A private capital investment firm set up in Liverpool in 2020 is now helping leading brands such as KFC and Victorian Plumbing to slash their carbon emissions. Tony McDonough reports

Just one year after its launch a division of Liverpool private capital investment firm Arete Capital Partners is helping leading brands to reduce their carbon footprint.

Arete Capital Partners was launched by five experienced North West investment professionals late in 2020. It has already made a number of investments totalling tens of millions of pounds.

A year ago it set up Arete Zero Carbon. Already the venture has grown and is working with a number of well-known businesses. These include fast food giant KFC, Liverpool law firm Hill Dickinson and bathroom retail Victorian Plumbing.

Arete Zero Carbon is led by Dr Stephen Finnegan. It was formed in response to UK Government legislation requiring all UK businesses to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Stephen has more than 25 years of experience in developing low and zero carbon strategies for public and private sector businesses. He is one of the UK’s most experienced strategists in the field.

As well as generating a roster of high-profile clients, Arete Zero Carbon has a growing team, all of whom have been recruited through local universities and colleges. It has leveraged Stephen’s connections within the University of Liverpool. He is an associate professor and director of the Zero Carbon Research Initiative.

Arete Zero Carbon’s approach critically assesses a business’ entire value chain operations. It then builds a bespoke, actionable net zero carbon roadmap to help lower emissions.

Stephen said: “For many businesses, a review of the carbon impact of their value chains was always thought of as an additional consideration that had little direct impact. Fast forward to today, and it is absolutely essential that all companies make these assessments.

“It not only affects their balance sheet, but is also required to meet government requirements and helps to reduce the companies’ impact on the environment.

“Since we launched, we’ve experienced an increasing number of prominent brands coming to us for our expertise. They want to be armed with the tools and knowledge they need to make suitable changes to their operations.

“By setting a net zero carbon target, as well as the obvious cost and emissions savings, it also increases a business’s ability to drive innovation, win new work and create a competitive advantage.”