For Businesses

Low Carbon KEEP: Businesses

The Low Carbon KEEP programme aims to support East of England businesses to innovate and grow through Universities partnership. By improving the your internal capabilities and up skilling your workforce you can increase your profitability and competitiveness. The benefit of this collaboration will far outlast the length of the project.

The project is delivered by a experienced graduate working full time on managing the project and weekly support from an academic expert.

Once you have identify an academic or researcher who has the right expertise to drive forward the change required in your business you will then define and agree a project that will enable you to draw on their expertise and apply it to your business. The overall aim of the knowledge transfer is to help your business make a step change in an area that you have identified as a high priority.

Low Carbon KEEP projects must deliver a reduce carbon emissions, either within the business, the customer and/or the supply chain. Development of new products and processes, product design innovation, waste management and energy conservation are just a few ways this can be achieved.

Are we eligible?

The Low Carbon KEEP scheme is open to small and medium sized companies (SMEs) registered in the six East of England counties. Most business sectors are eligible including the 'not for profit? sector, although the coal, agricultural and fisheries sectors are excluded due to European funding regulations.
East of England counties: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk

How do we hire the graduate?

Graduate are hired by the university partners thus removing the burden of employment liability from the business. The university human resources department will have a standard procedure for hiring in staff, though you will be fully engaged in the selection process.

What are the project timings?

Project length is at the discretion of the company, in consultation with the participating academic partner, and can be between 4 and 18 months.
Projects must be completed before December 2013
Project Graduate can work either full or part-time, they can be recruited specifically for the project or already employed by the university or business.

How will projects be assessed?

Project eligibility is decided by an independent assessment panel. A successful application will demonstrate new knowledge transfer which embeds new capabilities within your organisation, which will outlast the length of the project. The application should also demonstrate that the project will deliver quantifiable carbon savings.

The University partner will work with you to prepare the application form. If you would like guidance on how best to prepare a proposal please do get in touch with the Low Carbon KEEP team.

How do I apply?

For an informal chat and a copy of the application form please contact a member of the delivery team. Alternatively please use the Ask Uni East link on the left hand menu. This is not a formal part of the application process, but provides us with the information that we can help to match your project with an appropriate academic partner.

Carole Randall, Programme Manager carole.randall@anglia.ac.uk 0845 196 4310
Julie-Anne Hogbin, Programme Co-ordinator julie-anne.hogbin@anglia.ac.uk 0845 196 3176

All Low Carbon KEEP project proposals are subject to approval; applications are jointly prepared by the company partner and the knowledge base partner. Approval decisions take typically 3-4 weeks after submission of a proposal.

Other questions...

What if we have never worked with a university before?

The Low Carbon KEEP programme management team will help you identify an academic with the desired expertise using the Ask Uni East service. The programme is designed to encourage future collaboration and will provide your business with a chance to build relationships with academic institutions

What if I know the graduate I want to use?

It is possible to name the graduate that you would like to work on the project on the application form. It is also possible to name a graduate that is already working for your business, and employ them through part of the funding. In this case the associate will spend a larger proportion of their time working with the knowledge base. While these are not the typical routes for the programme, should you want further information about this contact the Low Carbon KEEP team.

What if my business doesn't have a project but has a problem?

Again, get in touch! The Low Carbon KEEP team is here to help and guide you. We will help you turn a problem into a project, and hopefully a successful idea for an application for funding. We have a breadth of expertise in areas from renewable, sustainability and low carbon technology to less technical areas like corporate social responsibility. The best way to find out how your business would benefit from this funding is to give us a call.

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Project Ideas

Some ideas of what a successful project might entail

Development of new products, processes or procedures
Delivery of programmes to improve resource efficiency, reduce resource consumption and save money though reduced operating costs
Attainment of Environmental accreditation, regulatory compliance or legislation e.g. ISO14001, WEEE directive
Develop efficient business solutions which will lower costs
Calculating the carbon footprint of your products and processes, and communicating this to your customers.
Benefit the community, reduce your impact on the environment and increase your profit whilst lowering your costs (CSR)
Industrial symbiosis - develop strategic partnerships with other companies for reusing and reprocessing materials and by products
Sustainable, local procurement, supply chain efficiency and influence

Getting started in low carbon

There are a variety of other projects running across the region that offer free support and advice on low carbon improvements for your business, which can help you work up a Low Carbon KEEP project. Why not contact one of these programmes to help you establish if your organisation can access Low Carbon KEEP funding

Resource Efficiency East is a specialist provider of guidance and support on resource efficiency to small and medium sized enterprises in the East of England.
Sustainable Efficiency East (SEE) provides free services to help stimulate the growth of a low carbon, resource efficient economy across the Eastern Region.
Best East help all organisations in the construction supply chain be "Lean and Green" through collaboration with Constructing Excellence, BRE, CWC and Build the East.
REV ACTIVE provides direct, hands-on assistance for businesses to cut costs through utilities management and improved efficiency.

Anglia Ruskin University