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Welcome to this months edition of the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme newsletter. This is the penultimate one of 2020 as we will be sending out a festive edition, where we will look back on a year where we have continued with our sustainability support for businesses against the backdrop of the global Coronavirus pandemic. The events of 2020 brought new challenges no one was prepared for, changing the way we live and how we connect with each other. As lockdown 2.0 ends, Coventry and Warwickshire now enters into Tier 3 COVID-19 restrictions. To see what that means, download an at a glance guide, or visit the Coronavirus pages of the Council website.
We look forward to our final GreenTalk LIVE webinar of 2020, 'Electrifying your fleet' which is on Tuesday 8 December. This webinar will be updating local businesses on how they can hire and trial an electric vehicle or a fleet of vehicles for at least two months on a 'try before you buy' scheme. Further details about the event and how to register are below.
We have also just launched a new grant support package which has been announced by government for businesses forced to temporarily close or have been affected by the latest national restrictions of COVID-19. Coventry City Council is administering the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) Funding and applications are now open for Coventry businesses.
To keep up with our latest initiatives and news, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
As ever, the Green Business Programme team are here to provide support and guidance on funding opportunities and advice on how to save money on energy, waste and water bills and maximise low carbon opportunities within your organisation. We have successfully carried out 20+ remote audits and our specialist energy advisers are on hand to help with all your energy and sustainability questions, so please get in touch.
Enjoy your December.
Best wishes and stay safe,
Bernie, Bethany, Clare, Denise, Maciej, Matt and Sara.
 8 December 2020, 12.30pm-1.30pm
The transport team at Coventry City Council have been developing an action plan aimed at reducing nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels and improving air quality within the city. Funding has been received from Highways England to introduce a range of electric vehicles for businesses around the city – making Coventry safer, healthier and more efficient for organisations, its residents and visitors. This webinar will update businesses on the 'Try Before You Buy' scheme which is being launched soon.
Businesses around Coventry can hire and trial an electric vehicle or a fleet of vehicles for at least two months. Electric taxis will also be available from private hire taxis to public hire hackney carriages, with the only cost being insurance cover for the duration of the trial. Further information on how businesses can get involved will be shared by the Energy Saving Trust during the webinar detailing what vehicle will work best for organisations during the trial. Businesses can start to express their interest now before the scheme is launched.
There will also be a short presentation from EO Charging who will provide an overview on the City’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure and workplace charging options for businesses.
Register for the webinar now.
The Government has recently issued guidance to local authorities concerning further COVID-19 related support grants.
The Government recognised that some businesses that are required to close may not have rateable commercial premises (and therefore won’t be covered by the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) scheme), and others won’t have been forced to close, but they will be significantly financially impacted. As such Local Authorities have been allocated Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding.
The application form for Coventry City Council’s Additional Restrictions Grant scheme is now available and will remain open until 5pm Wednesday 9 December 2020.
Find out more on eligibility and how to apply.
Did you miss our GreenTalk LIVE webinar last month on Coventry’s Public Realm Improvement project? The presentations are now available to download.
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Here's some exciting news - a FREE Business Support Programme for SMEs in the Coventry and Warwickshire area designed to help measure, manage and reduce your carbon footprint.
Peer Networks is a new government initiative delivered through the Growth Hub. It is a forum for collaborative problem solving and action learning with your peers. The benefits go far beyond simple networking.
Business owners work together to mutually resolve each other’s challenges in reducing their carbon footprints. The programme is delivered through a series of high impact, confidential group sessions, led by a trained facilitator. One-to-one support is also provided by an experienced specialist.
Businesses that seek external advice or undertake formal training are far more likely to improve their performance, but many prefer to take advice from trusted sources, such as their peers, when presented with external challenges and opportunities.
Find out more and register your interest.
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The Prime Minister has recently released his 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, setting out pledges to create 250,000 jobs.
The Plan, which sets out a range of investments in energy and green technology, identifies electric vehicles as a core plank of the Government’s strategy.
Alongside investment in charging infrastructure, and new grants for low-emission vehicles, the Government will spend nearly £500m on the development and mass-scale production of electric vehicle batteries. The West Midlands has been identified as a key area for this investment.
Coventry and Warwickshire has welcomed further investment in battery technology and electric vehicles as it gets ready for the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), based in Coventry to become operational very soon. Read more...
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Since the Green Business programme started, we have worked with a number of companies across the region to help them realise their energy efficiency plans. Developed from our conversations with local businesses the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Directory was born and it continues to grow.
The directory is a list of suppliers who provide energy efficiency and renewable energy technology products and services. So if you need LED lighting, advice on environmental management or you want a renewable energy system, plus a lot more then take a look.
A recent business to join the Directory is ACETEL, who manufacture a state-of-the-art solution to monitor & control indoor air quality, known as smartHVAC.
Don't forget to contact us if you would like to add your business to the directory.
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Consumers across the UK are being urged to “join the fight against zombie batteries” in a bid to tackle the growing number of fires caused by carelessly discarded dead batteries.
Warwickshire based AA Battery Recycling Ltd supports the new national Take Charge campaign, which urges consumers to only recycle dead batteries using specialist battery recycling services, and to never throw batteries away alongside general rubbish or other recycling. AA Battery Recycling work with several businesses offering a flexible service from container supply, collection and recycling of all battery types and chemistry.
Consumers can find out more about the dangers of zombie batteries, by visiting the campaign website.
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Why not share this newsletter with your colleagues and ask them to join the Green Business Programme Network to be the first to hear about our upcoming events, latest initiatives and case studies from local businesses who have benefited from grants and support as part of the Green Business Programme.
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To help make your business more energy and resource efficient and make the most of low carbon opportunities please contact us:
Follow us @cwgreenbusiness or join our LinkedIn group to share discussions and case studies.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is delivered by Coventry City Council, Coventry University and Coventry University Enterprises Ltd.
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