University expertise can help small enterprises make big differences

Collaborations brokered by Interface have a pivotal role to play in tackling climate change, says Suzy Powell

Climate change, net zero, energy consumption, the cost-of-living crisis – the news headlines these days are enough to make us all want to stick our heads in the sand.

But if ever we needed a reminder, the recent record-breaking temperatures across the UK and Europe served as a very sharp wake-up call that doing nothing is not an option.

The Scottish Government has set a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. A key part of its strategy is delivering a just transition, by working with communities, business, and the people of Scotland to plan for a net zero future.

With the Interface mission of enabling business-academic collaborationsforeconomicandsocietalbenefit, the service it delivers and the collaborations it brokers have a pivotal role to play in tackling climate change challenges. We have access to hundreds of academic experts and specialist facilities which can positively contribute to the net zero objectives.

Before sitting down to write this,i put the kettle on (filled 25 per cent full of water), and watching my new Smart Meter flick to “red” energy use, I pondered what else I could be doing dayto-day to use less of earth’s resources (which would also save a little on the household budget). It’s the little action which can make a difference, after all.

Through my role at Interface, I have seen the inroads being made by some of Scotland’s small and medium sized businesses to tackle what seem like impossible challenges. in fact, between February and April this year, 58 per cent of projects brokered by Interface

werehelpingbusinessesaddresschallenges relating to combating climate change and promoting sustainable practices.

Recently we introduced Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Higher Education, Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, to two organisationswehavesupported,bothofwhich are making great strides in tackling environmental issues.

Community interest company, Sustainable Thinking Scotland, is discoveringmultiplepositiveusesofbiochar, aby-productcreatedbyburningwood. The benefits include the removal of toxins from soil and water.

Co-founder, Sean Kerr commented: “There has been a massive acceleration in terms of the biochar project in the last year. There is no way we would have made the acceleration that we have without the support of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and Interface.”

In 2021, IT disposal experts, Re-tek, extended the life of 250,000 used technology items preventing the need for them to be inefficiently or needlessly recycled or landfilled.

William Mcpherson, Projects Director at the company in East Kilbride, said:“withoutthesupportofinterface, it’s unlikely that we would have found our outstanding partner, University of the West of Scotland.” Both companies continue to work with academics on research and development projects helping to expand their workforce and secure business in new markets.

These examples are living proof that small enterprises, with universityexpertise,canmakebigdifferencestotacklingsomeoftoday’s toughest challenges.

Suzy Powell, PR and Communications Executive, Interface