A Coventry business that manufactures and distributes fire protective products will be able to continue operating after receiving grant funding from Coventry City Council during the pandemic.

Fire Protection Coatings Ltd is based on Torrington Avenue in Coventry and employs 20 staff. The company moulds specialist coatings for the hydrocarbon industry and the sale of coatings and fire barriers to the construction industry. Following a successful year, the pandemic has hit the company very hard, with sales down by 70%. They applied for funding through the discretionary grant scheme which the Council is administering. Their application was successful, and they received £10,000, which will help the business retain staff returning to work after being furloughed.

This is the second time that Fire Protection Coatings have received grant funding through Coventry City Council. The business also applied for European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) through the Innovation and Green Business Programmes. They received £9000 through the Innovation programme to develop a new fire protection coating system and have just had an energy efficiency audit completed through the green business programme, identifying where energy and resource efficiencies can be made to reduce their energy bills. 

Our dedicated advice and grants for businesses webpage provides the latest information including details of how eligible businesses can register to access Coronavirus grants.

The first of a new phase of Char.gy charging points for electric vehicles made by a Coventry based manufacturer have been installed in the company’s home city.

Sarginsons, which is based in Coventry, traditionally supplies aluminium castings to a range of sectors including automotive and energy. It has begun a process of diversification which saw it become the sole supplier to electric vehicle charging point manufacturer Char.gy. 

Char.gy has, over the past couple of years, developed software and hardware which allows charging points to be connected into existing on-street lampposts as well as standalone bollard options.

Read full article here.

Did you miss our GreenTalk live webinar last month on Coventry's clean transport strategy? Don't worry if you missed it, you can still watch it in your own time, recording link is provided below.

Coventry's clean transport strategy recording

More GreenTalk live webinars are being planned as we speak. Further details will be sent out soon and latest details can be found on our website.

Driving an electric vehicle into Coventry City centre shouldn’t be a headache – that’s why late last year we unveiled a new ‘park-and-charge’ facility at Salt Lane Car park. As part of the ‘Plug In Coventry’ network, the newly installed fast chargers offer everyday EV drivers a secure and reliable place to charge, whether they’re commuting to work, school or simply looking to discover the city centre. Powered by EO Charging, this EV charging destination forms just a small part of the council’s plans to reshape the city’s transport infrastructure and support the shift to electric vehicles. We are actively encouraging Coventry’s businesses to install charging facilities on their premises to not only support the widespread adoption of EVs but also attract customers and generate revenue.

Learn more about installing EV chargers or download our information pack.

Instead of working to return to a world we once knew, the Environment Agency has set out how it plans to lead the way toward a greener, healthier future.

It's new five year plan, EA2025, calls for a new approach which promotes health, equity and environmental enhancement and says that the Coronavirus pandemic presents an opportunity to reshape a better future. It can help society better understand the largest public health threat of the century: climate change.

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The Automotive Transformation Fund is a long-term programme designed to enable the UK to build the world’s most comprehensive and compelling electrified vehicle supply chain.

ATF will enable UK-based manufacturers to serve global markets, increasing skilled jobs and building the foundations for the automotive industry to transition to zero-emission technologies.

Find out more about the funding and how to get involved.