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 aims 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 11th December and following an independent assessment of these proposals three were selected for delivery in 2010.

The project is aiming to work with a minimum of 40 SMEs from selected industrial estates and business parks in Bedfordshire. The project aims to draw on the experience and expertise of businesses that have already addressed resource efficiency and for them to mentor other businesses located on the same site. The project will bring businesses together to assess how best to improve resource efficiency both individually as well as collectively and will target business parks in Bedford, Kempston, Sandy, Biggleswade, Dunstable and Luton.

The project is managed by the Bedfordshire Green Business Network and businesses interested in learning more about this REE Business Cluster should contact Project Manager Jane Varley on 01234 241411 or email info@resourceefficiencyeast.org.uk

The project will work with two business parks in Peterborough - Cygnet Park and Fengate/Newark Road. The Green Business Parks Project hopes to engage around 40 eligible businesses and aims to help these two business clusters identify ways to improve resource efficiency through joint working in areas such as waste management, transport and procurement. Support will be provided via workshops and themed campaigns aimed at getting 'green champions' to lead on a particular resource efficiency issue.

The project is managed by Peterborough Environment City Trust and anyone interested in participating should contact Cluster Co-ordinator Sam Jones on 01733 866439 or email info@resourceefficiencyeast.org.uk