Business Case: Camden, Brent & Fitzrovia's Business Climate Challenge

The IO-Gen platform made a significant contribution to the Camden and Brent Business Climate Challenge by enabling streamlined data collection, energy management, and progress tracking for SMEs on their decarbonisation journeys.

Strategic Role of IO-Gen

• IO-Gen provided businesses with a single source for energy consumption data, greatly simplifying onboarding and the process of tracking progress toward their energy reduction targets.

• By automating the collection of electricity and gas data, IO-Gen relieved businesses from the manual reporting burden, improved the completeness of datasets, and enhanced the accuracy of analysis and recommendations.

• The platform also supported energy management training, equipping business owners and their teams with skills to understand, baseline, and optimise their energy use, thereby increasing their confidence in applying sustainability knowledge to their operations.

Tangible Business Benefits

• IO-Gen enabled clear visualisation of each business’s energy performance through personalised dashboards, helping to identify inefficiencies, track the impact of implemented measures, and reinforce savings.

• Businesses could monitor the effectiveness of changes and received regular progress updates, which supported engagement and motivation to implement and maintain energy-saving improvements.

• The implementation of Letters of Authority for automated supplier uploads streamlined continuous data collection, ensuring robust reporting not just for the programme duration but through its full legacy period.

Decarbonisation and Cost Reduction

• Analysis using IO-Gen showed that businesses in Cohort 1 of the programme achieved a realised 7.3% average reduction in energy consumption within six to nine months, with gas consumption dropping by 11.3% and electricity by 3.3% compared to the previous year.

• The combination of detailed feedback, accurate tracking, and actionable recommendations led to cost savings, measurable reductions in carbon emissions, and improved business resilience.

Case Study Impact

• For example, Matrix Chambers in Camden reported that IO-Gen was valuable for easily tracking energy performance and designing behaviour change initiatives, which led to successful grant applications and the implementation of energy-saving measures.

• Similarly, Green Kit Ltd in Brent used IO-Gen data to better understand and communicate their energy usage internally, guiding both operational decisions and the application for targeted energy-efficient equipment.

Programme-Level Outcomes

• IO-Gen’s user-friendly interface and automated reporting were highlighted as key drivers for successful engagement, with some businesses using the collected data in their business cases when applying for additional funding or presenting to stakeholders.

• The platform’s continued availability beyond the initial reporting period set the stage for ongoing progress monitoring, supporting both direct participants and the wider local business community by sharing best practices and data-driven insights.

In summary, IO-Gen served as both a technical backbone and an enabler of cultural change for SMEs in Camden and Brent, strengthening their decarbonisation business cases, supporting funding applications, and providing a replicable model for scalable, data-driven local climate action.