Business Improvement District (BID) Better Bankside has appointed Eleanor Holmes as its new Sustainability Manager. The new appointment is central to the delivery of Better Bankside’s Greener Goals for 2025-2030, one of three key pillars within their 2024 Manifesto to build an economically stronger, greener and happier Bankside.
Eleanor will lead the planning and delivery of a number of different sustainability projects across Bankside, working with local business members to energise them into climate action. These will include waste and recycling green logistics initiatives and continuing to integrate biodiversity and greening measures into the public realm.
A central part of Eleanor’s role will be continuing and developing Better Bankside’s Southwark Climate Collective (SCC) programme, a scaleable SME decarbonisation model that has already supported 140 Southwark businesses (including Shakepeare’s Globe and Southwark Cathedral.)
A Southwark resident, Eleanor joins Better Bankside with four years’ experience in business sustainability, most recently at Crown Worldwide Group, a global logistics company. There, she developed a circular economy framework, introduced sustainability training across the UK and internationally, coordinated annual sustainability reporting, and led large-scale asset donation programmes.
Of her new appointment Eleanor said: “I’m really excited to be joining the Better Bankside team and getting stuck into sustainability at a neighbourhood level. It’s a chance to work locally in a way that feels tangible and hands-on, supporting businesses to help shape a greener, more resilient Bankside. This area feels really unique – there’s a huge mix of sectors and a strong creative presence, which opens-up real opportunities for innovation. It’s a great time to be joining the team after Better Bankside was elected for its fifth five-year term. I’m already learning a lot and looking forward to building on the brilliant work that’s already underway.”
Better Bankside Chief Executive Nicole Gordon said: “We had a strong response to the post. Eleanor’s combination of experience in the field, in particular in developing circular economy solutions, genuine passion for sustainability and confident, can-do attitude made her a standout candidate. We look forward to seeing how our sustainability programme evolves under her steer.”
Eleanor’s appointment comes as Better Bankside embarks on its most ambitious green agenda yet. Over the last five years, the BID has made a huge leap forward in creating new and innovative ways to help its business members achieve their sustainability ambitions and has secured over £1m to support businesses to decarbonise, creating a blueprint for other city districts. In its new term, Better Bankside will expand its climate action services, offering everything from free recycling and green logistics to carbon literacy training, climate think-ins, and biodiversity-boosting public realm projects.
Better Bankside aims to ensure the neighbourhood is not only future-ready, but also a leader in sustainable urban working and living, helping businesses meet changing environmental requirements and make Bankside greener, stronger and happier.
