NEW CLUB WILL provide support for local businesses to improve environmental performance

In a bid to help small businesses in the region save money and reduce their environmental impact, Resource Efficiency East (REE) has created the ‘EMS Club’, which will provide companies with practical help and guidance on implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS). The aim of an EMS is to help cut waste and reduce the use of water, energy and raw materials, and so making financial savings as a result.
One hundred small companies from across the region will be able to benefit from a series of practical workshops run by the EMS Club from February to November 2010. One-to-one support provided by the club will help participating businesses assess the priority areas within their organisation in which an EMS would provide the best results for cost savings.

The EMS club will be free to eligible businesses in Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and the workshops will run at venues spread across the region, making travel times as short as possible.

Antony Gough, Director of Resource Efficiency East, says: “The EMS Club will really benefit smaller companies for whom an Environmental Management System would result in both cost savings and a reduction in their impact on the environment, but who don’t know how to get started. It will be run by experienced professionals who’ll be able to share straightforward and workable ideas.”

To register your interest in the EMS Club visit the Resource Efficiency East website at http://www.resourceefficiencyeast.org.uk/the-ems-club.asp

The EMS Club is part of a programme run by Resource Efficiency East, which has a target to help businesses save £3.5 million and significantly reduce their CO2 emissions by making savings in energy and water usage and diverting waste from landfill. Funding for the programme has come from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and the European Regional Development Fund.

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For further information please contact Helen Sharkey, Account Manager at Project PR on 01473 326405 or Helen.sharkey@projectpr.biz

Notes to editors:

Background information on Resource Efficiency East
Resource Efficiency East is a £2.1 million co-funded programme that runs until 2011 and is managed by Renewables East. The programme is jointly funded by the East of England Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund to deliver specialist advice, guidance and support on how businesses in the East of England can improve their resource efficiency and realise the business benefits that result.

Resource Efficiency East delivers these services as part of Improving Your Resource Efficiency, one of a suite of publicly funded business support products and services in the Solutions for Business Portfolio; services designed to help businesses start, grow and succeed.

Resource Efficiency East has already provided over 200 companies with a free on-site Business Resource Review that includes a bespoke report and action plan helping to identify opportunities to become more efficient and cut costs through reduced use of water, energy and materials.

The programme aims to help businesses in the East of England save over £3.5 million, whilst significantly reducing CO2 emissions, energy and water usage and diverting waste from landfill.


Background information on Renewables East
Renewables East is a private and not-for-profit company delivering the services associated with being the renewable energy agency for the East of England. The Company is core-funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and officially designated as an EEDA partner organisation. Renewables East’s primary work areas are Bioenergy (Biomass and Biofuels,) Offshore/Onshore Wind, Planning, Supply Chain Development and the on-site renewables agenda. In 2008 Renewables East was given responsibility for the development and delivery of Resource Efficiency East, the East of England’s first region-wide resource efficiency programme for businesses.