EEDA - East of England Development Agency

£2.5m of EU funding helps SMEs lead a low carbon economy

29 October 2009

Businesses across Thames Gateway South Essex (TGSE), which includes Thurrock, Southend, Basildon, Rochford and Castle Point, are set to benefit from the newly approved Low Carbon programme designed to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to reduce their carbon footprint and therefore increase their competitiveness. 

The initiative has received a financial contribution of £2.5 million by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which is managed by East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

A co-ordinated range of support will be provided to individual businesses, including expert advice on making your business greener, such as how to use products and services more efficiently, identifying carbon reduction solutions and providing small capital grants for investment in carbon reduction processes and equipment.

David Morrall, International Director, EEDA said: “Businesses across the region are facing the same kinds of challenges as we move towards a low carbon economy and this is particularly the case in South Essex where carbon emissions are the highest within the East of England.

The region’s ERDF Competitiveness Programme is making an important contribution in helping small businesses innovate and adjust to reduce their carbon emissions. Companies are seeing the benefits of making this change and are achieving real financial savings in reduced energy consumption. So the TGSE project is excellent news for businesses in Thames Gateway looking to develop greener processes and products and improve their economic and environmental performance.”

Some of the key activities provided by the programme include assistance with producing environmental action plans, one-to-one business support, green audits for individual businesses and engagement and awareness raising events.

Project leader Liz Beadle, regeneration manager for Thurrock Council, said: “This is a great achievement for the partnership and is the result of months of hard work by all.  This programme will make a real difference for businesses in south Essex during these difficult times.”

The two-year programme will cost a total of £6.3 million and will focus mainly, but not exclusively, on priority sectors such as ports, logistics, waste, utilities and construction.

Cllr Garry Hague, leader of Thurrock Council said: “Businesses who use their resources more efficiently and reduce wastage can make a significant contribution to the competitiveness of their own company as well as the economy as a whole.  This will result in financial savings for individual companies, supporting them in the current economic climate.” 

In addition to Thurrock Council, who instigated and led the initiative, the project will be delivered by nine further partners including: Essex County Council, Groundwork South Essex, Southend Borough Council, Basildon District Council, Rochford District Council, Castle Point District Council, Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation, Thurrock Local Enterprise Agency and National Industrial Symbiosis Programme.

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