Helping hand for hundreds of companies

Three University of East London projects across south and east England have helped more than 200 small and medium-sized businesses take action towards becoming more sustainable. The work, carried out by the University’s Sustainability Research Institute (SRI), has seen many of the companies make significant progress towards decarbonisation, with others cutting their energy consumption or developing low-carbon projects.  

Susan Keeping, the New Energy Projects Delivery Manager at the Institute, stressed the importance of such projects at a time of environmental crisis. She said, 

“When the impacts of climate change are being felt all around the globe, projects that engage people in practical, direct action are so important to bridge the gap between knowledge and action for a sustainable future.”

The South East New Energy (SENE) helped more than 120 businesses better understand their use of energy, enabling them to develop strategies and implement new methods and technologies to reduce their energy consumption. It covered south-east England, not including London. 92 per cent of the firms involved said that the SENE scheme had helped them to reduce their carbon emissions. SENE is estimated to have produced £1.89 of benefits for every £1 of public funding spent.

The Advancing Resource Efficiency and Urban Ecology Innovations (ARENA) project covered central London, helping 44 businesses to develop green innovation initiatives. Support was delivered via bespoke advice and specialised research for the development of products and services addressing nature-based solutions, urban green infrastructure, resource efficiency and the circular economy. Estimates show the project produced benefits worth between £1.68 and £3.43 for every £1 of public investment.

Senior Project Manager of the ARENA programme, Dr Mike Medas, noted the wide-ranging impact of the three schemes. He said, “The programme has led to inward investment into specific businesses and new research collaborations, a range of academic research publications and development of a knowledge exchange training programme aimed at SMEs on decarbonisation.”

The Eastern New Energy (ENE) project team, led by SRI Research Assistant Sam Jelliman, supported 46 companies using their laboratory and expertise to test and develop low-carbon products. The SRI’s Knowledge Exchange Programme also enabled organisations to learn about decarbonisation and to gain the tools and techniques to independently transition towards net zero. 90 per cent of the SMEs said they would not have been able to make progress towards decarbonisation without the support of the project. ENE’s return on investment is estimated to have been £3.84 for every £1 of public funding spent.

Mr Jelliman stressed that ENE’s impact will be felt, even after the project is finished. He said, “The companies we worked with were not only given support for the short term but they were also empowered and enabled with the skills needed to continue to decarbonise independently, long into the future.”

The teams working on the three projects included experts in a wide range of fields, among them specialists in energy and carbon assessment, materials science and resource efficiency, energy utilities and infrastructure, artificial intelligence and data analysis. UEL partners on the schemes included universities, local authorities, business support agencies and social enterprises. The three projects were funded by the European Regional Development Fund.