Previous Projects

Projects we have worked on (2003-2008)

SME Support Expertise

Eco Enterprize I
Project Overview

The Eco-Enterprise Project was funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Its prime objective was to support the development and growth of Eco-Enterprise Companies offering products, services and technologies which enhance and sustain the natural environment It focused on the renewable energy, waste management, sustainable construction and new technology sectors.
Eco Enterprise 1 was an inter-regional Project (Interreg III A) and focused on supporting Eco-enterprises in the Kent, East Sussex and Nord Pas de Calais region.

Eco Enterprize II
An extension of Eco-Enterprise 1

Environmental Management Systems Programme
This ESF and Learning Skills Council funded project was targeted at Small and Medium sized companies in Kent .It was specifically designed to provide a short tailored course for time and price pressured SMEs to improve their monitoring and management of environmental Impacts. Over 400 participants benefited from the programme.

BREW Resource Efficiency Club – Manufacturing
The club, open to any manufacturers in Kent, worked with 13 committed companies, over a period of 8 months, to help cut resource use and costs. The Resource Efficiency Club was part of an Envirowise programme, first started in the early 1990’s. It supported under the Governments Business Resource Efficiency Programme (BREW) which uses monies collected under the landfill tax to put back into business to help them cut material and energy wastes.

BREW Resource Efficiency Club - Contruction
The club, open to any manufacturers in Kent, worked with 8 committed companies, over a period of 8 months, to help cut resource use and costs. The Resource Efficiency Club was part of an Envirowise programme, first started in the early 1990’s. It supported under the Governments Business Resource Efficiency Programme (BREW) which uses monies collected under the landfill tax to put back into business to help them cut material and energy wastes.

CROSS BORDER Resource Efficiency Club – Green Tourism
CROSS BORDER Resource Efficiency Club – Construction
CROSS BORDER Resource Efficiency Club – Manufacturing

Regional Resource Centre for Environmental Technology Skills (RRCETS)
Co-financed by SEEDA and the European Social Fund, the Regional Resource Centre for Environmental Technology Skills (RRCETS) offered training courses at various venues across the South East. It assisted small companies to develop skills in specific environmental technologies helping to improve their competitiveness and meet the potential demands a growing market.
Courses Included:

Construction Resource Efficiency (Waste Management) - Modules1, 2 + 3
Planning and design of integrated Renewable Technology Systems
Solar domestic hot water installation
Solar photovoltaic for installers
Sustainable Energy in Buildings (reduced energy consumption) - Module1
Sustainable Energy in Buildings (Thermal Modelling) - Module2
Waste Awareness for Business
(Many of the these courses continue to be available through our new Enviroskills programme – www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast/enviroskills )

Sustainable Business Support Expertise
Pilot of a Sustainability Diagnostic and Brokerage Model
DEFRA (BREW) funded
A one year project to understand how to integrate the key resource efficiency issues and challenges into a Business Link Brokerage model. This was successfully developed and piloted in Kent.

Role out of Sustainability Diagnostic and Brokerage Model - South East England
DEFRA (BREW) funded

Business Resource Efficiency Support Strategy for the South East 2008-2011
SEEDA funded
Supporting SEEDA in the development of a Small business strategy. Assessing and reviewing current business resource efficiency activity, scale of actions required to meet the Regional Economic Strategy targets and identifying implementation activities.

The strategy was designed to help support business to save money and improve their environmental performance through effective management of energy, water, transport and waste resources in the South East.

SE Stakeholder Project
SEEDA funded
Identification of all South East resource efficiency and climate change stakeholders. The development of a year long campaign to promote Business Link as the primary access channel for support under BSSP and key regional targets.