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Sustainability West Midlands

SWM News October 2020: Time to get back on track with our Annual Conference!

You know things have been different when the phrase "to say things have been different this year would be an understatement" is overstated. When we gathered for our Annual Conference last December, which marked the launch of our 2030 Sustainability Roadmap for the region, little did we know what was round the corner. Our lives have been transformed in many ways and we're only now beginning to understand what the implications of the pandemic have been and are likely to be on sustainability outcomes.

While we miss engaging with all of our members and stakeholders on an in-person basis, thanks to the realms of technology we are pleased to announce that we will be convening our 2020 Annual Conference virtually on the morning of 3 December.

The conference will focus on how the pandemic has affected our efforts to tackle climate change and what the West Midlands can do next to exploit these changes. We'll be announcing our keynote speaker very soon! 

The Conference will also provide a showcase for our members who will be celebrating their 2020 successes in spite of the circumstances, discussions on what the future priorities should be against our eight Roadmap priorities in light of the changes seen as a result of the pandemic, and of course ample time for networking and to ask questions.

We will be in touch separately with our members next week to highlight opportunities for you to get involved, but for now, all of our stakeholders can register via this webpage if you'd like to attend. We really hope you can join us, even though we can't provide you with a lovely lunch this time.

May I also draw your attention to another event we're running in partnership with our members CREST and Fit for the Future Network, taking place on 26 November and focusing on how we can utilise smart solutions to boost sustainable transport in rural areas. A topic even more important than it was a year ago!

In the meantime, stay safe and keep well. 

Alan Carr, Senior Sustainability Adviser, on behalf of the SWM Team

Funding Opportunities

  • By 4 November 2020. Businesses can apply for a share of £8 million in grant funding for projects supporting recovery and growth of the UK’s foundation industries. 

  • By 4 November 2020. Organisations can apply for a share of up to £2 million, to develop feasibility studies to identify innovative geospatial solutions to current transport challenges.

  • By 9 November 2020. WPD Innovation is looking to partner with community energy groups, local authorities and other local energy organisations for projects to be funded by the NIA.

  • By 12 November 2020. The 8th round of OPE funding is now open with £10 million grants for public sector land and property projects, including £2 million of sustainable grant funding.

  • By 18 November 2020. Organisations can apply for a share of £750,000 in phase 1 of the Modernising Energy Data Applications which must facilitate progress towards net zero.

  • By 30 November 2020. Veolia has set up The EnviroGrant Scheme for projects that will improve the local environment or the local community with grants of up to £1,000 available.

  • By 1 December 2020. Veolia is also looking for businesses to provide innovative solutions on various issues related to pollution prevention through its VIA programme. 

  • By 4 December 2020. Phase two of the Green Homes Grant LAD scheme has launched, with a further £300m available for local authorities to bid for funding for 2021 projects.

  • By 9 December 2020. UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £10 million in grant funding for innovation in electric vehicle battery technology as part of the Faraday Battery Challenge.

  • By 30 June 2021. The Worcestershire Natural Networks project aims to boost biodiversity in an ERDF-funded venture which includes our 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 Grant Scheme allows eligible applicants to apply for a 50% grant for the installation of renewable technologies. 

  • By 31 December 2022. GBSLEP Habitats Grants Programme is focused on reducing dereliction and the improvement and development of natural habitats. 

  • By June 2023. Coventry City Council has extended a further £8.1 million of funding to support small and medium-sized business in Coventry and Warwickshire.

  • By 2025. The Severn Trent Community Fund is open for applications to support community groups making a difference and to help with the recovery from Covid-19.

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

  • On-going. Applications are open for four ‘green social prescribing’ pilots as part of a £4.27 million project to improve mental health and wellbeing in communities hardest hit by coronavirus.

  • On-going. A recycling Fund for Communities is now available from Veolia. It is worth up £50,000 in total and is offering grants of £2,000.

  • On-going. £12 million is available under the Green Recovery Challenge Fund as part of flagship UK PACT programme, with target countries in Asia, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

  • 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 Community and Environment Fund is there to provide benefits to communities along the route disrupted by the construction of HS2.

Over the past year, we have promoted approximately £1bn of accessible funding.

Upcoming SWM and Member Events

  • EBRI at Aston University is running 30 minute low carbon challenge consultations in November, free for eligible businesses to help utilise green product and service innovations.

  • Coventry City Council is running a webinar on 3 November which will discuss the £44m Public Realm improvement programme in readiness for the City of Culture 2021.

