New biodiversity net gain approaches need to be trialled and lessons communicated before rolling-out to other units within a company or promoted publicly. Establishing a community of practice to share lessons and address common challenges across the business or sector should facilitate wider implementation.
Testing the approach at several sites allows potential challenges to be addressed and the approach adapted early in the development of the programme. Once a project is implemented, regular ‘health checks’ should be carried out on sites to check progress and maintain momentum.
Although it is not desirable that a programme relies on a single champion to succeed, it may be necessary to identify one person or group who can persuade their company to follow the BNG course and provide the stimulus until the approach is more firmly embedded.
Allow for adaptation to special circumstances: Site-level challenges must be properly considered, especially given the vastly different natural, social and policy environments in which companies operate.