Striding Out is keen to engage young entrepreneurs and our associates in implementing practical and simple sustainable business practices - whether you are a one man band or a whole team!...Every little bit counts! Striding Out has teamed up with the Nag to run the Sustainable Business Challenge, which will encourage you to introduce a new responsible practice each month.

What else could you do?...

• Tap into Student Talent and Provide Valuable Work Experience
  Invest in the economic development of your future workforce, by providing valuable work experience or being a mentor for students in either Secondary or Higher Education. Having an insight into the real world of work is a valuable experience for any student, but tapping into the raw talent of youth is also great for business. Young People can provide you with new innovative ideas, fresh perspectives and skills which you may not even possess as a business owner. To be a mentor vist Young Enterprise UK, or to tap into students visit Shell Step
  
• Support a Local or National Charitable Cause by fundraising or offering inkind support: This not only provides much needed support to a charitable cause but it raises the respect and profile of your brand within the local community. Here are some ideas to get you started.... You could offer your skills to a charity to provide them with much needed knowledge and resources! or y ou could use your skills to raise funds for a charitable cause through engaging your customers, suppliers and associates in an fundraising event.
• Get wise to the Disability Discrimination Act: Under the DDA, small to medium sized businesses have to make �reasonable adjustments� so they do not discriminate against disabled customers or employees.This may affect the way you treat your staff, job applicants and customers. The Department of Work and Pensions has put together a Better Business Checklist for small businesses to anticipate what the need to consider.
  In summary it applies to the four key areas:
• Accessing your information - signs, marketing material contact details, website etc.
• Accessing your premises - access, seating, lighting etc.
• Customer service - advertising, staff training, customer feedback, delivery etc.
• Employing disabled people-flexibility, application forms, interviews, etc.
• Responsible Event Planning: Think outside the box when organizing events and activities for your business or social occasion. Explore venues and suppliers, which contribute towards social or environmentally sustainability, to maximize your positive impact. So how can you do it?
• Catering Venues: A number of catering and entertainment venues are run by social enterprises, which will ensure your money is well spent in contributing towards a better society�.to name a few The Hoxton Apprentice, Fifteen Restaurant and the Candid Arts Trust.
• Catering: Select caterers that use a range of organic produce�. to name a couple Passion Organic, and Skye Cooks.
• Event and Workshop Space: A number of event spaces are also run by social enterprises�..to name a couple The Hub, and Coin Street Community Builders.