  • New Leaf and the University of Birmingham are hosting two afternoon webinars on 4-5 November about culture and the climate crisis with a great range of speakers lined up!

  • University of Birmingham is hosting a webinar on Inclusive Growth & the “Doughnut Model” for Economic Recovery on 10 November that will consider the impacts of the pandemic.

  • Keele University is hosting The New Enterprise Base Camp from 10-24 November through a series of online sessions aiming to strengthen leadership for early-stage business owners.

  • Worcestershire County Council will be hosting a webinar on 11 November which aim to help Worcestershire SMEs launch or diversify into the low carbon market.

  • Aston University’s Low Carbon SMEs Programme invites SMEs in the Black Country, Birmingham and Solihull area to the Circular Economy Online Workshop on 18 November.

  • MMBEN is hosting its Carbon and the Lockdown Bounce Back online event on 18 November which will showcase how businesses can work together for a low carbon future.

  • Cenex's annual LCV event takes place on 18-19 November in Millbrook; there are numerous exhibitor and speaker opportunities to get involved in.

  • Social Enterprise UK presents Social Enterprise Futures 2020, a 2 day digital summit on 25-26 November, to bring the Social Enterprise movement together with a great lineup of speakers.

  • SWM is delighted to be partnering with CREST and Fit for the Future for a Transport and Mobility in Rural Areas online workshop taking place on 26 November. 

  • SWM is supporting Solar & Storage Live, the UK’s largest renewables expo taking place online over 2–4 December.

  • SWM is hosting its Annual Conference 2020 on 3 December which will showcase and celebrate our members success and provide an opportunity for networking.

  • SWM, in collaboration with the Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands, is running the next Innovative Low Carbon Working Group meeting on 15 December.

  • CREST@UCS is launching the PLASTICS netWORK on 20 January 2021, a new exciting forum for businesses across the plastics supply chain to communicate, meet and learn.

  • Climate Change Solutions has revised the date for the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells ‘The Time is NOW’ conference to 9 March 2021 with programme details released closer to the time.

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

Other SWM and Member Updates 

  • SWM's previous Communications Officer is now completing his dissertation about red meat consumption and its effect on climate change. We'd be grateful if you could complete his survey.

  • New Leaf Sustainable Development Ltd joins SWM as new members. They are a not for profit co-operative, whose aim is to promote sustainable living in Herefordshire and beyond.

  • PALM LIFE joins SWM as new members. They are startup company who sell biodegradable tableware and are committed to help build a world without plastic. 

  • Aston and Keele University are finalists in the Green Gown Awards 2020. We would like to congratulate them for being recognised for their commitment to global sustainability!

  • Bryt Energy celebrates their contract extension to supply 100% renewable electricity with health and beauty giant, A.S. Watson, owner of Superdrug, The Perfume Shop and Savers. 

  • Coventry City Council has secured £530,000 worth of funding from the Government which will be used to support low income households in the city to make their homes more energy efficient.

  • EBRI at Aston University is recruiting a Research Fellow in Sustainable Bioenergy to join them full time and work on two UKRI funded projects. Apply by 15 November.

  • Unversity of Wolverhampton is recruiting an Events Coordinator to promote the Environmental Technologies and Resource Efficiency Support Service (EnTRESS) project.

  • WMCA has launched The Zero Carbon Homes Taskforce taskforce, including Willmott Dixon and Citizen, to support the region’s fight against climate change.

  • WMCA has won a bid to help those in the West Midlands struggling to keep their homes warm this winter. The advice programme will help 7,000 vulnerable households.

  • Voi is looking for a Marketing & Partnerships Associate to join their UK Marketing team. 

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 Midlands Sustainable Education Network is taking place online on 2 November where there will be an update from SWM and a number of good news stories will be shared. 

  • Circular Cities Week 2020 is taking place online on 5 November, which will explore how a circular food sector can have a positive impacts.

  • Committee on Climate Change is hosting The Sixth Carbon Budget Launch on 9 December which will set out the detailed pathway to meeting the UK’s Net Zero target in 2050.

  • Smart Home Connected & Assisted Living 2020 is planning to take place at the NEC from the 9-10 March 2021 which will include panel debates, seminars and much more. 

  • Green Skills Showcase with Birmingham City Council is calling for speakers to talk with young people about opportunities and skills for jobs within green spaces.

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

We hope you enjoyed reading our newsletter. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, are interested in becoming a member or have news stories, events, case studies and reports, please visit our website or contact us. In order to avoid this email going into spam, please add us to your contacts list.
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