In this episode, we discuss what carbon accounting is, how businesses can start their net zero journey and overcome the challenges they might face along the way.

In the first part of this episode we talk to Lara Longhurst who is the Chief Operations Officer at Hippo Digital. Lara shares with us their journey towards achieving net zero and talks about the support they have received from Coventry University through their Carbon Accounting Programme. 

In the second part, we talk to Prof. Carl Perrin, Director of the Centre for Clean Growth and Future Mobility, and Dr Lorena C. Moreira, Engineer and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Manufacturing and Materials, Coventry University .

Prof. Perrin and Dr Moreira explain what Carbon Accounting is and how businesses can take advantage of the programme they offer.

Host and Producer: Maria Covlea

Email for further contact and enquiry about CU support: Dr Lorena Moreira [email protected]

In this episode, we speak to Jonathan Howl, Business Advisor for the Green Business Programme, who offers a summary of our team’s achievements over the last 12 months*.

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*The stats provided by Jonathan Howl in this episode are based on figures from November 2022. This episode was recorded in December 2022.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme supports businesses with fewer than 250 employees based in Coventry and Warwickshire who want to save money on energy, waste and water bills and maximise low carbon opportunities.

Speaker: 

Host: John Bates

Producer: Maria Covlea

In this episode, we talk to Middlemarch Environmental, a UK-wide wildlife trust consultancy, about what local businesses can do to protect the nature in Coventry and Warwickshire. 

Our guest James Calow, Senior Ecologist at Middlemarch Environmental, talks about easy action you can take, as a business or individual, to protect the biodiversity of our region.

James also talks about the support he has received from the Green Business Programme, and how this has enabled his organisation to become more energy efficient and save money.

Speaker: James Calow, Senior Ecologist at Middlemarch Environmental

Host: John Bates

Producer: Maria Covlea

 

In this episode, we speak to Margot James, Suzanne Ward and Cllr Jim O’Boyle about Coventry's Climate Change Board, its members, purpose and objectives. In the second part, Cllr O’Boyle speaks about the challenges Coventry faces regarding climate change and the support needed to achieve Net Zero.

Host: John Bates

Producer: Maria Covlea 

In this episode we speak to Martin Gambling, Managing Director of GRM Consulting, a small business based in Leamington. 

Martin shares with us their journey towards achieving Net Zero as a small business, hoping to offer some inspiration and solutions to other SMEs who might be struggling at the moment.

This episode is hosted by John Bates and produced by Maria Covlea.

For any feedback or comments please contact me on [email protected]

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Please note the Green Business Programme will close for new applications in the first quarter of 2023. You can register interest by completing this form. The programme will continue to offer free energy audits, which are worth £840, but we can't guarantee you will be offered a grant as funding is currently running low. We are operating on a first come first served basis.

Useful links: 

In this episode we speak to David Pipe, Senior Officer at Coventry City Council, part of the Transport Innovation Team.

David explains what plans the council has got in place to make transport in Coventry greener and more accessible for everyone.

This episode is hosted by John Bates and produced by Maria Covlea.

For any feedback or comments please contact me on [email protected]

Useful links: 

Electric Fleet First Programme 

In the first part of this episode we speak to Bean Beanland, Director for Growth & External Affairs at the Heat Pump Federation, about how heat pumps work, how they can benefit SMEs, and most importantly the role they play in the fight against climate change.

In the second part we speak to Chris Dooling, Managing Director at VWG Mechanical and Kyle Grocott, Managing Director at Phoenix Renewables, part of Phoenix Gas Works. VWG Mechanical and Phoenix Renewables have been commissioned (following procurement process) to install heat pumps at the following council-owned buildings: Limbrick Wood, Mosaic Family Hub, Central Library and Cannon Park School. This work will results in a reduction of 139 tonnes of CO2 per year. Chris and Kyle will explain us what challenges they've faced during the installation process.

This episode is hosted by John Bates and produced by Maria Covlea.

For any feedback or comments please contact me on [email protected]

In the first part of this episode we speak to Sunil Budhdeo who is the Transport Innovation Manager at Coventry City Council. Sunil explains the concept of the 'Urban Air Port' project and how this will benefit the City. 

In the second part we speak to Tommy Sandhu, Company Director at Smart Learner Driving School, about the Electric Fleet First Programme and how switching to electric vehicles could not only benefit the environment, but also your business!

Listen and learn more about:

This episode is hosted by John Bates and produced by Maria Covlea.

For any feedback or comments please contact me on [email protected]

Electric Fleet First Programme 

In our first episode, last month, we discussed how the Green Business Programme can support local SMEs in their fight against  climate change. We heard from a local SME how they’ve managed to reduce their energy bill by 40% after installing solar panels. In this episode we will investigate this further and try to find an answer to the question – can solar panels be a solution to help combat climate change and rising energy costs, in rainy England?

Guest speakers:

Host: John Bates

Producer: Maria Covlea

We would like to remind you that all the FREE energy audits we offer, are booked up weeks in advance, so if you are interested in booking one, please complete this form to register and send it back to us.

Learn more about our programme: https://www.coventry.gov.uk/coventry-warwickshire-green-business-programme

Register for our next event: Renewable energy and green transport

Let us know what you think about our podcast by completing our feedback form.

Podcast producer email: [email protected] 

In this episode we speak to Jonathan Howl, Business Advisor at the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme about who is eligible for the programme and how you can get a free energy audit, and a grant that could help local SMEs lower the price of energy bills. 

In the second part we speak to Karl Haggett, Associate Director of Alchemie – a company that has benefited from the help offered by the Green Business Programme. Karl shares with us how the grant offered by the Green Business Programme has helped his SME make saving of 30% on energy bills. 

Host: John Bates

Speakers:

Please complete this form to let us know what you think or to join the Green Business Network. 

This programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is being delivered by Coventry City Council, Coventry University and Coventry University Enterprises.