CO2Sense Yorkshire has announced it is offering two packages of funding to SMEs in Yorkshire and Humber that are working to cut greenhouse gas emissions through resource efficiency.

CO2Sense Yorkshire is a not-for-profit company funded by Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund. The company’s Greenhouse Gas Savings Capital Investment Fund and Innovative Resource Efficiency Projects Fund, will help SMEs in the Yorkshire and Humber region to build businesses that can compete in a low carbon economy.
 
Companies will be able to bid for funds to deliver waste reduction, reuse, and recycling services, as well as energy and water savings, from the Greenhouse Gas Savings fund. This fund is designed to increase the capacity of the resource efficiency sector in Yorkshire and Humber. Funded projects are expected to hit targets for CO2 emissions reductions, tonnage of waste diverted from landfill, and business growth.
 
The Innovative Resource Efficiency Projects Fund is designed to support projects that break new ground in resource efficiency. Funds are available for projects which increase the uptake of environmental advice, offer support to businesses to reduce their resource consumption, and offer innovative solutions for priority materials and sectors.
 
Commenting on the funding announcement, Andy Hartley, operations director of CO2Sense Yorkshire said: “Our key aim is to increase the competitiveness, capacity, quality and scale of companies in the resource efficiency sector in Yorkshire and Humber. These funding packages will help businesses to grow and prosper, increasing regional competitiveness, and generating the expertise to transform Yorkshire and Humber into a low carbon economy.”
 
Tom Riordan, chief executive at Yorkshire Forward, said: “Cutting the region’s CO2 emissions is one of Yorkshire Forward’s priorities. With the Copenhagen Climate Change summit taking place in December, now is an ideal time for businesses to look at what they can do to play their part in reducing the region’s carbon footprint.”
 
Businesses and projects that were successful in the last round of funding received between £5,000 and £75,000 of support. Funding bids can be submitted by individual SMEs or from groups or consortiums, if a project is large or regionally significant. CO2Sense Yorkshire will also help businesses access additional funding from other sources such as national partners or research and development grants for larger bids.
 
For further information about the Greenhouse Gas Savings Capital Investment Fund or the Innovative Resource Efficiency Projects Fund, including submission deadlines, visit the “latest news” section of the www.CO2Sense.org.uk homepage. Full application packs are available along with case studies of projects funded in previous rounds.
 
WRAP have released a call for projects that pilot Bring Bank Recycling Schemes in England. They are looking for bids that research, design and conduct the Bring Bank Recycling service for the collection of recyclable materials produced by small businesses that are co-located on the same site. Full details on the scope of this work and how to apply can be found in the Tender Invitation Document. This is available on the WRAP website at www.wrap.org.uk/tenders. The closing date for receipt of tenders is 1:30pm, Friday 29th January 2010
 
CO2Sense Yorkshire are interested in working with partners and organisations to develop ideas and proposals for small businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber Region and could potentially provide supplementary financial support to successful  projects.  If you are interested in developing a joint project with CO2 Sense Yorkshire please in the first instance talk to your CO2Sense contact or call Christine Charles on 0113 237 8427 or send an email to christine.charles@co2sense.org.uk