The environmental charity PECT has become a key partner in the Eastern New Energy (ENE) programme, which launches this month. The project is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and led by the University of East London, with a wider partnership comprising 23 organisations.
The aim of the project is to build a stronger and locally focused low carbon economy in the region. It will achieve this by providing support to a range of individuals and organisations, and by understanding and addressing the barriers to the decarbonization of communities, buildings, transport, and lives.
PECT’s role will be to provide grants to eligible small and medium-sized businesses in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, to help catalyse capital investments in energy efficiency initiatives. The long-term organisational benefits to participating businesses include reduced operating costs, increased competitiveness, business growth and resilience.
“The health and sustainability of our environment has never been so critical than at this time. The climate crisis we are facing has been further exacerbated by the economic, health and social challenges created by Covid-19,” explains PECT’s CEO Carly Leonard. “This is a time of great uncertainty for our region’s businesses, and we want to support them to build resilience and long-term stability for a sustainable future.”
“We are delighted to be involved with this project, because our team has the unique opportunity to assist businesses wanting to focus on energy efficiency initiatives. Through its grant funding, ENE can help organisations to save money and incorporate sustainability into their operational plans.”
The PECT project team brings together a wealth of knowledge and experience in this field. The organisation previously supported over 270 businesses and identified £1,400,000 of cost savings and 6,500 tonnes of carbon savings that could be realised through recommended actions, through the Business Energy Efficiency programme.
Professor Darryl Newport, the ENE Project Lead Academic from University of East (UEL), comments: “The Eastern New Energy Project will help us to understand and remove the barriers that prevent us rapidly decarbonising our communities, buildings, transport and lives. In order to achieve our goal, we need strong regional partners like PECT who have a complete understanding of the challenges and the expertise to help unlock these barriers. We look forward to working with the team at PECT to help make the region an exemplar for the UK.”
The Eastern New Energy project is receiving up to £5,127,158 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund.
Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support research and innovation, small to medium sized enterprises, create jobs, supporting local community regenerations and the creation of a low carbon economy.
If you are a small or medium sized business in the region who would like to find out more about receiving a grant, call 01733 882549, email [email protected] or visit www.pect.org.uk/projects/ene