Key actions
Support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
SEEDA has incorporated action on energy, waste, and water efficiency into the range of support that Business Link offers to SMEs in the South East. Business Link South East now employs a number of Sustainable Business Advisers who can help SMEs to take advantage of all the benefits a solid sustainability and efficiency strategy can bring. One example of the kind of programme on offer from SEEDA to SMEs, available through Business Link, is the Energy 500 pilot scheme, where we are offering a £500 grant to small companies taking action to improve their energy efficiency.
The lean manufacturing support that our Manufacturing Advisory Service provides is another service provided by SEEDA. This service helps businesses become more efficient in their manufacturing – and at the same time helps them make significant reductions in their carbon emission.
Through the South East England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Competitiveness Programme, £15million has been secured to advance low carbon initiatives. SEEDA is supporting programmes to help businesses improve in areas of sustainable procurement, sustainable design and innovation, sustainable construction and reduction, re-use and recycling. Then next call for projects seeking funding will be in early 2010.
Support for environmental technologies
SEEDA supports Envirobusiness, its environmental technology sector consortia to work with businesses from across the environmental spectrum, from small to large, from energy technology to consulting, to waste and recycling. Envirobusiness help businesses in South East England increase their share of the global market for environmental technologies and services.
For more information, please visit the Envirobusiness South East website.
Carbon Capture and Storage
SEEDA, working jointly with EEDA and LDA under a 'Greater South East' banner – and working with relevant power companies and other major carbon-emitting companies - aims ultimately to develop a Carbon Capture and Storage Cluster and Network to link fossil-fuel power stations and other significant sources of CO2 across GSE, connecting to an undersea pipeline which will deliver liquefied CO2 to voids in depleted oil and gas field in the Southern North Sea.
South East England “Diamonds” No nonsense guide to reducing ecological footprint
Low Carbon Economy - SEEDA has worked with LAs in the SE Diamonds developing web-based support to assist with reducing their ecological footprint. This will deliver cost savings, carbon reductions and improve prospects for securing low carbon inward investment, and contribute to improving performance on key low carbon/environmental Local Area Agreement indicators.
To access the document, please click here.
Pathway to Zero Waste
Pathway To Zero Waste is a major transformation programme combined with market and infrastructure development. It will radically change how the private and public sectors work together to improve resource efficiency and waste management in the South East. The Pathway to Zero Waste programme works with 30 construction projects to assist with diverting discarded materials from landfill and will extend its areas of work to focus on other sectors such as food waste in 2010.
For more information, please visit the Pathway to Zero Waste website.
Low Carbon Regional Leadership Group
SEEDA launched the Low Carbon Regional Leadership Group website in September which provides a platform for SE regional organizations and business leaders to share knowledge of projects that lower both costs and carbon emissions, ensuring the most successful initiatives are rolled out.
For more information, please visit the Low Carbon Regional Group website.
Institute for Sustainability
SEEDA is supporting the Institute for Sustainability which is an independent, private sector led charity created to significantly advance the UK's ability to deliver solutions for a sustainable future.
Through extensive networks spanning the private, public and academic sectors and sister institute in Shanghai, the Institute establishes close-to-market, collaborative research and demonstration projects. As a registered charity, we use the learning from these to promote best practice and support regeneration. The aim of the Institute is to develop practical and affordable technologies, systems and services that can be readily implemented. With strong financial backing and commitments of £12million revenue and £14million capital over the next three years, along with funding for the Institute's research and demonstration projects, the Institute is in an excellent position to make a big impact quickly.
For more information, please visit the Institute for Sustainability website.
