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Business News

Free Energy Audits for SME's in Oxford

JUST ANNOUNCED: Free environmental audits for SME's in Oxfordshire, limited availability

Oxfordshire County Council has secured funding from SEEDA for around 20 free environmental audits, covering energy, waste & water, for small and medium sized businesses in Oxfordshire.

Businesses selected to undergo audits will receive a professional assessment of their resource use and a report giving the headline actions that they can take to save energy and money, including installation costs and payback periods.

Audits and follow-up support are provided by the Environmental Information Exchange (EiE), based at Oxford Brookes University.

For more information on Energy Audits download this presentation by EiE.

To register your interest in getting a free energy audit for your business please contact Alan Frost at BusinessLink: Alan.Frost@businesslinksolutions.co.uk

 

Green Growth Seminar Presentations

Oxford is My World attended a seminar on Green Growth at the Houses of Commons on 7th June. The event was organised by Oxford-based environmental printers Seacourt. You can read a report and access the presentations below, courtesy of Seacourt.

Report: 'Green Growth' at the Houses of Commons, 12th June 2008
Unfortunately the Shadow Environment Minister, Greg Barker, was unable to attend but it was a good event nonetheless, with plenty of opportunity for networking before and after. See summaries of the presentations below, full presentations can be downloaded in pdf format.

Sharon Jackson, a lecturer on Corporate Social Responsibility at Cranfield School of Management & Cambridge, spoke about Growth Through Sustainability (download presentation, 3MB pdf, from this link).

Dr. Andrea Siodmok, Chief Design Officer, Design Council spoke about Commercial Advantage
through Sustainability (download presentation, 3MB pdf, from this link).

Toby Sawday, Alistair Sawday's Special Places to Stay & Fragile Earth Publishers: Sustainable Business, Case Study 1 (download presentation, 4MB pdf, from this link).

Gareth Dinnage, Seacourt: Sustainable Business, Case Study 2 (download presentation, 5MB Flash Application, from this link).

Mary Warren, Robert Horne (manufacture Revive): Sustainability Through Paper Choice (download presentation, 1MB pdf, from this link).

 

10th Venturefest a Success!

Oxford is My World was represented at the succesful 10th Venturefest event at Unipart on 1st and 2nd of July.

Over the past ten years over 12,000 organisations have used the annual Oxfordshire event to meet new people and gather information on funding and innovation. The event is designed to bring together those organisations, which have funding and assistance for new ventures with the innovators and entrepreneurs themselves.

This year’s event was a great success with a few innovative ideas of it’s own, including a “Venturefest Apprentice”, contested by local Year 12 students, and a inspiring closing address from Dr Mike Grocott of the Caudwell Xtreme Everest Team.

Oxford is My World Business was in attendance at the Oxford City Council stand to encourage new and existing businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and to see climate change as an opportunity rather than a threat.

They were also on the lookout for organisations to act as case studies in order to help other organisations follow their lead.

One such example is Oxford City Council which recently published its Carbon Management Plan "Getting Our House in Order" which sets out how it aims to reduce emissions 25% by March 2011 (based on a 2005/6 baseline).

Fittingly there was also a well-attended Climate Change Update, featuring Patrick Sheehan from the Environmental Technologies Fund, Rachel Nutter from the Carbon Trust, Martin Chilcott of Meltwater Ventures and Ted Mott of Oxford Capital Partners.


A Successful Low Carbon Breakfast

Low Carbon Breakfast flier

Representatives from over 50 local businesses met in the Town Hall on 4 March to find out about ways to reduce their carbon footprint, save money and enhance their reputation as responsible traders caring for the environment.

Electronic version of the presentations can be found below.

The Low Carbon Breakfast event was organised by Oxford City Council in partnership with the Carbon Trust and Business Link.

Businesses heard from the Midcounties Co-operative and environmental printers Seacourt on the realities and benefits of reducing carbon emissions. They also heard from Oxford Brookes University's Environmental Information Exchange on energy auditing.

