Westminster Compliance

The business case for installing renewable energy technologies is now stronger than ever, according to new research that revealed average returns of 11 to 12 per cent on investments made in onsite renewable energy systems.

Energy bills are expected to rise by 37% by 2020, and some people believe that they could be higher. So the financial justification for investing in renewable energy such as ground source heat pumps and solar panels is becoming more and more convincing.

The justification is not just to offset the cost of energy, but with feed-in tariffs and the renewable heat incentive (RHI), there is “a strong case and increasing requirement for businesses to produce their own renewable energy”.

A Carbon Trust paper states that “both feed-in tariffs and the RHI offer fixed payments for generators of renewable energy or heat, without which returns would be around the six per cent mark”.

If your business has a roof, the chances you will qualify for this type of technology. Many companies rent their premises, however, with the “Green Deal” coming in next year, there will be a structure whereby both landlord and tenant can benefit form renewable energy technology.

We’re very excited to be presenting and exhibiting  on 19th October at the Enterprise 2 Impact 2011 – Social Enterprise Conference.

Run by  Business Link, in partnership with Social Enterprise East of England and 3rd Sector Futures, this is expected to be the largest and most valuable social enterprise conference the East of England has ever seen. Join us and gain information, contacts and ideas to help you improve and grow your organisation. Best of all, it’s FREE to attend!

Click here to book your place or for further information

You will benefit if you:

• want to learn more about social enterprise
• want to set up a social enterprise
• are already engaged in social enterprise and looking for inspiration and support
• are interested in income generation and trading for a social purpose
• want to trade with the Third, Public or Private Sectors

The conference includes: high profile speakers, including Jo Fairley, co founder of Green and Black’s; a range of workshops; interactive discussions; one-to-one business advice sessions; a large exhibition area and plenty of opportunities to network and build trade links.

We look forward to seeing you there!

A £100million Transition Fund to support charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises affected by public spending reductions is open for applications.  The fund is available to organisations with a turnover of between £50,000 and £10million, which have derived much of their funding from state sources. It will provide grants of between £12,500 and £500,000 to enable organisations to make the changes they need to become sustainable in the longer-term.  The Transition Fund is managed by the Big Fund, the non-lottery funding arm of the Big Lottery Fund.

The application process will close on 21 January 2011.

Social enterprises which can show business at its best have just one month left to enter to win a cash prize in a national photography competition .

‘Social Vision: business at its best’ is looking for images that capture the unique and transformative work of social enterprise.

Social enterprises are businesses trading for social and environmental purposes.  Simply put, they use the power of business to address some of society’s most pressing challenges.

The winning photographer will receive a cash prize of £750. The social enterprise featured in the photograph will also win £750 along with one year’s free membership to the Social Enterprise Coalition, an entry ticket for two people to Voice 11, a year’s subscription to Social Enterprise magazine and £1000 worth of print advertising in Social Enterprise magazine.

The deadline for entries is Friday 1 October 2010.