New research from Novuna Business Finance shows 93% of North East small businesses now have sustainability on their radar for 2026, with 33% seeing it as core to their business culture and 40% reporting clear commercial benefits. In Newcastle upon Tyne, metal work manufacturing business, Halman Thompon shows how sustainability is shaped through durable materials, processes and hand-on craftsmanship.

Small businesses across the UK say sustainability means different things depending on the work they do and the pressures they face. New interviews from Series 11 of the Novuna Sustainable Business Podcast show how business owners are adapting and shaping sustainability around the realities of their daily work.

A North East business turning timeless metals into sustainable design
One of the small business stories featured in the latest podcast and report is Halman Thompson, a bespoke metalwork company based in Newcastle upon Tyne and run by Managing Director Josh Thompson. For Josh, sustainability isn’t a technical exercise — it’s built into the materials themselves, from extreme longevity to complete recyclability.

Sustainability in manufacturing is often framed as a technical challenge — carbon audits, recycling systems, supply‑chain mapping. But for Josh Thompson, Managing Director of bespoke metalwork company Halman Thompson, sustainability is something far more fundamental. It’s embedded in the materials themselves. “The pieces we make… last forever,” he says. “There’s no shelf life on them. You can restart them. You can refinish them. They can be around a thousand years from now.”

In a world of disposable interiors and fast‑turnaround fit‑outs, Halman Thompson’s aged brass, copper and zinc finishes offer something different: longevity, circularity and craftsmanship. Every offcut is reused or recycled. Samples are re-sellable or returnable. Even the smallest trimmings are re‑formed into new metal. As Josh puts it, “We naturally found ourselves with a business and a concept that was in itself very sustainable.”

That built‑in circularity has become a major advantage as designers, architects and landscapers increasingly arrive with environmental expectations. “They and their clients get it right off the bat how sustainable the business and the products are,” he says. Their recent success at the Chelsea Flower Show — where a designer showcased their aged copper with green Verdigris across planters and garden features — has only strengthened that position. “What did start as something we naturally fell into now becomes something with a lot more gravitas we can get behind.”

The business itself began in far humbler surroundings. Josh and his wife Sarah — who runs Buy Metal Online — noticed customers searching for aged brass and copper finishes. “There was nobody doing it with any kind of scale or consistency,” he recalls. So, they started experimenting. “It was a garage project where we tested different ways to age the metal… and we came up with a few of our own finishes.”

A simple website followed, initially focused on splashbacks and small sheet metal pieces. But customers quickly pushed them into new territory. “Since then, it’s been customers coming to us asking if there’s other things we can do… and that’s paved the way to get into fabricating larger projects.” Today, those projects range from bar installations to large‑scale wall art. “We’ve found ourselves in some pretty cool situations, working on some pretty amazing projects.”

But running a sustainable small business doesn’t shield you from the realities of the wider world. Brexit, global instability and fluctuating metal prices have all reshaped the landscape. “It’s affected our cost structure for sure,” Josh says. Experience in metal procurement has helped them stay ahead. “When there was a sense of volatility in the market, we were securing our positions with our stock control… knock on wood, we’ve managed to keep things balanced for our customers.”

The situation in the Middle East and wider geopolitical uncertainty have also had an impact. “It is a continual battle to keep up with changes in the marketplace,” he says, “particularly with products that are sourced globally.” In that environment, strong supplier relationships have become one of the company’s greatest assets. “We build such solid relationships with our suppliers… it’s much more of an open‑book relationship throughout our supply chain. It might not always be good news, but you get as much heads‑up as you can.”

When it comes to government support, Josh is frank about the gap. “Support would be welcome… I’m just not sure what that would look like because everything seems to be so reactionary.” Like many small firms, Halman Thompson has learned more from peers than from policy. “Everything changes so quickly right now,” he says. “You need to react — or you don’t.”

Looking ahead, the company is focused on balancing its bespoke, high‑end projects with a new range of standardised sustainable products. “We’re about to launch ranges of coasters, planters, plant pots, splashbacks, sinks… items that can go into your home or your business offering all these advantages — the long life, the sustainability.” These products keep the business visible across multiple markets while continuing to generate the unique, one‑off commissions that define the brand. “Our long‑term approach is focusing on those core items so that we continue to generate the very unique opportunities that we love doing.”

For other small businesses starting their sustainability journey, Josh’s advice is rooted in experience. “Building solid relationships throughout your supply chain… that’s a big one. A lot of our confidence in everything — sustainability, pricing, long‑term approach — comes from the confidence we have in the relationships we have throughout the supply chain.”

Jo Morris, Head of Insight at Novuna Business Finance, commented: "I’d like to thank Josh for sharing his story. What’s interesting from all our conversations is that every small business approaches sustainability in a way that reflects who they are and what they do. What stood out was how this plays out in very practical ways - whether that’s cutting down waste, giving old materials a new purpose or protecting their own wellbeing.

At Novuna Business Finance, we listen closely to small business owners because their insights help shape how we support them in a meaningful way - whether that’s helping them invest in more efficient equipment, adapt to changing demands or take steps towards becoming more sustainable over time. These conversations are a reminder that being green doesn’t have to be complicated, it is often the small, well thought out decisions supported by the right investment that keep a business moving in the right direction.”