PROJECTS & RESEARCH
Clear About Carbon
At present there is a strong awareness that carbon reduction is a key contemporary business priority. In the future, businesses will need to take steps to identify and monitor their carbon use and begin the process of progressively reducing the amount of carbon associated with their business activities and that of their direct supply chain.
Working at the forefront of this new initiative, the Clear About Carbon project is working with a small number of small to medium sized enterprises to begin the support process for them to engage, participate and identify opportunities to prosper in a low carbon economy.
Clear About Carbon is being run in partnership with The University of Exeter Business School and Centre for Leadership Studies, Low Carbon Cornwall and the Eden Project. Clear About Carbon’s key objective is to develop, test and deliver innovative approaches to increase the level of ‘carbon literacy’ within Cornwall’s workforce in order to develop the necessary capacity, skills and knowledge exchange to drive low carbon economic development.
Duchy College Rural Business School’s (part of the Cornwall College Group) role involves running a series of producer and processor consultations, in order to develop the level of carbon literacy and demonstrate the barriers facing the progression of carbon management throughout the supply chain in Cornwall. The Rural Business School will also be undertaking case studies and market research. In addition, Cornwall College will be delivering two Level 4 modules on carbon management and renewable energy.
The project also covers: Procurement and Carbon Literacy, Leadership and Management, Continuing Professional Development and Supply Chain Development. If you would like to learn more about the project, please visit: www.clearaboutcarbon.com
All services and activities are ESF Convergence funded and offered free to all eligible participants.
Environmental Skills Network
The Environmental Skills Network (ESN) was initially formed to offer training support through ESF funding to environmental goods and services companies, as well as bespoke environmental training for all businesses.
The Environmental Skills Network as a sector body is, incorporated as a not-for-profit limited company, set up and run for the benefit of the environmental goods and services sector and has diversified to provide accredited advice and guidance, business support and consultancy to members in addition to its core training support function.
The network also provides low carbon training and consultancy services and expertise to all businesses to enable them to compete in the emerging low carbon resource efficient economy. ESN works in partnership with the Cornwall College led ‘Strengthening the Environment Sector’ (SES) high-level environmental skills project and shares a common project manager with the College.
ESN is delivered on behalf of Environment Kernow by ReZolve and Community Energy Plus.
Strengthening the Environment Sector
The environmental sector is one of the strongest economic drivers for businesses in the south west. Strengthening the Environment Sector (SES), aims to equip companies and public sector agencies with the skills to compete effectively in this new ‘low carbon economy’.
Supported by the European Social Fund and the Skills Funding Agency, SES offers five programmes delivered through a partnership of regional organisations led by Cornwall College Business including Rezolve, Environmental Skills Network, Global Action Plan, Business Link for Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, Devon and Somerset and the Cornwall Development Company.
Some of the courses are a response to government legislation, which encourages the generation of sustainable energy through micro-renewable technology as well as reducing the UK’s carbon footprint. SES flagship programmes, Planning for Energy and Carbon Management, aim to help businesses financially benefit as well as comply with legislation, resulting in real competitive advantage for organisations in the region.
Environment Kernow
Cornwall College is also a partner of Environment Kernow (EK) a partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s environment; providing a forum for the public, private and community/voluntary sectors. EK works through and on behalf of a network of existing partnerships.
EK champions the importance of a quality environment to the present and future well-being and livelihood of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. EK does this by providing strategic advice on opportunities, activities, policies and knowledge & skills requirement affecting the environment at all levels, from local to international. They operate at both strategic and delivery-levels and seek to influence and engage other partnerships in environmental matters.
EK is a thematic group for the Cornwall Strategic Partnership, who oversees Cornwall’s Community Strategy. EK is the partnership lead for the Sustain theme of Cornwall’s Local Area Agreement. For more information visit: www.environmentkernow.org.uk
