Mayor’s Green Economy sprouts new opportunities

The shift to a greener economy is becoming ever more important in today's world and Mayor Dave Hodgson is making sure that Bedford Borough Council places itself to ensure the local economy embraces this shift. The Economic Growth team will ensure that businesses are aware of green initiatives and funding opportunities, support them to achieve their low carbon goals, encourage businesses in the sustainability sector to invest in Bedford Borough and ensure skills are acquired by local residents to access employment opportunities in this sector.

Commenting on a report presented to the Climate Change Committee on the action the Council are taking to support the green economy, Mayor Dave said "I want to thank the Economic Growth Team for putting together this report. It demonstrates the real action this Council is taking to support the local economy in its shift to more sustainable practices. It is important that we not only invest in infrastructure that reduces our carbon emissions, but we create an economy that provides opportunities for green businesses to prosper."

The report outlined some of the recent initiatives that have been put forward to promote sustainable practices. There will be a climate action event in March 2022 which will include a business breakfast where speakers from local organisations and businesses will showcase best practices and opportunities, as well as an all-day exhibition open to the public with a variety of organisations and local businesses showcasing what green initiatives they have to offer. Small- and medium-sized businesses have been encouraged to create Low Carbon Workspaces through grants that will cover up to a third of the cost of making energy improvements.

As well as ensuring that local businesses are well supported through information on best practices and grants, Mayor Dave has also made sure that Bedford Borough is attracting innovative low carbon businesses to invest in the area. Some of the, now local, businesses that embrace efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing process include Vision Modular Systems, GrowPura, and Infarm. The new Bedford i-Worx site has been occupied by a multitude of businesses with green credentials including Powered Solutions, an electric charging point company; Stone Cookers, eco-friendly cooking apparatus developers; and Iceni Datacom, who develop low-power data gathering and monitoring apparatus.

Mayor Dave added "It's fantastic that we are able to attract these businesses to our Borough. This is the type of economy that needs to be built nationally and globally if we want to reach our global climate goals. We must also look to develop the skills needed for a future green economy. We have fantastic education organisations in Bedford College and nearby Cranfield University that are delivering a number of courses that focus on enhancing the green economy. I'm really pleased with the progress so far and look forward to expecting new opportunities emerging when the new local Growth Plan is published later this year."