Sittard-Geleen, SME Green Deal: a sustainable approach for SMEs

The starting shot was recently fired for the SME Green Deal aimed at a new approach to sustainable business in Sittard-Geleen. Pieter Meekels, alderman for economic affairs, put his signature together with a number of partners from the municipality. Below you can read what the Green Deal and the new approach means.

Many entrepreneurs do not have the time and resources to adapt their business model to current circumstances. Just think of changing consumer behavior, digitalization, rising (energy) prices, scarcity of raw materials and the difficulty of finding and keeping staff. Because of the many help offered to entrepreneurs, they can no longer see the wood for the trees. This is an important reason for the municipality of Sittard-Geleen, Bedrijven Sittard-Geleen (BSG), Stadslabs Sittard Geleen, LIOF and Rabobank to provide individual tailor-made solutions for SME entrepreneurs. It has been demonstrated that companies that are sustainably working on their future perform better financially and respond better to the ever faster changing environment. This is also where the initiators find their drive to support the Green Deal for improving the sustainability of the business parks.

The needs of the SME entrepreneur are central to the new approach. What is unique is that the SME entrepreneur gets a sparring partner who speaks the entrepreneur's language. This partner is also part of networks that are important to the SME entrepreneur and has access to the Limburg SME programs. In this way, the entrepreneur has a greater chance of a successful business model. That earnings model fits within the climate-neutral, digital society of the future.

After the summer vacations, the first group of SME entrepreneurs will start with the tailored coaching. The experiences of this first group will then be used to address and help new groups of entrepreneurs. The idea is that the approach will be a success in the Westelijke Mijnstreek and eventually in all of South Limburg. The results will also be shared with a number of other cities in the Netherlands and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Bert de Wit (Liof), Pieter Meekels (Sittard-Geleen), Pascal Vandermeulen (Rabobank), Leon Klinkers (City Labs Sittard-Geleen) and Marcel Stukker (Companies Sittard-Geleen) say the following: "With a tailor-made approach we are going to make the difference in Sittard-Geleen for a sustainable, future-proof region."