The Managing Director of a marketing firm set up a not-for-profit after her eyes were opened to environmental issues by working on campaigns for the likes of Vinted.

The Globe Group CIC is a non-profit environmental organisation intended to mitigate the impacts of modern-day living on the climate.

It champions education and action through collaboration and works with industry, community, academia and local government.

Set up in 2018 by founder and Managing Director Kate Copeland, it is based in a former mill in Uttoxeter.

The team of four project staff are supported by 24 volunteers in activities ranging from litter picks, a zero waste shop and repair shops to running climate and sustainability conferences.

Kate said: ““As a Staffordshire resident, I was becoming incredibly frustrated at the lack of grassroots community support for climate change. So after some grumbling and self-reflection I took the plunge, left my day job and started The Globe Group CIC.

“Since then we have been able to develop a thriving community eco centre, a successful volunteer programme and rapidly expand the impact of our climate action projects.

“I’m so proud of how Globe has grown and look forward to the next five years as we continue to tackle the net zero agenda.”

Before setting up The Globe Group Kate was the Managing Director of a marketing firm where she worked on campaigns including Love Your Clothes and Love Food Hate Waste. It was this work that opened her eyes to the issues of sustainability and climate change.

She organised a litter pick with six people followed by a community consultation to better understand local needs. It was community feedback that helped her develop the eco centre idea.

The team support communities and businesses in building climate resilience, skills and activities with the aim of making communities more robust and futureproofing the systems that support them.

The CIC’s board includes representation from well-known national and global industry brands, academia and the community, with the hope of enabling upscaled regional climate support into Staffordshire and the wider area.

Partners have included Keele University, Make Some Noise, The Climate Coalition, Uttoxeter Town Council, Birmingham City University, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, NatWest and many more.

Now The Globe Group CIC has entered the Business in the Community, Small Business of the Year and Team of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.