Latest news with #StepChange
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
India Inc falling short on net-zero targets, warns BRSR 2025 report
On World Environment Day, the latest edition of the BRSR Barometer has sounded an alarm on the state of corporate sustainability in India. Despite modest progress, the report reveals that Indian companies are falling short on critical sustainability metrics, particularly in renewable energy adoption and value chain emissions reporting. Jointly released by ECube, StepChange, and EarthInherited, the BRSR Barometer 2025 analyses data from over 800 listed Indian companies across 12 sectors, collectively generating over ₹8 trillion in annual revenue. The findings are expected to influence regulatory development and the report has been presented to SEBI Executive Director Pramod Rao. According to Ankit Jain, Co-founder and CEO of StepChange, the Barometer 'highlights critical data and performance gaps that are vital if we are to mobilise the trillions of rupees needed for the nation's net-zero transition'. Harish HV, Founder and MD of ECube, added that the report serves as a 'mirror' for India Inc's evolving ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) disclosures, enabling firms to benchmark themselves against peers. 📌 Scope 3 emissions largely undisclosed: Fewer than 25% of companies, on a median sector basis, quantify their indirect emissions (Scope 3), despite upcoming mandates on value-chain reporting. 📌 Limited renewable energy uptake: Median renewable energy use across sectors remains below 10%, indicating slow progress on green energy transition. The pharmaceutical sector stands out with 92% renewable adoption. 📌 Growing water and waste pressures: High-risk sectors such as Textiles (407 kilolitres per crore revenue) and Chemicals face increasing stress from water usage and hazardous waste generation. 📌 Inadequate social reporting: While female workforce participation has edged up in sectors such as light manufacturing (23%), broader social indicators such as health and safety reporting, training, and grievance redressal remain insufficiently covered. The BRSR Barometer is positioned as a strategic tool for companies, investors, and policymakers. By benchmarking ESG performance and identifying disclosure gaps, it enables Indian businesses to move beyond compliance and towards a competitive sustainability advantage. The full BRSR Barometer report is available for download via the StepChange and EarthInherited websites.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Breathing Space
Imagine you're stuck in a leaking boat. Water is pouring in, you're exhausted, panicking, and feel like you're about to imagine someone throws you a lifeline — they patch the holes, give you a moment to breathe, and let you rest while a support team comes to help fix the boat what the Breathing Space scheme is. It doesn't magically erase your debt — but it stops the pressure. No calls from creditors, no new interest piling on, no court action. Breathing Space protects you while you seek debt advice and work towards a debt solution with a regulated debt adviser. It lasts for up to 60 days, and you can apply for it once every 12 more information on how the government scheme works, click here, find out more information, including eligibility criteria, how to apply, and details for the Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space scheme click here , externalto visit the StepChange website and here, external for the MoneyHelper find a free regulated debt adviser, click here, watch Laura's previous item on Individual Voluntary Arrangements and Debt Relief Orders, click on the below link to watch back on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
One in ten UK adults have zero savings - while millions suffer under credit card debt
The concerning lack of ability for some people to cope with unexpected costs has been revealed as new data showed one in ten (10 per cent) of UK adults have no cash savings whatsoever, leaving them vulnerable when faced with increased bills. More than 13m people across the nation are thought to be facing tough conditions financially, including amassing debt, have little savings or have missed paying bills. While the headline figure of ten per cent having no savings at all is a worry, findings from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) actually show a far greater scale of people who have minimal ability to manage any sort of shock to their income, with a further 21 per cent having less than £1,000 saved. Most financial experts agree that individuals or families should aim to build an emergency savings buffer of three to six months' worth of essential expenses, depending on circumstances. This can aid to continue paying bills and essential costs like groceries, rent or mortgage repayments in the event of sudden pressures, like health emergencies, loss of work or even surging inflation. In addition to not having enough savings, the FCA data underlined two further issues: 2.8m people who have persistent debt through credit cards, which can be one of the most expensive ways to hold debt, along with a continuing rise in people using buy now, pay later (BNPL) services. More than a third of women (35 per cent) aged 25-34 use these services and a full 40 per cent of single parents do so. While some of these services do not necessarily always charge interest initially - some do of course - missing payments can be extremely costly and building up bigger repayment costs can potentially push greater debt on peoples' future. StepChange, a charity which helps with free advice to people struggling with debt, said in a statement they 'want to see the Government invest in safe options for those who can't afford to save to cope with unexpected costs, including a permanent national crisis support scheme, building on the Household Support Fund and a national no-interest loan scheme, and by working with the financial services industry