Greener Working

West Lancashire Borough Council encourages local businesses and service providers to set their own targets for becoming carbon neutral. There are a range of initiatives on offer to support West Lancashire based businesses save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

Green Tourism

Following the Council's success in delivering £41 million in grants to local businesses affected by coronavirus, we are delighted to launch our new 'Green Tourism' scheme, to enable our local business to achieve sustainable growth, reduce energy usage and to save money, and to achieve a sustainable accreditation.

West Lancashire Borough Council want to position the Borough as a leader in sustainable tourism, help support our local businesses to achieve sustainable growth and to become a greener West Lancashire. We have partnered with Green Business UK Ltd to give up to 100 businesses the opportunity to achieve the internationally recognised Green Tourism Standard, fully funded for 1 year by West Lancashire Borough Council.

By joining Green Tourism and gaining an award (complete with logo to use in marketing, plaque and certificate for display), your business is immediately at an advantage, with a certified grading that sets it apart from those without any accredited green credentials - the only commitment needed from you and your business is time! Other benefits include;

  • Demonstrating your commitment to sustainability
  • Improving sustainability performance Help grow your business
  • Free expert advice and support
  • Simple online process
  • Achieve a Green Tourism award
  • Listing on the DiscoverOrmskirk.com website

Eligibility

For a business to be eligible to sign up to our Green Tourism initiative it must;

  • Be located and Trading in West Lancashire
  • Operate in the Accommodation, Hospitality, Leisure or Retail Sector
  • Was active and trading on 01/04/2022

Cost

There is nothing to pay for the first year for the first 100 businesses to sign up before 31st March 2025 and successful partner businesses will also benefit from preferential annual fees in years 2 & 3, if they wish to continue demonstrating their commitment to sustainability.

Choose the campaign West Lancashire and select the Request Invoice option to sign up for free.

 

Chamber Low Carbon Programme

Chamber Low Carbon Programme provides remote and on site support as required to help Lancashire businesses Build Back Better as the Net Zero Carbon agenda accelerates in the post Covid-19 recovery.

This £6m. European funded programme is committed to the provision of a FREE suite of services aimed to help businesses improve energy and environmental efficiencies, introduce on site renewable energy generation and save money.

The Chamber Low Carbon Programme can also help you if you are developing a new piece of low carbon technology and want to get it into the market, see it manufactured locally or find your dream customer.

For more information visit Chamber Low Carbon (external link).

 

Chamber Green Rose

Chamber Low Carbon can help guide your business to implement a recognised environmental management system meeting the requirements of ISO 14001 or BS 8555 or EMAS with the Green Rose Programme.

This six-month programme, delivered by the Chamber Low Carbon Team, will provide support and guidance in the development and implementation of each organisation’s Environmental Management System.

For more information visit Chamber Green Rose (external link).

 

The ECO I NW project

The ECO I NW project is a new £14 million pound research and development programme delivered by 6 of the region’s leading universities which aims to support businesses in the North West to create innovative low carbon technologies, products, processes and service, and to support ‘green’ economic growth.

With funding from the European Regional Development Fund, Eco-I North West will work with SMEs from any sector across the North West region to help identify ways in which they can help to reduce their carbon output through innovation and research, such as identifying manufacturing process change or material change for packaging of products for example.

Lancaster University are providing business support to SME'S throughout Lancashire and Cumbria, designing and running research and innovation projects to lower Carbon Impact and you can access this support in 3 different ways:

  • 12 Month Masters by Research

    A dedicated full time researcher to work on your project at Masters level, supported by our academics, with access to our global contacts and resources within the university.

  • Internships 140 hrs

    A dedicated programme of support delivered by an appropriate student matched to your business need funded to work on your project supported by an academic, or team of academics.

  • 3 Month Innovation Project

    Working with a specialist academic who has expertise in the area to support your business’s innovation idea. They will work collaboratively with your business for 3 months to develop opportunities and innovation that will not only help to reduce your carbon footprint but could support your company’s growth in the existing market or help enter new markets.

For more information visit Lancaster University Eco-I NW (external link)