SMEs to share resource efficiency manager to cut cost of going green
Green SME news – by Thomas McMullan
28th May 2014
A ground-breaking project involving UK engineering giant Rolls-Royce and the manufacturers’ body EEF is about to launch aiming to tackle a critical challenge facing many SMEs – the unaffordable cost of going green.
The £270,000 pilot project, funded by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will confront the issues of resource costs that face many SME manufacturers by creating a shared pool of skilled environmental managers.
“Affordable route”
“We’re trying to find an affordable route for SMEs to adopt good environmental practices by addressing three key issues; lack of expertise, lack of time and, most importantly, affordability,” Anne Stevenson, from EandSP, told GreenWise. “Most SMEs simply cannot afford to have someone dedicated to this area without knowing the financial returns. This project will find a route to solve these problems.”
DEFRA will give two groups of SMEs an opportunity to have access to a skilled environmental manager for a period of up to 15 months.
Rolls-Royce supply chain
Resource efficiency is a growing issue for many UK manufacturers, including SMEs. A survey of EEF members two years ago revealed 80 per cent regarded a shortage of raw materials as a risk to their business, with two thirds saying it was a top risk and one in six companies saying it was a brake on growth.
“Sustainable manufacturing”
“This project has the potential to deliver cost savings, innovative products and improved partnerships with customers. [It] promotes a growing and sustainable manufacturing base in the UK”.
“Timely”
The project forms part of DEFRA’s programme of action based research to test innovative approaches for encouraging sustainable and resource efficient behaviours.
Researchers, advisors and other interested bodies are welcome to be part of a wider stakeholder group for the project to help share learnings and experiences.
For more information, a project website is being established at www.environmentandsustainability.co.uk/SREM
“Affordable route”
The project is being led by micro-SME, The Environment and Sustainability Partnership Ltd (EandSP), which will work in partnership with Bangor University, the EEF, and Rolls-Royce plc.
“We’re trying to find an affordable route for SMEs to adopt good environmental practices by addressing three key issues; lack of expertise, lack of time and, most importantly, affordability,” Anne Stevenson, from EandSP, told GreenWise. “Most SMEs simply cannot afford to have someone dedicated to this area without knowing the financial returns. This project will find a route to solve these problems.”
DEFRA will give two groups of SMEs an opportunity to have access to a skilled environmental manager for a period of up to 15 months.
Rolls-Royce supply chain
One resource efficiency manager will be provided full time to be shared amongst a group of SMEs who are part of Rolls-Royce’s UK supply chain. A second resource efficiency manager will be shared between a number of EEF member businesses in the South West and Wales region.
Resource efficiency is a growing issue for many UK manufacturers, including SMEs. A survey of EEF members two years ago revealed 80 per cent regarded a shortage of raw materials as a risk to their business, with two thirds saying it was a top risk and one in six companies saying it was a brake on growth.
“Sustainable manufacturing”
“Although increasing resource costs are a significant risk to our members, SMEs are unable to justify a dedicated employee to manage this issue,” said Phil Brownsord, EEF’ southwest regional director. “By sharing an environmental manager members will have dedicated expertise but at a cost that is proportionate to their turnover.
“This project has the potential to deliver cost savings, innovative products and improved partnerships with customers. [It] promotes a growing and sustainable manufacturing base in the UK”.
“Timely”
Roll-Royce’s global head of Environment Nigel Marsh described the pilot as “a timely opportunity to try a new approach to working with our suppliers as part of our supplier development programmes for business efficiency.”
The project forms part of DEFRA’s programme of action based research to test innovative approaches for encouraging sustainable and resource efficient behaviours.
Researchers, advisors and other interested bodies are welcome to be part of a wider stakeholder group for the project to help share learnings and experiences.
For more information, a project website is being established at www.environmentandsustainability.co.uk/SREM
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