SWM News September 2019 - Sustainability Roadmap to 2030: Have your say!

As 2020 draws closer, so does the end of our current Sustainability Roadmap. This is the regional sustainability framework that we have been monitoring year on year since 2010 and has been used to shape and influence policy and action across the West Midlands, helping to provide a more sustainable place to live and work.

Do not despair! As our current Roadmap comes to an end, our Roadmap to 2030 comes to life! We have been working hard over the duration of this year to develop an even more robust and ambitious Roadmap. We have carried out literature reviews of the most pressing and important documents at a regional, national and global level, to understand their targets and we’ve carried out stakeholder engagement activities all the way through the development. This is the last of the latter.

This Roadmap is very much a tool that has been created for the wider use of every individual and organisation that wants to see the West Midlands become as sustainable as it possibly can be. So, having your thoughts and feedback are important to its success. By having as many people committed to the outcome as possible, we are able to have stronger influence and bring about greater change.

We are going to be launching our Sustainability Roadmap to 2030 at our Annual Conference in December, where we will be discussing the different aspects of it and encouraging as many of you to pledge actions to help achieve its ambitions. As such, we wanted to give you another opportunity to feed in and shape the final product. If you would like to learn more about the Roadmap and have your say, visit our website.

Tom Hendy, Sustainability Adviser, on behalf of the SWM Team

Funding opportunities

By 9 October 2019. Cash grants worth between £50,000 and £300,000 will be made to community businesses across England through eight rounds of Power Change's Community Business Fund.

By 9 October 2019. Organisations can apply for a share of up to £3 million to develop technology components that help improve the efficiency of local energy systems.

By 16 October 2019. Up to £2 million is available for innovative projects that provide collaborative solutions to the challenges of urban mobility and waste to wealth in Malaysia.

By 16 October 2019. £25m is available for in the best game-changing, innovative or disruptive ideas with a view to commercialisation. All proposals must be business focused.

By November 2019. BEIS has allocated up to £20 million to design and construct carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) demonstration projects.

By November 2019. The Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging programme is funded by £60 million from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

By December 2020. Businesses are encouraged to showcase their achievements and apply for a Queen’s Award in Sustainable Development.

By 30 June 2021. The Worcestershire Natural Networks scheme aims to boost biodiversity in an ERDF-funded venture which includes SWM members Worcestershire County Council.

By 31 December 2021. Businesses in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent can benefit from free energy audits and 60% grant funding towards energy efficiency measures.

By 31 December 2021. Marches Renewable Energy is a grant scheme allowing eligible applicants to apply for a 50% grant for the installation of renewable technologies on their premises.

On-going. The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) is a £10 million programme which supports rural communities in England to develop renewable energy projects.

On-Going. The National Lottery Community Fund has launched a new £100 million Climate Action Fund to help people and communities take the lead in tackling the climate emergency.

On-going. Monthly themed funding for Birmingham based projects that aim to deliver positive change is available.

On-going. The Community and Environment Fund is to provide benefits to communities along the route disrupted by the construction of HS2.

On-going. BEIS funding of around £162 million is available in industrial research and innovation, including Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS).

On-going. The UK Government has announced how to apply for the Urban Tree Challenge fund, which has £10m available for the planting of trees in urban areas in England.

Over the past year we have promoted >£850 million of accessible funding.

Upcoming SWM and member events

sben are organising an event, Electric Vehicles: The Answers, to talk about tax benefits. how going electric can benefit your business, air quality and more. 1 October in Stafford.

Meres and Mosses Business Environment Network are organising event on how you can consider the environment when planning changes to business. 2 October in Shropshire.

Exergy are running a workshop exploring the idea of circular economy with an aim to promote sustainable attitudes of consumers. 9 October at Warwick University.

Fit for the Future are running an event looking into how the UK will work towards decarbonising heat in the building sector. 14 October in Bristol.

Hydrogen Hub will be showcasing new Hydrgon vehicles from top car manufacturers. Hydrgon fuel are the latest cutting edge green technology with zero emissions. 16 October in Birmingham.

SWM are organising No Time to Waste in partnership with Severn Trent Green Power. It is free to attend, and will take place in Coventry on the 22nd October.

Footsteps are putting on a seminar which will bring together top sustainability leaders to map out the future of renewable power in Birmingham. 23 October in Birmingham.

eauc are running a regional networking event at Birmingham City University on the 23 October.

Climate Change Solutions is running an event on 26 October detailing the progress Coventry has made to meet the UN's target of halving carbon emissions by 2030.

Coventry City Council will be discussing how they are planning to cut down on carbon and move to renewable energy. Taking place on 29 October in Coventry.

Aston University student society 'WEST' are putting on an fair for students to discover career paths in sustainability-focused local companies. 30 October at Aston University Student Union.

Fit for the Future Network's fantastic Network Harvest is taking place on 6 November; it is one of the best sustainability events of the year, so sign up for membership to join in.

Climate Change Solutions is running an event on the the implications, threats and opportunities climate change provides to businesses on 6 November in Birmingham.

University of Birmingham are running a drop in event at Birmingham Library on the 6 November, where they will be exhibiting how their projects are helping address pressing social issues.

Climate Change Solutions is co-running a conference on understanding and disseminating the practical consequences of climate change on our daily lives on 7 November in Birmingham.

SWM will be speaking at the Local Environment and Sustainability Conference taking place on 7 November, focusing on our support to local authorities with developing sustainability strategies.

