Tyson Builds on Its Carbon Reduction Record With Blackpool Net Zero Business Academy

Even with an impressive track record of carbon reduction, Blackpool-based Tyson Construction knows the value of working with Blackpool Net Zero Business Academy to take its next steps in sustainability.

If you live on the Fylde Coast, you’ve almost certainly passed a Tyson construction recently. The Blackpool Tower Dungeon, Foxhall Village West, Troutbeck Crescent’s modern, affordable housing near the Marton windmill, luxury apartments on Ballam Rd, and the big cat enclosure at Blackpool Zoo are just some of the eclectic projects the company has completed locally. And these are just part of a construction legacy that covers the entire North West and spans more than 75 years.

A legacy of sustainability

Tyson is no newcomer to sustainability. Implementing energy saving measures on projects since 2008, the company published its first carbon management programme in 2019 and completed its first carbon footprinting exercise two years later.

“Our carbon journey started when the senior team and operational team completed carbon literacy training,” says Philip Helm, Business Development Director at Tyson Construction. “It was fairly basic stuff, but it was an important first step. Reducing our carbon footprint was becoming increasingly important in terms of winning tenders, business development and meeting client aspirations. But internally there was a drive for this because it’s the right thing to do and because we want to build more sustainably and waste less.”

Progress was swift. Tyson’s Blackpool Head Office was fitted with solar panels to generate electricity. Waste from the joinery workshop was used for heat and power. The company took an increasingly site-local approach to sourcing supply chain partners and materials. The company’s rapidly growing carbon literacy has enabled it to deliver projects which meet the Passivhaus Standard for energy efficient construction. And the entire team is committed to continuing the journey.

“The whole carbon reduction theme has just become part of our culture,” explains Philip. “You can make a big difference from some quite simple changes. The team has seen that. Everyone is 100% on board with it and its having a positive impact on the business.”

Next steps on the carbon reduction journey

Now at the third iteration of its carbon management programme, Tyson has been working with the Blackpool Net Zero Business Academy to review its plan and recalculate its carbon footprint. The result? Since its 2021 baseline year, Tyson Construction has achieved a 40% reduction in its carbon footprint.

The challenge for the company and the Blackpool Net Zero Business team was to build on that impressive success.

“In many ways, we’ve done the easy wins and we’ve significantly tightened up the efficiency of our head office,” says Philip. “The action plan Megan [Tucker] and the net zero team produced for us helped steer our thinking for the next stage. So, for example, we’ve already electrified around a dozen of our fleet cars, but we know that that isn’t currently viable in our van fleet because the plan shows that payback would be 30+ years.

“But there’s real value in having that data, because it means we can focus on the things that can make a positive difference but which are also much more commercially viable, things like expanding our solar array and upgrading machinery motors.” 

Construction sites in sight

Philip’s next major area of focus is the company’s construction sites. “For all the innovation happening around the business, the sites tend to operate in fairly traditional ways. That’s why we’ve asked the team behind the Blackpool Net Zero Business Academy to carry out a quarterly analysis at one of our construction sites so we can understand its baseline carbon impact and then look at ways of making improvements there too.”

“Something any business of any scale should look at”

What would Philip’s recommendation be to other SMEs keen to start or continue their carbon reduction journey? 

“Talk to Megan, absolutely. She gets it. She understands that carbon reduction has to make commercial sense. She’s communicative and responsive. And we’ve built a really good relationship that will hopefully go beyond what the academy offers to have an even broader impact on the business. 

“Blackpool's a really great place to be based. We’re proud to be part of the town’s business community and we enjoy working with Blackpool Council, the Blackpool Business Leadership Group and other networks to the town’s benefit. I think what the council has done with the net zero academy is brilliant in terms of pushing carbon reduction up the agenda.

“It’s something any business of any scale should look at.”

Driven by the Business Growth Team at Blackpool Council and with funded support from the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, get help to decarbonise your business with Blackpool Net Zero Business Academy.

Find out more here or call 01253 478660