to expand affordable, low-cost credit.' The FCA also shared encouraging data from those who do seek help. From 1.7m people using debt advice or services in the past year, 61 per cent 'said their debts were more manageable' in the aftermath. Compare the Market data shows more than half (52 per cent) of Gen Z - aged 16 to 28 - do not have a 'rainy day fund' for emergency expenses, while more than a quarter (27 per cent) of all people who do have one have needed to use it recently to cover increased household bills and other essential expenses. Research by wealth managers St. James's Place shows more than a quarter of the nation feeling anxious about the year ahead in monetary terms. Alexandra Loydon, director of advice, said: 'Economic challenges remain, so it's more important than ever to take steps to make your money work harder. While building a financial plan may seem daunting, especially if you've never done one before, this really shouldn't put you off. 'Identifying your key financial goals and assessing your current financial situation are the simple places to start. From there you should focus on building your emergency fund by putting aside a small amount of money each month and ensuring you're getting the best rates of return. 'While these may seem like small steps, they all help you grasp your financial situation and take action to improve it, making a real difference to your financial resilience both now and in future.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
How to make your money stretch to your next pay day in 10 easy to follow steps
IF If you're already asking what happened to your last pay packet, you're not alone. Millions of Brits are broke before their next pay day. 1 Many splurge when the money hits their account, with spending up a third the day after people traditionally get paid. Others are running out each month due to the high cost of living. According to payroll provider Ciphr, a quarter of workers – 12.5 million people – have been broke before their next pay day at least once in the previous year. Liz Hunter of says: 'It's all too easy to get stuck in a payday cycle when people spend more right after payday, leaving them with less throughout the month. 'However it happens, payday spending can have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing, and lead to financial difficulties and debt.' MEL HUNTER explains how to change things for good. MAKE A BUDGET Listing your costs will give you a clearer view of how much money you need. Clearly write down all your bills and expenses, as well as any debts to pay, until you're left with your disposable income. Split this amount up so you have a weekly spending allowance. Delve deeper by keeping a spending diary, says Simon Trevethick from debt charity StepChange, to spot spending patterns, then build a buffer for unexpected costs like a boiler breakdown. If you get Universal Credit, you may qualify for the Government's Help to Save scheme, which will top up your savings with a maximum bonus of up to £1,200 over four years. Switch bank accounts for free perks CHECK YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU'RE ENTITLED TO Do a benefits check at to make sure you are getting all the financial support you're eligible for. Almost £23 billion goes unclaimed. PLAN MEALS It's one of the easiest ways to cut spending. Plan for the week and only buy the ingredients for those meals. It could save you £25 a month on wasted food, cut around £80 on takeaways and impulse food buying and £40 a month on deals you don't need. DO SWAP PURCHASES FOR FREE PERKS Finding low or no-cost ways to get a boost will leave you with more wonga. Root out a second-hand bargains or plunder saved-up loyalty perks to give yourself a lift. Register for birthday bonuses with your favourite stores and restaurants to treat yourself in your birthday month and find out about other freebies. Morrisons is giving out free doughnuts with a hot drink until May 18. HAVE NO SPEND DAYS Tapping your card at the coffee shop or quickly buying something from Amazon all adds up. Set yourself no spend days, or even weeks, resolving only to spend on essentials. Use up the food in your cupboard, wear the clothes you already own and watch, listen or read something that's free. You could even choose to walk or cycle instead of paying for transport or parking. DON'T SPLURGE ON PAY DAY According to Brits spend £3.4 billion on impulse purchases, making many of them on or around payday. Spokesperson Anita Naik says: 'If you find yourself consistently buying things that you regret, try to pause before you purchase. ' She recommends waiting 24 hours to 'reset'. 'You're left with a clearer head to make the decision. 'Do you still want it? Most people find the urge fades - and they're left with their money intact.' DON'T RELY ON BUY NOW PAY LATER According to Money Expert, around one in six [15%] of UK adults are missing important bill payments to ensure they have the money to meet a BNPL deadline. Simon says: 'People often see it as a payment method rather than a form of credit which has terms and conditions attached. Being interest-free doesn't mean it's risk free. 