‘There are so many actions that you can take as an individual’

Katherine Piper and her team at Future Leap are truly walking the talk.

Their first, and now award-winning, Sustainable Business Hub on Gloucester Road is carbon neutral, running on cutting-edge air source heat pump technology and their second location in Clifton is a new project working towards making a period building more sustainable.

The company is now on its way to becoming B Corp accredited.

Katherine, who works as Future Leap’s director of partnerships and sustainability, says the company’s role in creating a better Bristol is to inspire businesses to do things differently, with sustainability at the core of their decision-making.

Organisations can join the Future Leap Network, providing access to a regular educational events series, sharing knowledge of all aspects of environmental and social sustainability.

Here, Katherine shares what a Better Bristol means to her.

What’s the one thing that inspires you to get up in the morning?

“Future Leap is all about supporting organisations to do business differently, with sustainability at its heart. As such, I get the opportunity to meet some amazing, passionate people, innovating for a better future.

We have such a massive challenge ahead of us if we are to be a truly green economy but hearing about the organisations doing “business unusual” really is a great motivator to get up in the morning. That, and the plant-based breakfasts in the Future Leap Café!”

Future Leap’s Sustainable Business Hub on Gloucester Road – photo: Mia Vines Booth

If you could pick one thing to change about Bristol what would it be?

“I would like for there to be more investment in a public engagement campaign around the climate and ecological emergencies. There is a lot of good stuff going on in the city and I get to hear about this at Future Leap and also in my role on the One City Environment Board, but if you do not work in sustainability, it can be hard to see and understand the work that is underway to become a green city.

A public engagement campaign would help us not only understand the action being taken at the macro level but could also offer advice as to what we can do on an individual level to be more environmentally conscious.”

What does a Better Bristol mean to you?

“Everyone understanding the role they play in contributing towards a regenerative city, whether that is convincing your workplace to put sustainability at the top of their agenda, influencing local politics to ensure no-one is left behind in the transition to a green economy or helping your local community to accelerate positive climate action. It also means a better public transport system that is both affordable and green.”

What action could you as an individual take? What action could your company take?

“There are so many actions that you can take as an individual. Since gaining a better understanding of the urgency surrounding the climate and ecological emergencies, I have made a number of changes within my own life. I buy everything second (except for underwear haha!). This then frees up cash to be able to buy organic food.

Future Leap’s Sustainable Fashion Week held a catwalk in collaboration with Lucy & Yak in September – photo: Future Leap

I have committed to not flying until there are low carbon flights and have had some incredible train adventures as a consequence. I have insulated my house and accessed the £5k boiler upgrade scheme which will cover half of the costs of installing an air source heat pump, allowing me to come off gas.

I have also gone vegetarian. Even my cat, Rodger, is reducing his carbon footprint by trying out insect-based cat food!

The climate and ecological emergencies are an existential challenge like no other, but I truly believe that by working together, we can create a better, greener, fairer Bristol.”

What do you want to see from the Bristol business community in the next five years?

“In the next five years, I would want to see all businesses not only understanding their environmental and social impacts but acting on them. To cite a few pertinent quotes, “There are no jobs on a dead planet” and “companies that don’t adapt will go bankrupt, without question”. Future Leap is here to ensure that ‘Business for Good’ thrives and we look forward to helping our community of change makers take great steps in the coming years, there really is no alternative.”

Main photo: Future Leap

Read more:

• Tackling the big questions climate change poses
• £2.5m awarded to Bristol’s community climate action project
• “A Better Bristol to me is a city where businesses can thrive and people want to live work and visit”

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast on Apple Music and Spotify: