Get support for your sustainable transition

Would you like to make your (future) company more sustainable, but don't know where to start or how to go about it?   The Brussels Capital Region offers a range of free support services to help you adapt your company to gradually make it more sustainable. 

Whether you're a start-up, a young company or a well-established business, whether you're already a long way into your sustainability journey or haven't started at all, whether you want to overhaul your entire model or work on a specific aspect of sustainability, you'll find the right support in the Brussels Region:

1. Comprehensive individual support
2. Specific individual support (energy, mobility, waste management, etc.)
3. Support programmes

1. Comprehensive individual support 

These services offer you individual, personalised support tailored to your needs. This support can be provided for new projects, start-ups or well-established companies.  

a) hub.brussels' coaching for sustainable business models 

The economic transition experts at hub.brussels can help you set up a sustainability strategy for your company, free of charge.  

• They will review your business plan, guide you in structuring your business model and assist you in your evolution towards a more sustainable company 
• They will help you develop a realistic sustainable action plan for your company and make it happen  
• They will put you in touch with actors who can help you achieve your specific sustainability goals 

For whom?  

• Start-ups or established companies located in Brussels that have an impact on the region in terms of employment, attractiveness, innovation and/or image. 

Contact and information:   https://hub.brussels/en/services/coaching-to-make-your-business-model-more-sustainable/ 

B) Personalized advice and support for greater sustainability in your business by Entreprise Europe Brussels

The advisors of EEB, Enterprise Europe Brussels (=a mission of hub.brussels), who receive ongoing training, will guide you during a face-to-face workshop lasting between 1.5 and 2 hours. They identify the strong points and your company's strengths and, above all, any areas for improvement that could positively impact your business.  Following this workshop, you will receive the analysis results during a one-hour session. A hands-on action plan is then drawn up jointly, aimed at implementing the improvements chosen by your company. This support uses a specific tool to align your company with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

This service is offered free of charge thanks to co-financing from the Brussels-Capital Region and the European Commission. However, an active commitment from your SME and feedback to the EEB advisers are required to access other services.

This support will enable you to :

• anticipate the actions you may need to take to keep your business competitive in increasingly competitive markets
• check whether you might be eligible for and benefit from grants of the Brussels-Capital region.

Who is it for?

• SMEs in all sectors, with 3-5 or more employees, with little experience of sustainability.

C) The Eco-dynamic Organisation facilitator (Brussels Environment) 

Using the Eco-dynamic Organisation facilitator is a good introduction if you want to start eco-managing your company. Specialised in environmental management, the Eco-dynamic Organisation facilitator offers free support to help you define your priorities and put your first best practices in place (e.g. fitting out company premises with second-hand furniture, setting up a waste recovery system or encouraging soft mobility for workers). 

Once your company's eco-management priorities have been established, specialised facilitators can take over in specific areas. 

Good to know: thanks to the facilitator's support and the actions implemented in your company, you can obtain the Ecodyn label which not only recognises your eco-management practices but also counts as official recognition of your company's exemplarity, making you eligible for an increase in some regional aid.

For whom? 

• Any company in Brussels looking to get started with eco-management and ideally obtain the Ecodyn label.

More information and contact: https://www.ecodyn.brussels/contact-support/helpdesk/ 

D) Explore (Groupe One) 

Groupe One's Explore programme provides tailor-made support in integrating sustainability into your company. For three months, Groupe One's experts will work with you to find out where you stand and help you get started with the transition. Depending on your needs and wishes, you can work on your procurement, energy consumption, waste management, business model, governance and/or mission and values. 

For whom? 

• Brussels VSEs (<10 employees)
• Be available at least ½ day per month for 3 months

More information and contact: https://www.groupeone.be/project/explore/ 

E)   Local Economy Offices 

As key players in supporting companies in the Brussels Region, the Local Economy Offices can also advise you on the sustainable aspects of your company (e.g. help with digitising your business, optimising your energy consumption, waste management).  

Depending on your needs, they will direct you to specialised actors if necessary. 

For whom? 

• All current and future companies in Brussels who want to integrate sustainability more into their business

More information and contact: 

• Local Economy Office of Anderlecht 
• Local Economy Office of the City of Brussels  
• Local Economy Office of Molenbeek (link) 
• Local Economy Office of Saint-Gilles 
• Local Economy Office of Schaerbeek 

F) Circular economy support (UCM) 

UCM (FR) offers free personalised support for established companies wishing to integrate sustainability into their business. As consultants in the circular economy, UCM's experts can help your company get started in the transition process:

• Phase 1: Contextualisation and inventory of your company, field diagnosis by a specialised consultant.
• Phase 2: Identification of profitable opportunities and practical solutions.
• Phase 3: Implementation of the recommendations in your company. 

For whom? 

Any company in Brussels wishing to take stock of its current business model and consider possible areas for improvement, whatever its size or sector. 

More information and contact:  https://www.ucm.be/produits/economie-circulaire 

2. Specific individual support 

These support services are still personalised, but focus on specific transition areas (such as energy consumption, waste management and governance) or a specific sector (such as food and construction). 

a) Pack Energie, specialised energy coaching (UCM and Bruxeo) 

This coaching helps you improve the energy efficiency of your buildings. A team of experts is on hand to carry out an on-site diagnosis of your building's energy performance, and to provide you with personalised advice on how to reduce your energy consumption and improve this performance. This service is offered by Brussels Environment through UCM and Bruxeo. 

For whom?  

• Small and medium-sized companies up to 250 FTEs located in Brussels (supported by UCM)
• Companies in the non-market sector located in Brussels (supported by Bruxeo)

More information and contact: https://environnement.brussels/pro/services-et-demandes/conseils-et-accompagnement/pack-energie-pour-pme-non-marchand  

b) "Professional waste" facilitator (Brussels Environment) 

The "Professional waste" facilitator is a support service to help you manage the waste generated by your company's activities. Its helpdesk has been set up to answer all your questions and provide you with examples of best practices, the right tools and relevant contacts.

In addition to the helpdesk, the service offers 30 free waste analyses per year. During the audit, the facilitator will come on site to carry out an analysis of the current situation and identify strengths, problems and shortcomings. You'll then get practical action plans with personalised advice on how to set up a waste sorting solution, optimise your waste management and/or reduce the amount of waste you produce. 

For whom?  

• Any company located in Brussels producing non-household waste

More information and contact: https://environnement.brussels/pro/services-et-demandes/conseils-et-accompagnement/un-facilitateur-vous-aide-et-vous-accompagne-dans-la-gestion-de-vos-dechets-en-tant-que-professionnel

c) Mobility & Fleet facilitator (Brussels Environment) 

The "Mobility & Fleet" facilitator offers you free support to guide your company towards new travel and car fleet management alternatives. It can help you set up a sustainable mobility strategy, a mobility budget or develop your vehicle fleet (electrification, optimisation, cargo bikes, etc.). 

 For whom?  

• Any company located in Brussels  

More information and contact:  https://environnement.brussels/pro/services-et-demandes/conseils-et-accompagnement/facilitateur-mobility-fleet 

d) Buysmart services — Coaching for a sustainable purchasing policy (Coduco) 

This service helps you implement a sustainable purchasing policy. Provided by Brussels Environment via Coduco, this service offers you:

• General and thematic training (free)
• A helpdesk for all your questions (free)
• Practical advice sheets and other tools (free)
• Grouped purchases (free)
• Personalised support preceded by an audit and the creation of an action plan (80% subsidised)

 For whom?  

• Any company located in Brussels

 More information and contact: https://buysmart.brussels/ 

 e) 'Sustainable Building' facilitator (Brussels Environment) 

The "Sustainable Building" facilitator provides advice and support for building professionals in all matters relating to sustainable building renovation, renewable energies, rainwater management, green roofs and façades, sustainable materials, acoustics and EPB regulations. 

For whom? 

• Professionals in the building sector (project owners, designers, managers, technical managers, installers or contractors)
• Building managers

More information and contact: https://environnement.brussels/pro/services-et-demandes/conseils-et-accompagnement/facilitateur-batiment-durable-et-facilitateur-copropriete 

f) "Nature" facilitator (Brussels Environment) 

The "Nature" facilitator's mission is to provide information, raise awareness and support urban development players in integrating nature and biodiversity into their plans, projects and management programmes. Another of the facilitator's roles is to aid in the administrative and research procedures involved.  

For whom? 

• Urban planners, designers, developers, architects, developers and managers of green spaces. 

More information and contact: https://environnement.brussels/pro/services-et-demandes/conseils-et-accompagnement/le-facilitateur-nature-vous-aide-aider-la-biodiversite 

g) The Good Food B2B service (Brussels Environment) 

This information and support service helps professionals in the food sector to find the best solution for sourcing local food products from channels favouring production and distribution methods that respect the environment, people and animals.  

For whom? 

• Brussels-based retailers, processors, restaurants, canteens, hotels, companies, etc. who wish to source their supplies locally.
• Belgian processors and producers (from Brussels, Wallonia or Flanders) who adopt a sustainable approach and want to sell their products on the Brussels market.

More information and contact: https://goodfood.brussels/fr/contributions/good-food-b2b-anciennement-facilitateur-filiere-un-service-gratuit-pour-les?domain=cit 

3. Support programmes 

These programmes offer you accelerated support over a set period of time. Most of these programmes offer a combination of group and individual support.  
Some of these programmes are aimed at project leaders, others at established companies. Some of them are comprehensive, while others are more specific or aimed at a particular sector.  
Most of these programmes are accessible on the basis of an application.  

a) Forward  

Forward is a six-month acceleration programme for companies with a social or environmental impact to help them increase their influence, grow their business and potentially raise funds. 

For whom? 

• Existing companies with an environmental and/or social impact
• Subject to application

In practical terms 

• Six months of support including: three-day bootcamps, a pitch event, personalised coaching, training and networking. 
• Subject to application
• Two cohorts per year

More information and contact: https://forwardimpact.be/ 

b) Greenlab (hub.brussels) 

Greenlab is a six-month acceleration programme for anyone wishing to create their own start-up in Brussels in the fields of the environment and the circular economy. 

For whom? 

• Anyone wanting to create an innovative start-up in the fields of the environment and the circular economy in Brussels.

In practical terms 

• Six months of support on the basis of one evening per week (+ 3 Saturdays and 1 weekend) including: group workshops, work sessions, personalised coaching and access to a panel of thematic experts. 
• Subject to application
• One cohort per year

More information and contact: https://hub.brussels/en/services/greenlab-sustainable-accelerator-brussels/ 

c) SEEDS programme (Coopcity) 

The SEEDS programme is a support programme for people wishing to launch an entrepreneurial project that meets a social, societal and/or environmental need. This programme is offered by Coopcity, Brussels' centre for social and cooperative entrepreneurship.  

For whom? 

• A person or group of people wishing to launch an entrepreneurial project that meets a social, societal and/or environmental need.
• People who want to professionalise their volunteer activity into a social enterprise project

In practical terms 

• The programme consists of two phases:
  • Acceleration phase (October to March) combining group training days, group intervisions and individual coaching
  • Personalised training phase (March to June), combining group training, group co-construction session and individual coaching.
• Subject to application
• One cohort per year

More information and contact:  https://coopcity.be/accompagnement/seeds/ 

d) BLOSSOM programme (Coopcity) 

The BLOSSOM programme is aimed at social enterprises that have been in operation for at least two years and wish to receive support in their consolidation or development strategy.  This programme is offered by Coopcity, Brussels' centre for social and cooperative entrepreneurship. 

For whom? 

• Social enterprises in operation for at least two years

In practical terms 

• The BLOSSOM programme consists of two phases:
  • One diagnostic phase, during which you identify your organisation's social impact, question your business model and development strategy, analyse the things your collective can do together and assess your financial management. 
  • One tailor-made course combining training, intervision sessions and personalised coaching
• Subject to application
• One cohort per year

More information and contact: https://coopcity.be/accompagnement/blossom/ 

e) The INNOVATE programme (Coopcity) 

The INNOVATE programme supports the development of new solutions to meet social needs that have not been sufficiently satisfied. This programme is offered by Coopcity, Brussels' centre for social and cooperative entrepreneurship. 

For whom? 

• Collective projects and organisations with or without legal status that are developing social innovation initiatives.  

In practical terms 

• The INNOVATE programme provides 10 to 15 days of professional support over a maximum of 12 months. Support can start at any time of the year. Subject to application.  

More information and contact: https://coopcity.be/accompagnement/innovate/ 

f) Foodup  

Foodup is an incubator designed to prepare for the launch of Good Food projects with the aim of facilitating the creation and growth of sustainable food companies. Foodup provides food production facilities and specific support for food processing. 

For whom? 

• Companies active in the sustainable food sector (start-ups or established)

In practical terms 

• Seven-month programme including:
  • Access to facilities (workshops and professional kitchens) to prototype your product
  • Collective coaching with two hours of training per week over four months
  • Individual coaching tailored to your needs
• One cohort per year
• Subject to application

More information and contact: https://www.foodup.brussels/en