Established in 2022, the group’s core aims are to reduce emissions, embed sustainability into all aspects of delivery, and generate lasting social value through collective action.
Uniquely supplier-led, with National Highways acting in a supportive rather than directive role, the group fosters psychological safety and openness, allowing members to share challenges, test new ideas, and rapidly replicate successful innovations. Regular meetings, virtual and in-person, encourage collaboration through “Sustainability Moments,” showcasing initiatives such as McCann’s electric fleet, Carnell’s solar-powered sites, and Galliford Try’s QFlow carbon-tracking technology. These peer-to-peer exchanges have accelerated the uptake of low-carbon materials and methods across the framework.
A major success is the co-developed PAS 2080 Guidance Resource, which demystifies carbon management certification and has doubled the number of accredited suppliers in the Midlands, aligning the region with National Highways’ 2025 net zero targets. Complementary training, including Climate Fresk, Carbon Literacy, and toolbox talks, has reached hundreds of personnel, embedding sustainability knowledge at every level.
The group’s social impact is equally strong. Quarterly volunteering sessions supporting charities such as Canine Partners, Ideal for All, and Croxall Lakes have delivered over 480 hours of community service, enhancing biodiversity, inclusion, and local well-being.
As it merges with the East Region, the MCC Net Zero Working Group has established a scalable blueprint for collaborative sustainability. By uniting competitors around shared purpose, it has created measurable environmental, social, and cultural benefits, proving that supplier-led collaboration is a powerful force for achieving a net-zero, nature-positive, and socially responsible future.
McCann and the Midlands Collaborative Community (MCC) Net Zero Working Group will be presented with a prestigious Green World Award trophy and certificate at a glittering presentation ceremony to be held at the iconic Cardiff Castle, Wales, on April 13, 2026.
The Green World Awards are organised by The Green Organisation, an international, independent, non-political, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding, and promoting environmental excellence across the globe.
