Range of support on offer to small businesses in Scotland

Resource Efficient Scotland programme is wider than the advice and support service for small and mediumsized businesses (SMES).

Its overall remit is to provide oneto-one support, create guidance and demonstrate resource efficiency for all types of organisations – public, private and third sector –across all sectors.

“There are two main focuses,” Stephen Boyle, business sector manager for Resource Efficient Scotland, explained at the roundtable event.

“One is the advice and support service, while the other is where we work with key Scottish sectors which have a large presence and large energy, water and material use to try and help them move towards efficiency and, through doing that, sustainability.

“By taking resource efficient action in the retrofit process we saved that store 60 per cent of its energy use” Stephen Boyle, Resource Efficient Scotland

“The largest sectors are food and drink, chemicals, retail, hospitality and tourism.

“We also work with the energyintensive industries, such as paper and pulp, iron and steel, oil and gas, refineries, cement and ceramics,” said Boyle

“The sector programme is primarily there to do research, to create guidance where guidance is required and to demonstrate good practice.

“Last year, we worked with Scotmid at its Moredun store in Edinburgh. We managed to demonstrate that by taking resource efficient action in the retrofit process we saved that store 60 per cent of its energy use.”

Resource Efficient Scotland itself is part of the wider energy efficiency support offered to SMES.

Energy Savings Trust runs a SME loan fund on behalf of the Scottish Government for energy efficient, renewables and other low carbon technologies. “We do about 100 loans a year,” said John Forbes of Energy Savings Trust.

“We also run a green network for business. We recognise that when businesses are thinking about energy EFTHE ficiency or a significant investment in renewables, as well as speaking to suppliers and advice organisations, they also like to speak to their peers.

“We have about 150 businesses across Scotland willing to share their experiences about what it is really like to operate biomass heating or the actual efficiency benefits of the technology,” said Forbes.

“We also recognise that if we can generate demand and interest from businesses in investing in energy efficiency and low carbon technologies, we must make sure there is a viable supply chain in Scotland, so we work with installers and assessors to make sure they can deliver these services.”

Another aspect of the wider energy/ resource efficiency agenda is transport and Energy Savings Trust runs a sustainable transport advice service on behalf of the Scottish Government.

“That’s looking at everything from encouraging people to drive more efficiently: if your average annual mileage is 8,700, you can save about £235 just by driving more efficiently,” said Forbes.

“We’re supporting the growth in electric vehicles and promoting the alternatives to driving, like walking and cycling.”

He added that the trust is also bringing together the non-domestic and domestic agendas. “If we can advise people on their energy efficiency at home, we hope they will bring those ideas into the workplace.” n www.scottishpower.co.uk/smallbusiness