Last month, members of the Trident team attended the Lancashire Business View Net Zero Carbon Conference, where local leaders, sustainability experts, and business innovators came together to discuss the path to a low-carbon economy for Lancashire businesses.
We caught up with Michael Dugdale, Managing Director, Karl Swan, Business Development Consultant, and Amy Carter, Senior Energy Solutions Engineer, who shared their insights from the day and what it means for us, our clients, and the wider Lancashire business community.
The event brought together businesses from across the county, offering opportunities to learn from each other, tackle shared challenges, and explore net zero strategies. For us, it was an invaluable chance to understand how businesses are adapting to the demands of a sustainable future, where the gaps in support lie, and how we can continue contributing to its progress.
One thing was clear, awareness is growing fast across the region.
“The myths are being overcome - business leaders now see the real commercial benefits of being net zero focused. The appetite to do more sustainably is definitely there,” Michael shared.
Amy added, “Lancashire is becoming a leading hub for net zero innovation. Businesses should be moving towards net zero because it’s the right thing to do, not because the government says so”.
Still, barriers remain. There's more work to be done to help businesses communicate sustainability better, offer accessible advice, and share local success stories.
As Karl put it, “Low carbon equals growth. Many businesses see it, but there’s a huge opportunity to show others how sustainability makes business sense."
A big takeaway for both Michael and Karl was the commercial value of sustainable business models.
“The cost of doing nothing is significant,” Mick stressed.
“It’s not about the initial spend - every £1 spent on net zero can return £4 in value,” added Karl.
This was echoed strongly during the conference's panel discussions, reinforcing the idea that net zero is not just environmentally necessary but economically smart, supporting business growth and long-term resilience.
Amy reflected on the issue too, “Yes, net zero can carry costs, but it's an investment. The long-term benefits significantly outweigh the cost.”
Another strong theme was the need for collaboration across sectors and improved communication of what's already working.
“As a business community, we’re not great at communicating success." Michael admitted.
"There’s excellent advice out there, but we need to get better at sharing insights, good news stories, and showing what’s possible.”
A site visit to the solar PV installation at Crow Wood Hotel & Spa was a prime example of this in action, proving that seeing sustainability in action inspires change.
Amy added, “It was great to see what local businesses are delivering, and to have those face-to-face conversations about shared ambition."
A recurring challenge that was raised throughout the day, was the skills shortage in the net zero sector, highlighting the urgent need for better sustainability training and stronger links between education and industry.
“Education is key," Karl explained.
"We need to equip the next generation with net zero skills and grow climate-related job opportunities here in Lancashire.”
Amy also pointed out, “Colleges were really engaged throughout the conference. There's a strong push to show high school students clear career paths into the sector."
One of Michael's most powerful takeaways came during his panel discussion.
“Stay the course, whatever politics brings. Governments will come and go, but customers, investors, and employees still expect your business to take sustainability seriously. Quiet resilience beats noisy rhetoric.”
It’s a clear reminder that net zero isn't a passing or political trend - it’s the foundation of future-proof business.
So, what do we do with all this insight? For us, they strengthen our commitment to:
If you couldn't make the conference, here’s the message for you to take away:
Net Zero isn’t just about the environment and cutting carbon. It’s about growth, innovation and building a resilient future for your business and the wider community.
Lancashire businesses are already making significant progress, and over the next year, we expect to see even more collaboration, more local projects, and stronger net zero leadership from companies taking meaningful action.
If you're looking to make your next move on sustainability, we're here to help. Get in touch to explore how net zero can support your business growth.