London businesses learn ‘lean enterprise’

A free workshop held this week at the British Library taught London-based businesses how being environmentally friendly could give them a competitive edge.

The workshop was one of a six-part series organised by London Remade with the aim of helping start up businesses, as well as the city’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

At this week’s event, attendees were taught the ‘competitive weapon’ of ‘lean enterprise’ - the art of making their businesses both more efficient and environmentally friendly. The workshop also highlighted the need to help employees adjust to new company practices after green improvements are implemented in their work place.

Key principles in lean enterprise include kaizen - continuous small improvements, and banban - a signalling system to trigger action.

Workshop leader Barry Hughes said of lean enterprise, ‘If you are doing it and your competitors are not, you are going to be one step ahead of them all the time.’

Future workshops will teach participants how to comply with environmental legislation, win contracts, market effectively, network, and apply for funding and financing.