Councillor John Goddard, Leader of Oxford City Council, says: “This event was a landmark occasion for creating climate change awareness amongst businesses in the city.

Cllr Goddard welcomes businesses to the Low Carbon Breakfast event

“The City Council has taken a leading role in tackling this issue and by working with the business community in Oxford, we can make a positive impact on our environment.”

 

Tom Cumberlege, Public Sector Manager from the Carbon Trust, says: “The Carbon Trust is delighted that Oxford City Council is leading by example by first reducing its own carbon emissions and then taking the experience learned to engage with local businesses and share knowledge.

“This creates a real feeling of collaboration on a local level and encourages other organisations to take advantage of the support and guidance available to take action on carbon.”

Tracy Walker, Business Development Director at the Big Oxford Computer Co. Ltd., said of the event: "The overall presentations were extremely interesting and informative. The event will certainly encourage us to take another look at our energy efficiency and internal company policies."

Hannah Unia, Office Manager from Turpin Miller Solicitors says that as a result of the event she will: “Conduct an energy audit, make an action plan and make staff aware.“

You can access the presentations given on the day by clicking on the links below.

Low Carbon Breakfast Presentations

For more information about lowering your carbon footprint please register by filling in the form on the left of this page, contact business@oxfordismyworld.org or call 01865 252 564.

Why should I care about my organisation’s carbon footprint?

Visit The Carbon Trust website: www.carbontrust.co.uk, or register with Oxford is My World, for information on reducing your Carbon Footprint.

Oxford Retailers Offered Cost Price Cotton Bags

Oxford City Council is helping Oxford retailers save money and the environment by offering them cost price cotton bags. The aim is to reduce waste, help to conserve the world’s resources and promote “Oxford is My World: Your Guide to Saving the Planet!”

The bags (cost price 88p including VAT, with a mandatory retail price of £1) are made from ethically traded organic cotton and are printed with the cover of the Guide.

Businesses stocking the bags will be listed in the local press and on council websites and will be given some copies of ‘Oxford is My World’ to give away for free to Oxford residents.

Any business wishing to buy bags should contact the Oxford Tourist Information Centre Manager, Brenda Eden (10 bag minimum). Bags will be available for sale from 3rd December.

Contact:

Brenda Eden, Oxford Tourist Information Centre, 15-16 Broad Street, OX1 3AS 01865 252300, beden@oxford.gov.uk

Local Biodiesel Producer Offers Free Waste Vegetable Oil Collection Service

Golden Fuels are one of Oxford's longest established company making high quality biodiesel and they are offering to collect caterers' waste vegetable oil for free to make their biodisel.

Biodiesel works just like normal diesel fuel but is much greener when made from cooking oil which would otherwise be disposed of.

There is no charge per collection and once they have set up an agreement with a caterer there is no per-can fee. They cover the cost of issuing you with an annual waste transfer ticket, to show you have disposed of the oil correctly, and collect up to five times per week in Oxford alone.

At the time of writing they are already collecting from more than 80 caterers in Oxford.

For more information please contact Goldenfuels on 01865 423 636 or take a look at their website www.goldenfuels.com.

CBI welcomes amendments to Climate Change Bill

The CBI has praised the Government's amendments to its draft Climate Change Bill, saying it provides a credible framework for businesses to work towards.

"Business urgently needs a credible framework to work towards a low carbon economy, and we believe the Climate Change Bill can provide that, comments Michael Roberts, CBI Director of Business Environment.

"A stronger Climate Change Committee, and asking the Committee to review the case for increasing the 2050 target and including international aviation emissions within the targets, are all sensible steps.

"The use of an interim target and rolling 'carbon budgets' should help to provide the right balance of certainty and flexibility, although the 2020 target continues to look extremely challenging."

Read more on The Climate Change Bill on DEFRA's website.

 

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Oxford City CouncilThe Midcounties Co-operative