Abstract
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are vital to the UK economy, representing around 99% of all businesses and a significant proportion of employment and private sector turnover. While considerable research has been directed at large companies, there is limited exploration of how decarbonisation impacts green employment and business resilience within SMEs. Additionally, most current literature adopts quantitative methodologies, which often overlook the personal experiences of SME owners/managers engaged in decarbonisation efforts, including their internal motivations, challenges, and innovative outcomes. This research aims to fill this gap by utilising a qualitative phenomenological approach, including semi-structured interviews grounded in interpretivist philosophy. The study explores the personal experiences of UK SME owners/managers in decarbonisation activities and the resulting outcomes, including their understandings of institutional support and strategic sustainability. The findings from this study are expected to guide policy and practice by demonstrating how decarbonisation can act as a catalyst for sustainable employment and organisational resilience.