North East business support programme set to boost low carbon agenda

A North East business support programme is set to help local firms working on low carbon and sustainable projects.

The Net Zero Changemakers programme is designed to identify and support innovative businesses across the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP)area who are creating or adapting products, services or processes as part of the region’s low carbon agenda.

The project has been developed by regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers and the North East SME Innovation Programme, based at the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) in Sunderlandand, and designed to help SMEs realise their innovation potential.

Dr Yvonne Gale, chief executive at NEL Fund Managers, said: “Low carbon and sustainable investment is one of the North East Fund’s main priorities, and we’re already making a growing number of such investments in regional firms as a result, but we’re now looking to do even more to support the progress and growth of innovative North East firms that are working in this field.

“The programme will provide practical support in a number of different ways, all of which will combine to have a tangible impact on the opportunities available to those taking part, and we would strongly encourage all businesses across Tyne & Wear, Durham and Northumberland that think they might benefit from taking part to find out more about doing so.”

Participating firms will benefit from some or all of the support available through the initiative, which includes grant funding, growth capital investment and a tailored 12-hour business support programme, with additional signposting to further regional and national support organisations being made where required.

David Lynch, Energy Innovation Partnership Manager at the North East LEP, commented: “The North East has the skills, innovation assets and capabilities to drive forward innovative solutions to achieve decarbonisation across heat, power and transport.

“The Net Zero Changemakers Programme offers a great level of financial support to bring some of these solutions to market. We look forward to disseminating this programme via the North East Energy Catalyst partnership.”

Debbie Simpson, innovation adviser at the BIC added: “We are delighted to be involved in this unique programme, enabling businesses to access all the finance and grant support that is available to develop their low carbon innovative products and services.”