Business Bolton

New scheme helps Northwest firms go green

More than £3 million is being made available to help Northwest England-based SMEs embrace sustainable innovation.

The three year Northwest Eco-Innovation Programme will encourage hundreds of businesses to exploit the growing market for environmentally friendly products, processes and services.

Backed by £1.5 million from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and £1.7 million from the Northwest European Regional  Development Fund, the scheme has been designed by Lancaster University in partnership with C-Tech Innovation Ltd.

Participating companies will be given guidance to go beyond simply "greening" their business to make sure they can capitalise on new opportunities created by the need to tackle climate change.

They will work alongside dedicated advisers who will conduct an initial eco-innovation review and help them implement a range of tailored "green" solutions.

It is hoped the project will benefit 480 businesses, create 107 new jobs and safeguard a further 373 in the process, lead to 240 new "green" products and make carbon dioxide savings totalling 12,000 tonnes.

The programme will be officially launched at Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry on 22 October with a keynote address from entrepreneur and former Dragons' Den panellist Richard Farleigh.

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, claimed the "unique" scheme would enable regional firms to "exploit the demand for mainstream products and services which have minimal environmental impact".

Dr Mark Bacon, director of enterprise at Lancaster University, added: "Eco-innovation knows no bounds - from pioneering work with Waitrose on the environmental impact of world food production, to the next generation of low carbon technologies.

"Lancaster University is home to one of the largest centres for environmental research in Europe. Our business team can ensure that research and development expertise of the very highest international quality has real world impact very close to home in England's Northwest."

Ways to get in touch

For further information, please click on the link below.