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Sustainability West Midlands 18 April 2012 Sian Thomas and Laura Simpson Contents • • • • • • • • • Who we are and our vision Sustainable development and the West Midlands Useful organisations Case studies of good practice in the West Midlands Our graduate careers service Our work with Local Authorities Our community renewables project Green Deal Further information/contact details We are the sustainability adviser for the leaders of the West Midlands. We are an independent not-for-profit company that works with our members in the business, public and voluntary sectors. Our Vision Vision: By 2020 businesses and communities are thriving in a West Midlands that is environmentally sustainable and socially just. By 2012 our leaders are clear on what this looks like, have set milestones and their organisations are making strong progress. What is Sustainable Development? People Centred Meeting our needs and ensuring the well being of communities and individuals PEOPLE ECONOMY ENVIRONMENT One Planet We live on one planet with finite resources Economy We have constructed a system that harnesses these natural resources to provide for our needs now and in the future Challenges in the West Midlands People Average gap in life expectancy of 10 years 6.2% of the population is unemployed 13% of households live in 'fuel poverty' Economy £10-£15 billion ‘productivity gap’ mostly due to a low concentration of high productivity sectors or underperformance of existing sectors Environment ‘Carbon gap’ of additional reduction measures Intense land use has resulted in degradation of valuable resources Use of public transport is falling No scope for ‘off-shore’ renewables Vision of the West Midlands in 2020 People: Life expectancy gap now 6 years Improved health levels due to lower pollution levels and healthier lifestyles Up-skilling programmes Economy: Regional income has increased Hub for low-carbon technology innovation Refurbishment is a big industry Environment: Reduced energy consumption and 20 per cent of electricity is from renewable sources Traffic volumes have decreased 20 per cent in rush hour New flood defences Our Role We are a catalyst for change through… Policy Advice Developing the vision and policy of a sustainable region to advise leaders in the West Midlands through Vision 2020 Cross Sector Working Creating a space for cross-sector members to debate issues and share ideas to develop practical solutions across the voluntary, business and public sectors Sharing Success Identify and promote good practice, challenge perceptions and changing views Be part of the solution We work with leaders who make things happen We mobilise skills and resources Help us to lead the West Midlands towards a low-carbon economy Our members Our website features resources including: - Presentations - Events - Regional news - Reports - Our project work - SWM Newsletters - Case studies of regional award winners Help from other organisations • Environmental Business Networks • Carbon Trust provides specialist support to business and the public sector to help cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies. • Defra is the UK Government department tasked with issues such as the environment, rural development, the countryside, wildlife, animal welfare and sustainable development. • Energy Saving Trust promotes the efficient use of energy and a more 'low carbon' lifestyle, providing a range of resources to help your organisation reduce carbon dioxide emissions. • Environment Agency aims to protect and improve the environment, and to promote sustainable development. Their work plays a central role in ensuring central governments environmental priorities are implemented. • Green Grants Machine is a free and easy-to-use funding search website with full details on the hundreds of grants, loans and other funds available to help UK businesses improve environmental performance. • Groundwork West Midlands provides environmental support and training to businesses and public sector organisations across the West Midlands. Plus many more on SWM website. Case studies on the SWM website Oakland International are ensuring the continuity of business operations in the event of disruption caused by winter weather conditions by introducing measures such as companywide communications plan to ensure that contingency planning is understood by all teams and investing in a specialist gritter and snow plough to ensure that the Redditch depot and any adjoining roads can be kept clear and open during periods of bad weather. Case studies on the SWM website Arena Coventry Limited were the winner low carbon employee engagement category of the Low Carbon Economy awards 2010. They achieved this by installing an intelligent boiler control system which has reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions and installing an inter-active touch screen display to highlight how they are reducing their carbon footprint to staff and customers in the main entrance to the building. Case studies on the SWM website Elmdon Park, Solihull won a Green Flag award. Sandwell MBC used expert advice to become more sustainable throughout the park by reducing energy use and pollution and improving conservation and the natural resources. Case studies on the SWM website Whittington and Fisherwick Environmental Group in Staffordshire won RegenWM’s Environment and People Prize 2009 for encouraging residents, businesses and community organisations to understand the causes and consequences of climate change, lower their carbon footprint and create a low carbon community. Case studies on the SWM website Groundwork West Midlands Graduate Apprenticeship Programme (GAP) is providing work experience to graduates interested in a career in environmental regeneration and sustainability. Our Graduate Careers Service • Sustainability related • Jobs and work experience placement service • Graduates with up to two years’ experience • West Midlands organisations • Free regular email bulletins • Advice on writing CVs and cover letters • Advice on writing job descriptions • Free to advertise vacancies West Midlands Local Authority Low Carbon Economy Programme Community Renewable Energy project • • • • Recruited and trained 24 mentors 10 case studies 52 communities engaged Range of technologies: – – – – – – – Wind turbines Hydro power Solar PV – simpler and complex Energy efficiency Site surveys Community plan development Biomass Bayston Hill ‘I’d nearly given up raising the funding for our pv project on our church until I attended your workshop, but you’ve given me some very promising leads with the Diocese’. Peter Ward, Sheriffhales Church Hockerton Housing Project Stuart said – ‘it’s inspiring to see and hear about a community wind project that has worked. It’s great to see it coming together and will help me translate this into my own community’. Tamworth Almshouses – 15kW pv Claire Keeling from Tamworth Borough Council – said ‘to see the Almshouses realise their goal of becoming green has been fantastic’. St Giles’ Hospice, Staffordshire – 18kW pv and community share issue Mike Kinghan from Southern Staffordshire Community Energy said ‘we couldn’t have done it without your help’. Green deal • Government led initiative • households and businesses • packages of energy saving technologies • no upfront cost • properties more efficient • repayments made over time from reduced energy bills • Final details will be announced from October 2012. • Consultation and more information is available on the DECC website. http://www.decc.gov.uk/ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter Our newsletter includes: - SWM project updates - Regional news - Recommended resources of the month - Important dates for your diary If you would like to receive our newsletter subscribe at our stand. Become a member Our members are Leaders, officers and managers, experts and our partners. Members: • receive our monthly e-newsletter, • have their organisation profiled on the website in terms of the contribution it can make, • have priority in terms of attendance at relevant events and promoting their good practice or events, • can use SWM logo as 'a member of Sustainability West Midlands’ Work with us We are funded by a range of organisations and we accept support for our events, projects, and other activities that will further our vision. Please contact us if you have a project or event you feel we may be interested in. Contact us Tel: 0121 237 5890 Email: [email protected] Address: Lockside, 5 Scotland Street, Birmingham B1 2RR Web: www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk Thank you Any questions?