Resource Efficiency East

Whilst it is clear that small businesses benefit from one-to-one support to improve resource efficiency, such as a Business Resource Review there is obvious potential to improve resource efficiency on a collective basis. Working with businesses that are connected in some way - e.g. co-located on business or industrial parks, or from similar sectors - can offer economies of scale in terms of resource efficiency. Examples could include joint procurement of materials, bulking of waste prior to disposal and such like. Clearly, projects working with collaborative groups also offer great potential to increase wider business awareness of the benefits of resource efficiency.

In November 2009, Resource Efficiency East invited organisations to submit project proposals to investigate such collaborative approaches. The Business Clusters Project aimed to support projects where a 'one-to-many' approach can be tested to explore its potential impacts. The call for project proposals closed on the 11^th December 2009 and following an independent assessment of these proposals four projects were selected for delivery in 2010/11.

The project was managed on behalf of REE by the Bedfordshire Green Business Network and supported 30 SMEs from selected industrial estates and business parks in Bedfordshire.

The project aimed to draw on the experience and expertise of businesses that had already addressed resource efficiency and for them to mentor other businesses located on the same site. The project worked with businesses in Bedford, Kempston, Sandy, Biggleswade, Dunstable and Luton.

The project identified cumulative potential carbon savings of 775 tonnes and cost savings opportunities in excess of £250,000. By the time the project ended in March 2011, participating SMEs had already realised a 177 tonne reduction in CO2 emissions and made savings in excess of £80,000.

The project was managed on behalf of REE by Peterborough Environment City Trust and engaged 46 SMEs from the Cygnet Park and Fengate/Newark Road Business Park in Peterborough.

The project assisted participating businesses to identify ways to improve resource efficiency through joint working in areas such as waste management, transport and procurement. Support was provided via workshops and themed campaigns aimed at getting 'green champions' to lead on particular resource efficiency issues.

The project identified cumulative potential carbon savings of 669 tonnes and cost savings opportunities in excess of £160,000. By the time the project ended in March 2011, participating SMEs had already realised a 262 tonne reduction in CO2 emissions and made savings in excess of £69,000.

The S.H.A.R.E (Small Hotel Actions to Reduce Emissions) project was managed on behalf of REE by Exemplas Ltd, with support from Environmental Population and The University of Hertfordshire.

The primary aim of the project was to support small hotels in the East of England to realise cost savings through improved resource efficiency. Support was provided by way of best practice workshop seminars, 1-2-1 site visits and support (through the Business Resource Review service), a Resource Efficiency Expo introducing hotels to suppliers of resource efficiency products and services and the production of a best practice guide entitled 'Resource Efficiency in the Hospitality Sector'.

96 SMEs engaged with the project, including exhibitors at the Expo event. Of these 14 received the full 2 day 1-2-1 support package. The project identified cumulative potential carbon savings of 253 tonnes and cost savings opportunities just under £48,000. By the time the project ended in March 2011, participating SMEs had already realised a 87 tonne reduction in CO2 emissions and made savings of just over £5,000.

Film Green East is managed on behalf of REE by Green Film Practices with support from Exemplas Ltd.

The project set out to offer a support packaged tailored to meet the needs of small production companies in the East of England.

To date 20 businesses have been supported with the generation of a bespoke environmental action plan designed to help each company make cost savings whilst reducing their impact on the environment.

6 companies have elected to receive more comprehensive support and Film Green East will be assisting these companies on-site during upcoming productions.

The project is due to end in September 2011.