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Local businesses save money AND resources

A Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency (CREA) programme to help local businesses save resources is celebrating its first full year and looking forward to extending its services in 2007.

The Cumbria Resource Efficiency Programme (CREP) gives businesses access to specialist advice and practical support so that they can find ways of saving resources – raw materials, water, fuel and energy – not only to help the environment but also to save money.

“So far, through CREP and CREA’s other Environmental Business Support Services, we are working with nearly 200 businesses across Cumbria,” says Project Manager, Laura Teasdale.

“Most have identified areas where they can be more resource efficient and about 30 have already achieved significant savings.”

She continues: “For example, with the opportunities identified so far, we expect our client companies to save about 2 million units of electricity next year and over a million units of natural gas. Those two figures alone will represent savings of over £160 000 before we build in savings on diesel for transport, water and raw materials.”

CREP Angus Barclay Sheila Magee


One example of a company that has been involved so far is the Carlisle textile manufacturer, Stead McAlpin. Technical Manager, Angus Barclay explains: “The key thing for us was getting all our staff involved in the audit and review process so that they could learn and then spot opportunities in their areas of the business. We have made savings on energy and water and I am looking forward to seeing those savings in our bottom line in 2007.”

Energy and transport are key issues for local businesses and Laura is organising two workshops in the coming weeks. The first, on Wednesday, 31 January at Redhills near Penrith, is on transport and distribution for food businesses (in conjunction with Distinctly Cumbrian’s distribution expert, Ian Winchester). The second, on Thursday, 1 February at Carlisle Racecourse, is supported by Carlisle City Council and will focus on energy savings with a speaker from The Carbon Trust as well as CREA advisors.

Laura Teasdale of CREP explains: “These seminars are an opportunity for local businesses, whatever their size and whatever they do, to get together, learn from the efficiency experts and also learn from each other.”

“CREA is offering practical help to achieve demonstrable savings,” concludes Executive Director, Bob Clark. “I hope that many small and medium-sized companies will take advantage of the advice and expertise, training and networking that are now available to reduce costs and improve performance.”

Anyone interested in finding out more can contact Laura Teasdale at CREA on 01768 89155 or take a look at the full details of what is on offer on the Environmental Business Support Services pages. Or visit www.cumbriaben.co.uk

Notes

The mission of the Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency is to regenerate and strengthen the rural economy by creating sustainable employment.

It was first incorporated in 1987 with a small team based in Kendal but it now has offices in both Kendal and Penrith. CREA has increased its portfolio of services to include Business Advice (Start Up, Existing Businesses), Cumbria Farm Link, the Farm Tourism Initiative, Distinctly Cumbrian, the Rural Planning Facilitation Service, Cumbria Organics, the Cumbria Business Environment Network and the Resource Efficiency Programme.

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