Building a Net Zero Nation: Why Community Is the Catalyst for Sustainable Business

Why We Started Net Zero Nation

Net Zero Nation came from a shared belief: most small and medium-sized businesses want to act on sustainability but simply don’t know where to begin.

Across the country, business owners understood the need to adapt to a low-carbon economy but lacked a roadmap or the time, data, and expertise to make it happen. The gap wasn’t intent; it was infrastructure.

That’s when Russell Dalgleish, Chair of the Scottish Business Network, and I decided to act.
Together, we co-founded Net Zero Nation. 

Net Zero Nation is a Scotland-based initiative helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) take measurable, practical steps toward sustainability. By combining expert guidance from our delivery partner, Net Zero International, hands-on support from the Accelerator Team, and the connectivity of the Scottish Business Network, and powered by Notch technology, Net Zero Nation enables business communities to measure, manage, and reduce their emissions together, creating stronger, more resilient, and more competitive companies across the country.

Our vision was to mass-mobilise small businesses toward a sustainable future – showing that when companies work together, they not only reduce emissions but also build resilience, innovation, and opportunity.

“For me, Net Zero Nation represents what Scotland does best – collaboration. By connecting our business community around a shared purpose, we can turn the challenge of net zero into a competitive advantage for every region of the country.”
Russell Dalgleish, Co-Founder of Net Zero Nation & Chair, Scottish Business Network

The Power of Community

Through our Accelerator Programmes, working with hundreds of Scottish SMEs, one thing has become crystal clear:

No single business reaches net zero alone.

Community is the multiplier.

It’s where knowledge is shared, where collaboration replaces competition, and where small actions add up to large-scale impact.

We’ve seen firms that once struggled in isolation now thrive as part of a network – reducing costs through shared initiatives, gaining new contracts through sustainability credentials, and growing confidence through peer learning.

One construction company in our Accelerator programme recently secured a major public sector contract after demonstrating measurable emissions reductions, something they credit directly to their Net Zero Nation journey. Another engineering firm retained a key supplier contract because their sustainability data gave assurance to their client.

Others have joined collaborative initiatives to green their supply chains, cutting waste and energy costs while improving their procurement credentials.

Across the community, businesses are now tendering for projects on an equal footing with larger corporates – not because they’ve grown in size, but because they’ve grown in capability and credibility.

And perhaps most inspiring of all, many report that this journey has re-energised their workforce. By engaging staff in sustainability goals and celebrating progress together, companies are strengthening their own internal communities – reconnecting teams around shared purpose and pride. The ripple effect of community is felt not only between organisations, but within them.

Community transforms sustainability from an obligation into an opportunity – from something complex into something achievable.

The Framework Behind Net Zero Nation

The real strength of Net Zero Nation lies in the framework that supports every participant.

• Net Zero International provides world-class expertise and frameworks that allow businesses to measure, manage, and reduce emissions with credibility.
• Our Accelerator Support Team works hand-in-hand with each business, guiding them through every stage of their sustainability journey.
• The Scottish Business Network brings the power of community – connecting business leaders, investors, and innovators across Scotland and the world.

Together, these partners form an ecosystem that helps small businesses make progress quickly and confidently – from first measurement to verified impact.

And powering the entire system is Notch, the leading carbon accounting technology platform that provides the engine room for data, reporting, and connection.

Net Zero Nation, powered by Notch, combines human expertise, shared purpose, and data to make sustainability measurable and meaningful.

The Lesson: Collaboration Is the Competitive Edge

What I’ve learned is that collaboration isn’t just good for sustainability – it’s good business.

By working together, companies cut costs, innovate faster, and strengthen their resilience.
Community builds trust; data builds credibility.
Combined, they create unstoppable momentum.

The results we’re seeing prove it:

• Contracts won and retained through credible sustainability credentials.
• Operational costs reduced by identifying inefficiencies through data.
• Supply chains strengthened through collective carbon reduction and transparency.
• Workforces re-energised and internal communities strengthened around shared purpose.

That’s the power of collective action – it creates measurable impact and business advantage.

Join the Movement

Scotland has proven that collective business action can drive measurable change. Now it’s time to build on that success.

Register your interest to join a Net Zero Nation Accelerator.
Get structured support, expert guidance, and access to the tools that make sustainability measurable. Visit netzeronation.eco to find out more.

Want to build your own community programme?
Send me a message. I’d be happy to jump on a call and share what we’ve learned. Whether you represent a regional network, local council, or industry group, I can help you get started.

Looking Ahead: A Network of Net Zero Communities

Our ambition is to see every region and sector build its own Net Zero Community connected through shared data, mutual support, and local leadership.

Because when community and data come together, net zero stops being a target and becomes a shared journey.

James Napier is the Founder and CEO of Notch, helping businesses accelerate their journey to Net Zero through insight, innovation, and impact.