Co-op chief's plea to Miliband over UK net zero 'challenges'

THE boss of the Co-op has urged Ed Miliband to fix a number of “far-reaching challenges” impeding small businesses’ net zero efforts.

- By Ali Lyon

Shirine Khoury-Haq warned that a lack of cheap finance and planning red tape were getting in the way of firms’ ambitions.

In a letter to the Energy Secretary, she said Britain was at a “crucial juncture” on its path to net zero and that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) urgently needed support if they were to help meet ambitious net zero goals.

“I continue to believe that energy consuming businesses — both small and large - could and should be encouraged and equipped to play in this urgent transition,” she wrote.