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Welcome to the final Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme newsletter of 2020. It goes without saying 2020 has been a really difficult year for everyone and we want to say a big 'thank you' for all your support with the green business programme and staying engaged with us. As we near closer to Christmas, we are still faced with lots of COVID restrictions as we remain in tier 3. To see what COVID related grants might be available for your business visit the Coronavirus pages of the Council website.
If this year has taught us anything then it has made us think do we really need to travel to the office every day, how much do we need our car, do we need to make that business trip by plane and should we return to our old ways once the pandemic is over? The sustainability agenda is more important than ever with projections that the UK low carbon economy could grow by an estimated 11% per year until 2030 at a rate four times faster than the rest of the economy. And... we end the year here in the UK with a new Energy White Paper which is a test for the future net zero we all want.
In 2021 we will continue to help your business to explore green innovations to increase market opportunities with grant funding. To see how successful this has been for some of our local businesses then make sure to read our review of 2020 which is below.
Not being able to hold physical events has been really difficult but it has been encouraging to see so many of your smiling faces at our GreenTalk LIVE webinars during the last few months. We have held 10 webinars since March and we will return with a lively webinar programme in 2021, Further details will be launched on our events website page.
To keep up to date with our latest initiatives and news, don't forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Finally the Green Business Programme team will be taking a well-earned break and will close for business on Thursday 24 December 2020, and reopen on Monday 4 January 2021, where we will be ready to continue to provide guidance and advice on how your business can save money on energy, waste and water bills and maximise low carbon opportunities, so please get in touch.
We wish you a very Happy Christmas and we hope that 2021 is a safer, happy and calmer year which brings you every success and happiness. We look forward to working with you in 2021.
Bernie, Bethany, Clare, Denise, Maciej, Matt and Sara.
 Amid the difficulties of 2020 there have been some bright spots with the green initiatives that we have helped local businesses with. Here are some of our highlights.
- Provided over £280k of green business grants and awarded a further £370k of grants to Coventry and Warwickshire SME organisations so they can take advantage of low carbon opportunities within their business operations
- We have carried out 26 free remote energy audits via teams or zoom to ensure that businesses can continue to be energy efficient and make cost savings during the pandemic
- Launched our GreenTalk LIVE webinars which has enabled us to network with 560 organisations around sustainable transport strategies & various funding programmes
- Grown our Green Business Network which now reaches out to a combination of 1,320 organisations, community groups and residents
- There has now been over 13,500 tonnes of CO2 savings since the programme launched back in 2017
- Made our first short film showcasing how we have helped a organisation invest £395,000 to reduce carbon emissions, expand their workforce and lower energy costs. More films are planned in 2021
To find out how we can help your business in 2021 then please do get in touch.
Coventry City Council are gearing up for the start of the Electric Fleet First project. Thanks to funding from Highways England, this will enable them to provide electric vehicles for local organisations to trial. The two-year project will support efforts to reduce NO2 emissions on the local and strategic road network by encouraging businesses to switch to electric vans, pool cars and taxis.
This will be a ‘try before you buy’ scheme of a minimum 2-month period, with the only cost being insurance cover during the trial period. This exciting opportunity will give you a real-life insight into the automotive world of electric and its benefits. With built-in telematics at the end of your trial we will provide you with a usage report so you can see just how switching to Electric Vehicles can benefit you, your business and Coventry.
If you would like to find out more and be a part of this exciting opportunity, please register your interest.
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Further support has been made available for businesses from 2 December 2020 who were either forced to close due to Tier 3 restrictions or that are severely impacted financially by the existence of either Tier 2 or Tier 3 restrictions. There are two types of grant and a single application process exists for both grants. The Council will determine for which grant you are eligible based on your responses in the application form.
Please complete the form below if you meet any of the following criteria:
- Your business property is registered in the non-domestic rating list and is subject to business rates
- Your business was forced to close from 2 December
- Your business is severely impacted financially since 2 December and you operate within the leisure, hospitality or accommodation sectors
Find out more information regarding eligibility criteria and access the application form.
Did you miss our GreenTalk LIVE webinar this month on electrifying your fleet?
You can watch it on demand now. The presentations are also available to download.
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With the countdown underway to Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 and Birmingham Commonwealth Games taking place in 2022, we have a unique opportunity to capitalise on our time in the spotlight to showcase the very best of our local achievements and future ambition in transport innovation.
We want to position Coventry, Warwickshire and the West Midlands as the hub for green transport technology & innovation to increase our profile nationally and internationally, by providing a global showcase for innovative business to highlight the next generation transport innovation and technology being developed locally.
Our aspiration is for a year-long portfolio of activities from mid-2021 to mid-2022, anchored by an interactive exhibition on our journey to 2050 and beyond, through the evolving story of transport innovation and technology and its role in our achieving a zero carbon future.
We envisage an associated community engagement programme and anticipate that our suite of activities will also include events to demonstrate technology at key locations across our city and region.
We are keen to support our business community by providing the stage for promoting local innovation and there are four potential ways in which to get involved:
- Have you developed a new innovative product you would like to put forward for the Showcase?
- Do you have digital content to highlight your work?
- Are you interested in demonstrating your technology?
- Would you like to work with us on our learning and engagement programme?
For further details please contact Helene Toogood at Coventry City Council.
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28 January 2021
8.45am – 1.15pm
With hundreds of delegates expected to attend this free online conference, this is your chance to engage directly with high growth entrepreneurs and service providers offering products, services, advice and support.
Agenda and register.
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1. Make sure you turn off all PCs and monitors at the socket before you leave the office
2. Switch off office, meeting room and corridor lights, desk lamps and display lights as you leave
3. Unplug any non-essential items rather than leaving on standby
4. Turn off stand alone electric heaters at the socket
5. Make sure you don’t leave any equipment charging needlessly
6. Turn off dripping taps or report them
7. Turn off printers and photocopiers at the socket
8. Switch off at the socket any water coolers or vending machines
9. When all your employees have gone home for Christmas, turn your heating down until it's just high enough to prevent frost
10. Agree who is going to be last out and for them to do a walk round to make sure everything is switched off
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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.
Our privacy notice outlines how we keep your data safe and secure.
Our Economic Development Service also produce a monthly business newsletter, please subscribe if you wish to receive the latest news.
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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