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Welcome to our latest Green Business Programme newsletter edition.
UK businesses and households are under unprecedented pressure due to the energy prices and the economical turmoil we are facing at the moment. The Green Business Programme team will continue to support businesses with energy efficiency audits and grants which we hope will offer SMEs based in Coventry and Warwickshire a potential solution for the current crisis.
In this edition we talk about the latest green news and events which focus on reducing energy use and carbon emissions.
If you are interested in finding out how you can improve the energy efficiency and lower the bills of your business, please complete this form to arrange a free energy audit.
Stay safe, stay green! 💚
Alex, Bernie, Clare, Jon, Maria, Matt and Sara.
Where: Online
When: 20 October, 2:00 ─ 3:30pm
Our next webinar will focus on low cost measures and easy to implement strategies to reduce the energy consumption of your business. This session will offer tips and advice on how to use less energy this winter and how to motivate your staff to reduce energy consumption within the workplace. We will also offer people in the audience the opportunity to share with everyone their energy efficiency tips and how this has impacted their business.
Full details will be published soon. Sign-up now to secure your space!
 This month we had the great opportunity to meet our colleagues and local businesses face-to-face at our event, on 14 September, which took place in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Over 60 people attended the event, being very keen to learn more about the financial and non-financial support available to local businesses.
Delivered in partnership with Warwickshire County Council and Stratford Energy Solutions, the event also discussed Warwickshire’s Net Zero path and the benefits of solar PV.
This is what those who attended the event said:
“It was a good networking opportunity for me and I came away with a few helpful connections.”
“Very useful and informative session”
“I look forward to more events like this as its very important for the 'green' economy to be heard and also aware of each other.”
If you’ve missed this event you can find copies of the presentations on our website.
Did you know?
- Office equipment left on standby during bank holidays and weekends could cost small and medium sized office based businesses nearly £6000 over the course of a year.
- The energy bill of a typical office based company could cost over 65% more than that of an equivalent energy efficient office.
- A computer and monitor left on 24 hours a day will cost around £45 a year. Switching them off out of hours and enabling standby features could reduce this to less than £10 a year and prolong the lifespan of equipment.
- Reducing heating temperatures by just 1ºC can cut fuel consumption by 8%. In a large office this can save enough energy to print over 40 million sheets of A4 paper.
- If the building suffers from draughts through windows and doors, it is better to address these before improving the heating, ventilation or cooling systems.
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Solutions Services, a small business based in Warwickshire, has secured funding to go green after moving to new premises in Rugby as part of their growth plans.
The grants was used to install new roof insulation and double-glazed windows, add skylights and replace every bulb with LED lighting.
“The building needed improving and the grant from the Green Business Programme means I feel more confident about the running costs of the business, particularly with fuel costs rising," said Sarah Parrin, Director of Solutions Services.
On the 21st September, the government announced the ‘Energy Bill Relief Scheme’.
Starting from 1 October, the scheme will see wholesale energy prices for non-domestic energy customers such as businesses, charities and public sector organisations capped for 6 months.
Wholesale prices are expected to be fixed at £211 per MWh for electricity and £75 per MWh for gas for six months. The support will be available in England, Wales, and Scotland, with an equivalent support package for Northern Ireland expected.
The scheme will be available to everyone on a non-domestic contract including:
- businesses
- voluntary sector organisations, such as charities
- public sector organisations such as schools, hospitals and care homes
Who are:
- on existing fixed price contracts that were agreed on or after 1 April 2022
- signing new fixed price contracts
- on deemed / out of contract or variable tariffs
- on flexible purchase or similar contract
The initial period of support will be reviewed after 3-months to determine which sectors will require ongoing support after the 6-months is over. The government website stated that “After this initial 6-month scheme, the government will provide ongoing focused support for vulnerable industries”.
Do you want to support staff, customers and visitors to cycle to your business in Coventry? Grants are available to help you make cycling easier at your premises, including: storage for bikes and belongings, repair stands, lights and locks, staff bikes and more. Don't delay, contact Bryn Lewis, today to discuss your requirements today.
We have recorded a special podcast episode which will discuss the purpose and plans of Coventry Climate Change Board.
This episode will be published at the beginning of November. In the meantime you can catch up with our previous episodes on our channel.
Coventry based Feraru Dynamics designs, engineers and collaborates to manufacture reliable, non-intrusive wearable monitoring devices, ensuring a proactive and fully informed health & safety management approach. The business has been awarded a grant through the Coventry and Warwickshire Innovation programme which is part funded by the European Development Regional Fund (ERDF) and is being delivered by Coventry City Council. The funding has been used to design and patent wearable technology for the construction and transport industry that is able to measure the exposure to vibration while taking into account all relevant parameters. The grant allowed an accelerated pace in the product development and also provided some very useful industry connections to key manufacturing partners.
Our innovation funded programme is aimed at SME businesses based in Coventry and Warwickshire who have identified a gap in the market and want to exploit that opportunity to grow their business.
Receive support and funding for:
💡 Developing & testing new products & services
💡 Prototyping
💡 Acquiring & protecting intellectual property
💡 Networking opportunities with innovative businesses & supply chains
✔️ Grants up to £100k
✔️ Workshops and 1:1 support
✔️ Bring your product, service or technology to market
👇 Watch how Feraru Dynamics did it https://youtu.be/X-xqt7Khh9c
Email innovation@coventry.gov.uk to arrange for one of our business advisors to contact you.
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Have you got an inspiring story about your business or organisation's efforts to become greener or more sustainable? Share it with us and we will publish it in our newsletter which goes out to over 1950 contacts free of charge.
Please contact our Marketing Coordinator, Maria Covlea, for more details, on maria.covlea@coventry.gov.uk or 024 7697 8358.
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The Net Zero Supply Chain: what is it and how can I get involved?
Date: Wednesday 19 October 2022
Time: 3pm
Format: Online Webinar (Zoom)
Whether you want to win more business, reduce waste within your production line or simply deepen your understanding on Net Zero and manufacturing, this is the webinar for you.
Who should attend:
Any manufacturers in the UK wanting to know more about the Net Zero Supply Chain, both how to become eligible and how to create one.
What will participants gain?
- A greater awareness of SME's role in the journey to Net Zero
- An understanding of the terminology, definitions, and expectations of what a Net Zero Supply Chain involves
- Practical examples from similar businesses on what steps can be taken to become a part of, or create, a Net Zero Supply Chain
- Share and exchange best practice and knowledge with like minded organisations during our breakout sessions
- A post-event copy of all presentations and a recording of the webinar
Other events
 100 charge point challenge offer
Now's the time to include electric vehicles in your roadmap.
Find out more about PlugIn Coventry.
 Register your business with Go CV app and website today to get more local customers, more footfall and more sales. Learn more about Go CV app.
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.
🎧 Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast channel.
If you have any comments or feedback regarding this newsletter please contact our Marketing Co-ordinator on maria.covlea@coventry.gov.uk or 024 7697 8358.
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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