Latest Posts from The Blue Patch Blog

Last year, in September, we celebrated the 5th anniversary of our launch. In business years (and dog years), 5 years is significant. We’ve had some great successes and also have had to navigate some huge learning curves along the way. Our goal has always been to be a platform where British sustainable businesses can come […]

At the start of 2019 there were 5.82 million small businesses in the UK (with 0 to 49 employees). SMEs accounted for 99.9% of the business population (5.9 million businesses), three-fifths of employment and around half of the turnover in the private sector. UK Small Business Statistics, FSB. Despite these encouraging numbers, 2020 has been […]

Living through a global pandemic, it seems almost impossible not to feel fully consumed by Covid-19. But after watching the 2020 Ashden Awards, the idea of this pandemic functioning as an isolated issue to be tackled, set apart from the urgency of the climate crisis, seems a potentially dangerous oversimplification. The Ashden Awards are dedicated […]

How to Save the Planet…a learning opportunity! It’s London Climate Action Week this week. Check in on how organisations are responding and discover what you can do to help the climate crisis. Part 1.  1-3 July, is digital and brings together world-leading experts and policy makers to drive the national and international Covid-19 climate policy response, […]

Forget business as usual.  Right now we’re experiencing a different kind of economy – one that includes clean air and bird song. We’ve been enjoying the simple pleasures of a walk in the park or taking the bike for a spin, baking bread and quality time with the family. When patterns break, it allows a […]

Welcome to the Blue Patch Sustainable Business Awards 2020. SMEs across the UK and Ireland are invited to come forward and nominate themselves for one or more of the following categories: New Business Award: For new businesses creating products or providing services (under 2 years old). New Heritage Award: For young businesses using traditional production methods […]

Welcome to Earth Day 2020 4:00 am Looking through my window to the garden, I barely make out where buildings stop and sky starts. No birds yet, just the clock ticking. At the onset of the lockdown I felt erased, detached from purpose. Now I feel the opposite, that time has been reclaimed and life […]

This year’s not really turning out how I expected – and that’s putting it quite mildly. 2019 was a big year for me. I celebrated a big milestone birthday with a blowout party and some lifetime travel adventures. I sailed boats and rode horses. I learnt new skills and gained new qualifications. I decimated my […]

We’ve compiled a roundup of advice and resources that we’ve seen for businesses and business owners over the past couple of weeks. 1. HM Govt Business Support: Here you’ll find all the support and information put together by the government. 2. ICAEW has a huge selection of resources and advice around tax, audit, financial reporting […]

I have a long-standing love affair with Lush. Can you blame me? Entering a Lush location is like stepping into a world of colourful, quirkily-named skincare products that look and smell good enough to eat. Plus the brand is well known for being at the forefront of sustainability in regards to packaging, animal testing, sourcing ethically […]