, STS expanded its operations and impact with initiatives like the Kinneil Recycling Project, which reflects their commitment to a circular economy. They are also tackling the climate emergency through their innovative biochar solution, made from organic waste, which acts as a carbon sink and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Since inception, they have countless achievements, one of this is successfully removing 25.2 tonnes of CO2 from the environment and using their entire Walled Garden site to support four food banks. Learn more about their journey with Just Enterprise by visiting this page.

If you’re interested in learning more about our Green Waste Recycling please connect with them, by registering here.

Iona Energy: Promoting renewable energy in their island

Fuel poverty is a crisis that the Island suffers, primarily because of the island’s reliance on expensive imported electricity.

Shiona Ruhemann and the team at Iona Renewables identified ground source heat network as the only viable environmentally friendly energy solution to provide affordable energy for the island. They came up with the idea of incorporating Iona Energy for their island’s particular needs. For this intervention, Shiona was the winner for Social Innovation Challenge 2022, receiving £50,000 grant funding prize which is currently been used to carry out essential technical and construction work.

Iona Energy winner of Social Innovation Challenge 2022

The community of Iona, along with the collective support of multiple local and national stakeholders, are leading the development of a transformative ground source heat network, which is owned, operated, and maintained by Iona’s residents.

Overall, this community owned project is working towards decarbonising the heat supply on the island of Iona, alleviating fuel poverty and helping residents move away from fossil fuels. You can read their inspiring journey by clicking here.

Highland Weigh: Zero waste café

The Highland Weigh (THW), a Nairn-based zero-waste café and shop, was founded in March 2022 by Amanda Macarthur with the aim of eliminating plastic waste. Supported by Firstport’s Catalyst Fund, THW is leading the charge towards a sustainable future.

Offering a unique blend of ethical products, vegetarian café and zero-waste retail, THW sells organic coffee alongside over 100 plastic-free products categorised into accessories, books, food, health and beauty, homewares, household, outdoor, and seasonal. By prioritising local sourcing, minimising food waste, and harnessing green technologies, the café is deeply connected to the community and its values.

With a focus on transparency and sustainability, THW recently publishes that it has already diverted over 30,000 pieces of plastic from landfills. THW is a remarkable organisation running entirely on the circular economy concept.

Follow The Highland Weigh on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected and support their sustainable mission.

Conclusion

Firstport is proud to support innovative social enterprises that are collectively helping to achieve Scotland’s ambitious net-zero targets while maintaining stronger, more resilient communities.
If you are planning to start a social enterprise to tackle climate issues, we can help! Reach to us at info@firstport.org.uk

Visit our start-up page to learn more about how Firstport can support your social enterprise journey.