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ClimateNE & Climate Change Schools Project support the move to a low-carbon, resilient economy and help businesses avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities. Posts by Jen Atkinson, Krista McKinzey and Harriet Thew » Posted by Jen
2011 has marked an exciting and successful time for ClimateNE; we kick-started a number of services that aim to help and support businesses identify if they are at risk to climate change, build resilience, save money, and identify commercial opportunities.
A survey we conducted with over 300 North East businesses on their attitudes and perceptions of climate change pointed out that you are keen to get advice and support from a single source that is practical and tailored for your requirements.
In direct response to this, we developed the ClimateNE Business Hub - www.climatenortheast.com/businesshub - a website dedicated to providing support and information to help businesses increase resilience, save money, and support the growth of commercial opportunities relating to climate change.
This year also saw the launch of the Boardroom v Classroom initiative, which we trialled in partnership with the Climate Change Schools Project. We brought three businesses together with school and college pupils to find creative ways to identify commercial opportunities relating to the low-carbon and climate resilient economy.
And the results were fantastic! The projects looking at: using a decommissioned NASA space shuttle heat shield to recover energy; identifying alternative flood emergency defence systems for the exterior of buildings; exploring different crops that can withstand extreme weather while being suitable for use in a commercial kitchen; and looking at environmentally-friendly ways to glamp (just to be clear, that means glamorous camping!). All the details can be found at http://www.climatenortheast.com/manageContent.aspx?object.id=15564
Both the businesses and schools found the challenge to be immensely valuable and enjoyable - and we're planning to re-run the initiative early in 2012.
We have also established that businesses in North East England want regular informal networking-style meetings to collaborate and share information.
So, in direct response to this we launched ConnectFriday, an event that offers attendees the chance to network informally at a time that works for them.
The first event was met with fantastic feedback - it's evident that an informal way of getting businesses together to network, share ideas, and look at ways to work together is very much wanted here in the North East.
We're holding the next one on 27 January and you can register to attend via http://connectfriday2.eventbrite.co.uk
Next year will be all about building and improving this work, and providing support and information to as many North East businesses as we can.
A number of other exciting projects for businesses are also in the pipeline. Watch this space and stay in touch by dropping me an email at Jennifer.atkinson@northeastcouncils.gov.uk
Very best wishes for a prosperous and climate resilient 2012!
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