sustainability & the environment
Pivotal green-growth funding – creating jobs and boosting business
Companies spearheading a £36.5 million boost for green business in the south discussed their successes and challenges at the recent Future South conference and expo
The annual event, held at Winchester Guildhall, brought together recipients of green growth grants, loans and other funding channeled through the Future South partnership and Greentech South, the UK’s first dedicated ‘environment and energy cluster’.
The audience of 200 businesses leaders, technologists, academics and local authority representatives, heard that in the past year around 225 jobs had been created at 130 firms in the south thanks to more than £36m in government and private investment.
Former business secretary Sir Vince Cable told delegates that the growth of the south’s low-carbon economy must remain an imperative despite the uncertainties of Brexit and weak sterling. He said that companies and organisations needed to have environmental sustainability in mind as a long-term strategy. “Politicians come and go but a long-term commitment to invest in the green economy must remain an imperative – whatever our government and whatever trading relationships we have. We shouldn’t be deflected from that.”
On another note, delegates learned that Jason Bentley, founder of The Recycled Assets Company
Greentech South has just been accepted onto the International Cleantech Network (ICN), a worldwide collaboration of clusters involving leading energy-efficient and low-carbon businesses.
Dr David Hutchinson, a Future South board member and innovation and impact development manager for the University of Portsmouth, said: “Joining ICN affords Greentech South members benefits that could lead to accelerated growth and access to international companies and markets in a growing sector to which we, as the UK leader, can make a significant contribution.”
Sir Vince presented the inaugural David Green Award, named in memory of one of the founders of Future South, to Sandra Sassow, chief executive of SEaB Energy, a Southampton-based anaerobic digestion specialist that exports its waste-to-energy technology to Portugal and the USA.
Accepting her award, Sassow said: “The underlying core of our business is sustainability. We encourage all businesses to make a positive difference to their carbon footprint.”
Other finalists for the award were KCC, a sustainable food packaging company; environmental consultancy ENiMS; architecture practice HPW; and Environmental Treatment Concepts, a pioneer of electronic water descaling.
KCC helps retailers to replace petroleum- based plastics and aluminium foil used in ready-meal trays with a 100% compostable alternative. To service demand, the company is opening a 7,500 sq ft office and production hub in Eastleigh.
Managing director Kevin Clarke said: “Green growth funding was pivotal in helping us push through development and production plans, and helped make our product more credible with major retailers in the UK. We’re now opening a production line to manage output for a blue-chip US chain which is in turn creating jobs for British companies.”
Alongside the conference was an exhibition of smart green technologies under development or already on the market. These included Southampton- based Bowman Power Group, which designs and manufactures technology to improve the fuel efficiency of diesel generators worldwide; and The Recycled Assets Company, a social enterprise whose services include converting confidential business waste into burnable briquettes that can be used as a sustainable energy supply.
Commenting on the event, Future South chairman Stewart Dunn said: “Our work is all about encouraging a partnership approach to sustainable energy and innovation across the south. This, our fifth annual conference, was an ideal chance to discuss the successes and challenges we all face in developing and growing a low-carbon economy. We have made a great deal of progress albeit with much more to do.”
The conference was sponsored by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, Crossprint and Bouygues UK.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – DECEMBER 16/JANUARY 17
businessmag.co.uk
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