New report demonstrates sustainability as a growth engine for small businesses across sectors

Sustainability is no longer a distant ideal for businesses—it’s a pressing priority and a transformative opportunity. In the face of environmental and economic challenges, a new report reveals how small businesses across the UK are embedding green practices into their operations. These businesses demonstrate how sustainability can drive innovation, strengthen communities, and ensure long-term success.

Novuna Business Finance’s fourth report, Sustainability, Innovation, and Growth: Small Business Stories from Three Industry Sectors, highlights three exceptional companies that embody sustainability in action. These businesses put sustainability at the core of their operations, and despite the everyday challenges of running a business, they innovate, collaborate, and use traditional methods to achieve eco-friendly goals.

The case studies in our report and available in full via ‘The Sustainable Business Podcast,’ demonstrate that sustainability is not just about values—it’s a strategy for lasting success. These real-life stories provide powerful examples of how businesses are reaping the benefits of green initiatives for future growth.

Meet the businesses making a difference:

• Sustainable through innovation: Richard Morgan, founder of Electric Classic Cars, merges his lifelong passion for vintage vehicles with a commitment to sustainability. By converting classic cars into electric-powered models, the business is leading a movement to make automotive history greener. Whether it's a classic VW Beetle or a Ferrari, Electric Classic Cars is reshaping what it means to drive vintage, being both stylish and sustainable.

• Traditional craftsmanship with a sustainable twist: Adrian Geach, founder of Fresh Graphics, is bringing traditional signwriting into the 21st century with a focus on sustainability. With over five decades of experience, he combines classic hand-painted techniques with eco-friendly practices, using water-based paints and minimising waste. His work proves that traditional craftsmanship can thrive in a modern, environmentally conscious world.

• Cultivating sustainability: Dean Loury-Jenkins of Celtic Roots Farm is redefining sustainable agriculture with a focus on ethical practices, local food security, and environmental stewardship. By implementing innovative methods, such as using pigs for soil management and avoiding chemical fertilisers, the farm builds healthier soil and produces high-quality, local food. Despite financial hurdles, Celtic Roots Farm showcases how small-scale, sustainable farming can make a big difference in both the environment and the local community.