.jpg)
East of England International (EEI) and McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, based in Whittlesey, have played host to a visit from the British Consul General for Toronto, who is in the UK as part of a fact finding mission about clean technology (Cleantech).
Jonathan Dart, who is also the Director of UKTI for Canada with overall responsibility for the UK’s commercial inward investment and trade activities within Canada, is in the region as part of a duty tour, with an emphasis on seeing Cleantech in action, and finding out about further investment opportunities there are in the East of England for Canadian companies.
McCain Foods Ltd is a major Canadian family-owned investor into the UK. The Whittlesey plant opened in 1972, and expansion of the production plant has been incrementally driven by almost unbroken year-on year growth in demand. McCain Foods, as an investor in the community, has a strong family ethos and commitment to their staff, evidenced by their solvent Final Salary Pension scheme. Mr Dart was keen to see their investment in action, and his visit to the site included a tour of their renewable energy facilities, which includes three 3MW wind turbines which have proven very successful in reducing the ‘take’ of electricity from the Grid since the end of 2007..
Additional green investment has been made by McCain in an anaerobic digester lagoon for liquid wastes which provides a methane fuel source to further reduce external power consumption. Investment is also continuing inside the plant to minimise water usage, reduce energy consumption, reduce packaging volumes, and simplify maintenance.
Mr Dart is keen to take information and experiences of Cleantech back to Canada in order to support EEI in encouraging further investment in the East of England and the Peterborough area, especially in the research and development of Cleantech.
Mr Dart was met by Bill Bartlett, Corporate Affairs Director for McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, and Andy Hook, Investor Development Manager for EEI.
Andy Hook said: “McCain’s inward investments into Whittlesey and the community are impressive and by embracing green technology they are having a significant positive environmental impact and controlling their production costs. They are an example to other larger manufacturers in the UK who aspire to lead their sector.”
EEI has worked closely with McCain Foods to provide business support including information about government backed training and qualifications for staff through local organisations such as Improve and Food East. They organised introductions to the regional Food Sector Employers Group, and provided details of regional expertise in renewable energy from Renewables East, and industrial material recycling via the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme.
Cleantech is new technology and related business models that offer competitive returns for investors and customers while providing solutions to global challenges. The term Cleantech represents a diverse range of products, services, and processes, all intended to provide superior performance at lower costs, while greatly reducing or eliminating negative ecological impact, at the same time as Improving the productive and responsible use of natural resources
Jonathan Dart, who is also the Director of UKTI for Canada with overall responsibility for the UK’s commercial inward investment and trade activities within Canada, is in the region as part of a duty tour, with an emphasis on seeing Cleantech in action, and finding out about further investment opportunities there are in the East of England for Canadian companies.
McCain Foods Ltd is a major Canadian family-owned investor into the UK. The Whittlesey plant opened in 1972, and expansion of the production plant has been incrementally driven by almost unbroken year-on year growth in demand. McCain Foods, as an investor in the community, has a strong family ethos and commitment to their staff, evidenced by their solvent Final Salary Pension scheme. Mr Dart was keen to see their investment in action, and his visit to the site included a tour of their renewable energy facilities, which includes three 3MW wind turbines which have proven very successful in reducing the ‘take’ of electricity from the Grid since the end of 2007..
Additional green investment has been made by McCain in an anaerobic digester lagoon for liquid wastes which provides a methane fuel source to further reduce external power consumption. Investment is also continuing inside the plant to minimise water usage, reduce energy consumption, reduce packaging volumes, and simplify maintenance.
Mr Dart is keen to take information and experiences of Cleantech back to Canada in order to support EEI in encouraging further investment in the East of England and the Peterborough area, especially in the research and development of Cleantech.
Mr Dart was met by Bill Bartlett, Corporate Affairs Director for McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, and Andy Hook, Investor Development Manager for EEI.
Andy Hook said: “McCain’s inward investments into Whittlesey and the community are impressive and by embracing green technology they are having a significant positive environmental impact and controlling their production costs. They are an example to other larger manufacturers in the UK who aspire to lead their sector.”
EEI has worked closely with McCain Foods to provide business support including information about government backed training and qualifications for staff through local organisations such as Improve and Food East. They organised introductions to the regional Food Sector Employers Group, and provided details of regional expertise in renewable energy from Renewables East, and industrial material recycling via the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme.
Cleantech is new technology and related business models that offer competitive returns for investors and customers while providing solutions to global challenges. The term Cleantech represents a diverse range of products, services, and processes, all intended to provide superior performance at lower costs, while greatly reducing or eliminating negative ecological impact, at the same time as Improving the productive and responsible use of natural resources
0 comments:
Post a Comment