'We're seeing more people using it for every day essentials when they can't get credit elsewhere to bridge a gap until the end of the month.' DON'T MAKE SPENDING EASY Take saved cards off Apple Pay, Amazon and other online retailers to resist impulse buys. At the same time, try and direct the deluge of emails about special offers away from your main email account, especially in the week leading up to payday when most of us get a slew of 'pay day deal' messages, with retailers urging you to splash your just-earned cash. DON'T LET BILLS AUTO RENEW Set aside time to get the best deal on your bills. Liz says: 'Use comparison sites to see if you could reduce your outgoings. If you do spot cheaper deals, it's always worth haggling with your current provider.' Simon also recommends checking if you are eligible for social tariffs for water or broadband, and hardship funds for other bills, as well as reduced council tax for single person households and in other circumstances. Almost £1.7billion of the broadband support available isn't claimed, with 95% of households – more than 8.4million – who may be eligible missing out on an average of £200 a year. DON'T BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND 'RUNNING on empty at the end of every month can be an indicator of financial difficulty. If you can't meet your essential payments, you could benefit from free and impartial debt advice,' says StepChange's Simon. Seek help if you've done at least one of the following in the last three months: Made just the minimum repayments on debts Used your overdraft Used credit, loans or an overdraft to make it to payday Fallen behind on essential bills, or used credit to pay them Used credit to keep up with existing credit payments Received late payment or default charges Missing a regular monthly payment on at least one debt
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
How to make your money stretch to your next pay day in 10 easy to follow steps
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IF If you're already asking what happened to your last pay packet, you're not alone. Millions of Brits are broke before their next pay day. 1 MEL HUNTER explains how to change things for good. Many splurge when the money hits their account, with spending up a third the day after people traditionally get paid. Others are running out each month due to the high cost of living. According to payroll provider Ciphr, a quarter of workers – 12.5 million people – have been broke before their next pay day at least once in the previous year. Liz Hunter of says: 'It's all too easy to get stuck in a payday cycle when people spend more right after payday, leaving them with less throughout the month. 'However it happens, payday spending can have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing, and lead to financial difficulties and debt.' MEL HUNTER explains how to change things for good. MAKE A BUDGET Listing your costs will give you a clearer view of how much money you need. Clearly write down all your bills and expenses, as well as any debts to pay, until you're left with your disposable income. Split this amount up so you have a weekly spending allowance. Delve deeper by keeping a spending diary, says Simon Trevethick from debt charity StepChange, to spot spending patterns, then build a buffer for unexpected costs like a boiler breakdown. If you get Universal Credit, you may qualify for the Government's Help to Save scheme, which will top up your savings with a maximum bonus of up to £1,200 over four years. Switch bank accounts for free perks CHECK YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU'RE ENTITLED TO Do a benefits check at to make sure you are getting all the financial support you're eligible for. Almost £23 billion goes unclaimed. PLAN MEALS It's one of the easiest ways to cut spending. Plan for the week and only buy the ingredients for those meals. It could save you £25 a month on wasted food, cut around £80 on takeaways and impulse food buying and £40 a month on deals you don't need. DO SWAP PURCHASES FOR FREE PERKS Finding low or no-cost ways to get a boost will leave you with more wonga. Root out a second-hand bargains or plunder saved-up loyalty perks to give yourself a lift. Register for birthday bonuses with your favourite stores and restaurants to treat yourself in your birthday month and find out about other freebies. Morrisons is giving out free doughnuts with a hot drink until May 18. HAVE NO SPEND DAYS Tapping your card at the coffee shop or quickly buying something from Amazon all adds up. Set yourself no spend days, or even weeks, resolving only to spend on essentials. Use up the food in your cupboard, wear the clothes you already own and watch, listen or read something that's free. You could even choose to walk or cycle instead of paying for transport or parking. DON'T SPLURGE ON PAY DAY According to Brits spend £3.4 billion on impulse purchases, making many of them on or around payday. Spokesperson Anita Naik says: 'If you find yourself consistently buying things that you regret, try to pause before you purchase. ' She recommends waiting 24 hours to 'reset'. 'You're left with a clearer head to make the decision. 'Do you still want it? Most people find the urge fades - and they're left with their money intact.' DON'T RELY ON BUY NOW PAY LATER According to Money Expert, around one in six [15%] of UK adults are missing important bill payments to ensure they have the money to meet a BNPL deadline. Simon says: 'People often see it as a payment method rather than a form of credit which has terms and conditions attached. Being interest-free doesn't mean it's risk free. 'We're seeing more people using it for every day essentials when they can't get credit elsewhere to bridge a gap until the end of the month.' DON'T MAKE SPENDING EASY Take saved cards off Apple Pay, Amazon and other online retailers to resist impulse buys. At the same time, try and direct the deluge of emails about special offers away from your main email account, especially in the week leading up to payday when most of us get a slew of 'pay day deal' messages, with retailers urging you to splash your just-earned cash. DON'T LET BILLS AUTO RENEW Set aside time to get the best deal on your bills. Liz says: 'Use comparison sites to see if you could reduce your outgoings. If you do spot cheaper deals, it's always worth haggling with your current provider.' Simon also recommends checking if you are eligible for social tariffs for water or broadband, and hardship funds for other bills, as well as reduced council tax for single person households and in other circumstances. Almost £1.7billion of the broadband support available isn't claimed, with 95% of households – more than 8.4million – who may be eligible missing out on an average of £200 a year.
