York £20K Go-Greener Fund
Go greener and win your business a share of £20,000!
We’re committed to help deliver sustainable prosperity for York and support the city’s future in a zero carbon world and we know smaller businesses are keen to do the same.
That’s why we launched the York £20k Go-Greener Fund to help York’s small firms in retail, food & drink, leisure, hospitality, health & beauty and consumer services encourage eco-friendly high street spending and boost customer-led sustainable growth.
We made £20,000 available to finance ideas and plans that will enable businesses to build on environmental practices and products that directly appeal to customers.
The application process:
First York joined forces with the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses), the leading business support organisation for small businesses and the self-employed, and the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hub to decide the 10 businesses to receive a share of the fund.
These businesses each won an award of £2,000 and First York have also covered the cost for each successful business to have their own film made showcasing their sustainability.
The best video will now be decided by a people’s vote with the winner getting the chance to feature in a film the LEP Growth Hub is making, which includes some of the world’s leading voices on climate change.
With thanks to our assessment panel:
Carolyn Frank, York & North Yorkshire Development Manager Federation of Small Businesses
Sue Jefferson, Chair of the Business Board at York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Ian Humphreys, Managing Director of First York
Find out more about our 10 winners below!
York Gin
https://yorkgin.com/
York Gin is a small, independent distiller and retailer of some of the world’s finest gins winning the Visit York Tourism award for ‘Best Shop’ in 2022.
They’re looking to introduce refillable containers for their gin. They want to properly investigate the true environmental impact and instigate a reuse scheme that customers to the physical stores and distillery could use. They have already switched their glass to locally made, reduced the weight and removed plastics entirely!
Angela Bare
https://angelabare.co.uk/
An established shoe shop in York who imports shoes from all around the world as well as designing their own local brand of footwear. Their store has previously won Best Shop on the High Street!
Angela Bare want to continue improving their packaging, ensuring all outgoing packages use recycled products and no plastic. Currently, they don't have their logo on their bags to reduce ink usage. They have also introduced vegan ranges (and have even designed and produced their own vegan shoe) which reduces their carbon footprint. On their fan page you’ll find a recycling project to promote sustainable fashion too.
Forage Bar
https://www.forageyork.com/
Forage Bar is a new restaurant and late-night bar in the city centre that specialises in causal fine dining food and well-made drinks.
They are looking to establish a kitchen garden in the courtyard of their building to grow herbs and micro herbs to be used in their food. Already they have started using food waste for compost which is currently gifted to local allotments but could also be used in their own garden. There is a substantial amount of research to say that gardening improves mental wellbeing which aligns with their business’s mental health initiative too.
Fabrication
https://www.fabric-ation.co.uk/
Everything in Fabrication is locally made by local artists and makers. Currently there are 36 artists making and selling in their shop on Coney Street.
Their ‘make do and mend’ initiative will look at running workshops to teach people how to extend the life of their clothes from how to wash on a lower temperature, to advanced sewing and transforming outfits with tailoring. They’re also extending the repurposed crafts area so customers can buy unwanted threads and fabrics that would otherwise go into landfill.
York Podiatry
https://www.yorkpodiatry.co.uk/
The established independent podiatry clinic provides private services to people of all ages, from basic nail care to advanced podiatry services.
With their funding they’ll invest in a portable foot scan system which would allow them to measure and design orthotics to be made via a 3D printer. This negates the need to produce plaster casts which are not environmentally friendly. The devices are milled using a 3D scanner so there are no wasted materials unlike current methods which require cutting of many materials to mould and mill.
Elisa Day Bridal
https://www.elisadaybridal.co.uk/
The alternative bridalwear label creates beautiful, unique wedding dresses by customising and upcycling preloved and sample dresses.
They want to work with other eco-friendly suppliers / wedding businesses to be able to show couples the benefits of a greener wedding. Along with these partnerships, Elisa Day Bridal will purchase a supply of old dresses and fabrics to use in their upcycled designs.
The Bluehouse Bookshop
https://www.facebook.com/bluehousebookshop/
The Bluehouse Bookshop is the only independent children's bookshop in York. They partner with local schools to supply reading books and offer bookshop visits.
They want to develop and grow their work with schools by launching their “Green Hub” initiative. Both primary and secondary schools would receive a comprehensive range of environmental books for the children to read and learn from. These books would be about the planet, animals, oceans and encourage them to think about the importance of bees, wildflowers, and recycling. Some of the books have avoided using plastic in production and so act out a sustainable stance within the book itself.
Lodge Cottage Farm Shop
https://www.lodgecottagefarmshop.co.uk/
The small, independent shop sells fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat stocking their shop only with local businesses and artisan suppliers.
They pride themselves on their no / low packaging and would like to do more to promote packaging waste. With the funding they’ll invest in purchasing reusable hessian bags to encourage their customers to go plastic bag free. A dispenser system for dry goods such as rice and pasta or cereals will also be purchased to promote the reuse and recycle ethos.
The Blueberry Academy
https://www.blueberryacademy.co.uk/
The training centre supports adults with learning disabilities to develop independence and gain skills for employment, working across a multitude of sectors.
They’d like to set up a cycle delivery service for businesses and residents in York that is run by adults with a learning disability.
Plush Café
https://www.plushcafe.co.uk/
The family-run business serves fabulous food and delicious drinks in themed dining rooms. They also sell unique curated items in their store.
Coffee is an incredible substance beneficial for human health, skin, and well-being. When coffee beans are brewed less than 1% of the bioactive compounds are extracted, leaving a “waste” product that is full of potential. Plush Café will recycle their coffee waste into 2 product streams. The 1st is a range of bottled cold-brew drinks. The 2nd is a cosmetic range including exfoliants, skin oils, soaps, lip balms and bath bombs.