BECCI Project are organising a workshop using WUFI Plus hygrothermal analysis software for thermal performance and the effect of moisture in buildings. 12 November in Telford.

EnTRESS are running a Modern Building Materials Seminar: How Can We Recycle them in 20 Years? and IDE Regional Seminar. This will be in Wolverhampton on 13 November.

Coventry City Council will be showcasing the first-year success of the new programme: Business Support, Green Business and Innovation. 14 November Coventry.

Low Carbon Homes (Congent Events) are running an event to help inform the final Zero Carbon Framework to regional policy makers, practitioners and key influencers.14 November in Manchester.

sben will be putting on Energy Efficient Buildings of the Future event showcasing new and evolving technologies to help optimise energy management. 26 November Staffordshire.

SWM Annual Conference taking place on the 3 December at Edgbaston Park Hotel, Birmingham. Where SWM will be launching the new Sustainability Roadmap to 2030. #SWMVision2030

Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business will be hosting an Actions and Decisions for Responsible Business Conference on 5 December in London.

A full list of upcoming events is available here as well as our full member list here.

Other SWM and member updates

SWM has outlined how we can support organisations with their climate emergency declarations and meeting net zero targets.

SWM welcomes new member Save Money Cut Carbon, go-to people for homes and organisation who want to reduce their energy and waste bills.

SWM welcomes new member City of Wolverhampton Council, is committed to creating a thriving world for future generations. Sustainable development is vital ingredient within this.

FFTF are seeking companies who would be interested in supporting this year’s Network Harvest (November in London) via sponsorship or exhibition space.

Transport for West Midlands published the Draft Game Strategic Transport Plan in preparation of the Birmingham 2022 Common Wealth Games. They want your comments before 6 December.

Footsteps have released a report on Birmingham Climate Emergency - The Role for Faith Communities.

West Midlands Combined Authority will be cutting out single-use plastics as part of the fight to tackle climate change.

University of Warwick have declared a climate emergency and have already put forward a strategic plan for 2030 which includes a sustainable transport, energy and a green campus.

West Midlands Combined Authority have gathered the biggest rail industry bosses in a ground breaking deal and the first of its kind in the country to drive up standards for rail passengers.

EnergySystems Catapult is inviting SMEs to apply for the Innovator Support Platform. Catapult have also launched a new digital portal to link SMEs to investors. and international opportunities.

Boningale Nurseries are looking to fill a number of vacancies – these include: Horticultural Sourcing Specialist, Horticultural Nursery Site Manager, Contract Grow Supervisor, Container Manager, Sales Representative

SWM members can send their events, research or other contributions to enquiries@swm.org.uk to be included in the next newsletter. Not a member? There are many advantages to SWM membership; find out more here.

Other news and events

The Education Building Forum is taking place for leading professionals involved in the design, build, delivery and management of educational developments on 3-4 October, Northamptonshire.

Exp Projects are putting on a interactive workshop where you will work with industry experts to learn how to innovation can help solve business challenges. 3-4, 14-15 October in Birmingham.

University Centre Shrewsbury are putting on their second Smart Rural event with a focus on energy solutions, fuel poverty and behavioural change. 8 October in Shrewsbury.

The Hydrogen Hub is organising a hydrogen vehicles showcase in Birmingham on 16 October.

Nottingham City Council will be showcasing Nottingham’s 2028 carbon neutrality aspiration, looking at Nottingham’s approach to be the first UK carbon neutral city. 17 October Nottingham.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce are running an event which will look into renewable energy systems with Caplor. 24 October in Herefordshire.

Marches Blue Business Award is looking for the best business working to improve water quality or reduce its consumption of water. Closing date 1 November 5pm.

The Government is running its second Green Great Britain week, a week of events and activities, this year to be held on 4 to 8 November inclusive.

Inside Government's conference will enable attendees to devise strategies to protect their local environments whilst delivering sustainable improvements. 7 November Central London.

The BESST Sustainable Business Award has been launched. The Awards Event will take place on Wednesday 13 November 2019 and the keynote speaker will be William Morris, CEO of Cafe Nero.

Low Carbon Homes are running an event on helping to inform the final Zero Carbon Framework and the emerging Zero Carbon Housing Strategy. 14 November in Manchester.

The Federation of Small Businesses is beginning its search for the best small businesses in the West Midlands. Closing date for West Midlands area 17 January.

Big Solar are looking for a Project Officer to join the small and dedicated Sharenergy team. Working with experienced staff and with leading lights of the UK community energy movement across the UK.

Innovation Gateway have released a survey examining how ready each industry is to improve the performance of their buildings.

It’s Climate Outreach’s 15th anniversary this year and they are celebrating not just their achievements, but announcing the Climate Outreach Climate Communications Award.

UpRising Birmingham have opened applications for their Environmental Leadership Programme, open to those aged 18-24.

Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership have opened a survey on The West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy, so it may identify action plans for the key sectors.

ecobirmingham are looking for part-time volunteers to work across a range of environmental projects including food, transport, waste, education, events and arts engagement.

Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership have published its new Local Industrial Strategy consultation prospectus.

Energy Research Accelerator, two research centres for sustainable electrical and thermal energy technologies totalling £22m were launched at WMG, University of Warwick.

For a full list of all our upcoming events, visit our events page here. For news items, visit our news page here.