Richard Davies, Director of the Marches Energy Agency, attended the 17th Craven Arms Business Network on the 7th of December to talk to the group about the benefits of creating the energy efficient work place.
Key Tips
Don't use energy unnecessarily! Despite the myths around the expense of power surges it is better to switch off lights and equipment when not in use.
Consider the use of more energy efficient technologies - for example energy saving lighting and insulation.
Invest in efficient heating systems.
Investigate renewable energy solutions e.g. small wind turbines can make a substantial contribution to your energy supply. For further information see www.carbontrust.co.uk.
The meeting was very lively and a number of members are now considering establishing a group to look at reducing Craven Arms' Carbon Footprint. If you would like to get involved email matt.smith@southshropshire.gov.uk.
If you're interested in offsetting your carbon consumption you can subscribe to the Carbon Project - this will use a financial contribution from you to help community facilities improve their efficiency.
Network Member wins prestigious award
LINDA COX, member of the Craven Arms Business Network and Chief Executive of TESS and new company CBT Ltd (Community Based Transport Ltd), was declared winner of the Shropshire Rural Business Woman of the Year Award at a ceremony hosted by the Shropshire Star Business Awards and Shropshire Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise.
CBT Ltd aims to make the best use of transport in Shropshire, identifying gaps in provision and working with communities to provide transport-related solutions to fill the gaps.
Having sourced in excess of £1 million in grants from local, regional, national and EU sources Linda has set up and run the Shropshire Hills Shuttles bus service; the 49LINK, a demand responsive service for the Craven Arms area: a training scheme for volunteer minibus drivers; a transport information helpline; and the booking centre that co-ordinates the services.
Linda said, "Setting up CBT this year marks a change of ethos away from the grant dependence of TESS towards a more sustainable and independent future as a social enterprise.
CBT has a county-wide remit to support and develop transport- related schemes which give better access for the people of Shropshire to jobs, training, health and social opportunities."
Photo courtesy of the Shropshire Star.
Other finalists in category were Denise Evans of Evanji from Market Drayton and Mandy Thorne of Marches Care at Shrewsbury.
Two other members of the Business Network were also finalists at the awards, the South Shropshire Housing Association for the Customer Service Award and the Wood Brewery for Small Company of the Year
Branding Business Network
At the Business Network meeting, held on the 29th of June 2006 at the newly refurbished Craven Arms Hotel, local Branding expert Keith Pybus used examples from Network Members own publicity and marketing materials and the experiences of the largest Multi Nationals to create a guide to developing the perfect brand
Make it memorable
Be distinctive e.g. Orange
Avoid negative associations and make the most of positive and relevant associations e.g. the Land of Lost Content or Shropshire County Hotels
Make sure the brand, be it the name, design or colour is both practical and consistent across your media or assets, e.g. Samuel Wood / Cyril Basons
Make sure it is good quality
If you modernise your brand, make sure it is done in small steps
You might think about choosing a name at the beginning of the alphabet e.g. Balfours
Make it simple and easy to remember
Try and create the right image for the company
Remember... You can break the rules!
Are You A Local Business Or Employee?
Fancy putting something back into your community? Then why not sign up with CAVE (that’s Craven Arms Volunteers for the Environment)
Finish early on a Friday. Improve your business image. Get fitter. Spruce up the town. Meet other people. Have fun. Now you can do all these things at once! The idea is simple. Allow yourself, or one of your employees, to finish work earlier than usual on a Friday and use the time to join us on a range of environmental tasks to make the town a brighter place. Or maybe you/they could have an extended lunch break on a Wednesday to help out on a regular work party on the Onny Meadows.
It costs nothing but time. Could you make a difference to Craven Arms? If you, and/or a colleague at work could give up just an hour a week, and seven other people do the same, then we can achieve a whole day’s work in 60 minutes. You can also choose what you would like to do – flower bed maintenance, tree planting, mowing, repairing hedgerows, litter picking – the choice is yours And if you haven’t done it before and want some training, we can provide that too. Maybe you would like to take on responsibility for keeping the area around your place of work in good order.
The Craven Arms Environmental Business Award is in place to reward you for your efforts. By getting involved with the scheme you can begin accumulating volunteer points. Stay in the scheme and you will be able to obtain Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards, making for great publicity and showing your commitment to the community.
If you want to take a more conventional business route to helping the environment of Craven Arms then we’re also open to sponsorship offers – for a small cost, you can put your firm’s name on flower tubs, planters and so on.
Contact Ian Dodd on 07816 081630 for more details.
