Sustainable Communities

Leicestershire Environmental Engagement For Business

"Developing and supporting business engagement in environmental issues in Leicestershire"

Improving business competitiveness and profitability by promoting and encouraging adoption of environmentally sustainable practices, determining the type of environmental advice that businesses required, raising awareness of environmental issues with business and drawing together information of environmental-advice service providers.

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Completion Date: 31/03/2004

Location

County-wide - events to raise awareness in Hinckley, Charnwood and NorthWest Leicestershire.

Project Description

It can often be daunting and complicated for businesses to know where to start with environmental issues. The project has provided valuable help for businesses within Leicestershire to make the first steps and has provided clarification on where to go for environmental support - Karl Letten, Environmental Co-ordinator, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council

Background
As part of the project a research study was completed. The research looked at the following:

• Understanding the barriers to business engagement on environmental improvement.
• Identifying models and examples of successful support nationally in engaging business in sustainable practices.
• Current resources applied to business engagement and identifying other resources and processes that could be applied locally.
• Recommendations for how suitable self-sustaining support mechanisms could be developed in Leicestershire.

Breakfast seminars
A series of successful breakfast seminars also took place as part of the project in Hinckley, Charnwood and North West Leicestershire. The programme for the seminars included case studies from local business people on how they have successfully implemented environmental practice in their business. Part of the seminars were workshops which asked specific questions on barriers and ways in which sector support could help to overcome these. Each of the seminars followed the same format, although where possible the business speaker was specific to the area. Feedback from the seminars contributed to the research element of the project.

Environmental directory
In addition, an environmental service providers' directory has been produced. The directory explains some background to the ideas of sustainable development and how these relate to business. The benefits of business adopting sustainable practices are highlighed within the guide and a directory of contacts for key organisations which can help business with sustainable development is also included.

Outcomes

Business input

• More than 50 businesses attended the three business seminars, from which feedback has been positive. Those in attendance found the local case-studies helpful and it was found to be beneficial to bring together similar-sized businesses. Along with providing information to business the seminars also served as a useful means of identifying the needs of businesses within Leicestershire.

Recommendations

• The research produced as part of the project has provided a number of useful recommendations, including the need to shift the emphasis on environmental issues to opportunities to be taken rather than problems to be solved. The need to develop a regional partnership to co-ordinate environmental information for business was also recommended.

Directory

• The support directory provides a valuable tool for businesses within Leicestershire. The guide not only acts as a directory of useful contacts but also provides backgound ideas to sustainable development and the benefits which adopting such practices can bring to business.

Project Contacts

Project manager:
Alan Tuppen
Tel: 0116 265 7028
E-mail: atuppen@leics.gov.uk
Website: www.leics.gov.uk

LSEP contact:
Gill Smitherman
Tel: 0116 257 5676
Email: gills@lsep.co.uk
Website: www.lsep.co.uk