Private capital investor Arete was established in Liverpool in 2020 and now the company is setting up a zero carbon division to help its partner firms achieve their sustainability goals. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool investment business Arete has set up a new division to help companies it invests in to achieve their net zero carbon targets.

Launched in the city late last year, Arete Capital Partners is private capital outfit that has already made a number of investments in firms with high growth potential. Now it is launching Arete Zero Carbon to assist to meet Government targets.

The UK Government is pushing all businesses to be achieve net zero carbon by 2050. It will work with businesses to initially assess their carbon footprints and design practical and actionable strategies to help them achieve net zero carbon, avoid future carbon taxes and ultimately increase their valuation.

Arete Zero Carbon will be led by one of the UK’s leading authorities on zero carbon design, Dr Stephen Finnegan. He has more than 25 years’ experience in developing low and zero carbon strategies for numerous public and private sector businesses. He joins Arete with plans to build out a new team throughout the course of 2021.

Ignoring their wider environmental responsibilities is no longer an option for businesses of all types and sizes. Smaller firms will increasingly have to demonstrate their sustainable credentials when competing for work in supply chains.

According to Arete, setting a net zero carbon target will increase a business’s ability to “drive innovation and competitive advantage”. Arete Zero Carbon’s approach will include a full review of the supply chain of a business, using the GHG Protocol and the creation of a net zero carbon strategy and vision.

Dr Finnegan said: “The future of business is evolving, and we must do what we can to reduce the impact our work has on the environment.

“The time for change is now and Arete Zero Carbon will allow us to make a real and positive impact over the near and long term, which will pave the way towards a more sustainable way of working.”

Mike Fletcher, joint managing partner at Arete, added: “We understand that sustainability is no longer a nice to have, it’s essential.

“Businesses must act sooner rather than later to tackle carbon emissions and create a better future, yet we know that many organisations feel uncertain on what steps they need to take to futureproof their businesses and make a positive impact.

“We have a responsibility as investors to help our new and existing investments understand the positive impact of reducing emissions. Arete Zero Carbon will help these businesses and others to take the right action now.”