Lead Organisation
Sustainability West Midlands
Project Manager: Anna Bright, Chief Executive
Overview
SWM were commissioned through the LGA’s Economic Growth Advisers Programme to assist Telford & Wrekin Council with their green and sustainable growth model for the manufacturing sector. Telford and Wrekin Council has already made a commitment to be Carbon Neutral on all its services and operations by 2030.
SWM looked at how Telford can become a green, sustainable manufacturing town taking account of the challenges and opportunities faced by the manufacturing sector. We undertook a detailed desk based review of all relevant documentation and interviewed representatives from the council, LEP and local businesses.
We produced a detailed report covering the ways that the council can support the manufacturing sector including the establishment of a ‘Resource Efficiency Cluster.’ The research highlighted the need for Telford & Wrekin’s manufacturing businesses to receive greater support in their ambitions to become more sustainable, building on existing examples of leading practice in the area, with peer-to-peer support and collaboration. This is increasingly important as they seek to operate in an environment challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic, international conflict, and rising operational costs. Operating sustainably makes good business sense, but organisations need support in making the business case for change, and in funding capital investments.
As a result of our recommendations the new Telford Sustainability & Energy Cluster was established in winter 2023 as a sub-group of the already established Telford & Wrekin Borough Climate Change Partnership.
A case study of this project was published by the LGA.
