Low carbon project scoops national award

This ESF financed project is focused on new ways to increase carbon and climate awareness within businesses and the public sector.  Professor Annie Pye collected the award at a ceremony in London on October 7.

The project has worked with both purchasing staff and senior managers to help identify and develop methods which will support the successful engagement of Cornish businesses in this emerging sector. These new methods will help ensure that its business community is well positioned to make the most of the opportunities presented by the growing importance of the sustainability agenda.

As a result of its innovative approach to addressing the issue of ‘carbon literacy’, the project has been able to work closely with government departments such as Defra, the Department of Health and the Cabinet Office. Training materials developed under the project now form part of the National Sustainable Public Procurement Programme run by Defra. This ensures that the ground breaking training developed in Cornwall will be publically available to everyone in the UK by November this year via an e-learning format.

Fernando Correia from the University of Exeter Business School said “We are delighted with this recognition of the great work we have been doing with both small and medium sized businesses and public sector procurement teams.  The fact that elements of the project will now be rolled-out nationally is further proof that this regional programme has far wider benefits.”

Duncan Carnie, ESF Division Policy Manager for the Department of Work & Pensions concluded: “We were very impressed with the quality of the application and, in particular, with the way the project has helped mainstream training in carbon literacy in procurement, rolling it out at national level.”

The project is hosting an exciting half day conference ‘Carbon Matters’ on the October 11 at the Eden Project, attendance is free but registration is essential.

Further information about the project and registration details for the Carbon Matters Conference can be found at on the Clear about Carbon website.