How can we create a sustainable, prosperous future for Swansea’s businesses and communities?

In the context of COVID recovery, economic uncertainty, rising energy prices, the cost of living crisis, and the climate and nature emergency, businesses and professionals from across the city and county of Swansea, in South West Wales, have come together to address this increasingly urgent question.

4theRegion is launching the Swansea Green Business Report, which summarises the emergent priorities for collective, collaborative action.  This report is part of an ongoing programme of activity among the business community, to share knowledge, resources, inspiration and ideas to create a resilient local economy, better able to adapt and respond to the challenge and predicaments we face.

The Swansea Green Business Report 2022

NEXT STEPS – COLLABORATION

The Green Business Report identifies priorities for action and collaboration in the transition to a more resilient, relocalised green economy.  We are inviting businesses and organisations to register their involvement and submit project proposals, as we work with partners to make progress on our shared priorities over the coming months.

THE GREEN RECOVERY BUSINESS CONFERENCE

In the lead up to the Green Recovery Conference in June 2022, we spoke to our event partners about the 8 opportunity areas for transformation.  These thought provoking interviews provide an overview of some of the key issues we should be considering, as we set out to co-create a more resilient, relocalised green economy.

EVENT GALLERY

OPPORTUNITY AREAS

QUESTIONS

TRANSPORT
How could businesses proactively reduce car use and promote active and sustainable travel?

FOOD
What could businesses do to support a more local, sustainable food system?

NATURE
How can we support and develop products and services that protect and enhance the natural environment?

ENERGY
How could businesses support the mission to decarbonise our energy system?

WASTE & MATERIALS
How could businesses reduce waste, conserve materials and help create a more circular local economy?

SKILLS
What skills do businesses need to be investing in for the new green economy?

BUILDINGS
How could Swansea lead the way in green constuction and the decarbonisation of our buildings?

SUPPLY CHAIN
How could we all make sure we are buying local wherever possible?

Green Innovation Grants

Swansea Council are currently delivering a Green Innovation Grant with the objective of enabling businesses to work towards net carbon zero. The Green Innovation Grants key points are as follows:

• Aims to reduce the business’ carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency
• Eligible items include installation of new systems, changes in the manufacturing process, new equipment (individual capital items must not exceed £1,000 exc VAT), accreditation schemes, training
• Maximum Grant of £1500
• 50% match funding requirement
• Applicants with multiple businesses and/or over 250 employees are ineligible

Click here to download the application form.

Any Swansea based businesses who are currently trading are eligible to apply. Please note that applicants will require a business plan/project summary and 12 month Cash Flow Forecast to apply. For more information, or to submit application forms, please email: growthgrant@swansea.gov.uk

EVENT PARTNERS

Skills Sponsor

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Construction Wales Innovation Centre based in Swansea is a leading provider of applied research and specialist training across the pan-Wales construction industry. We’re helping to transform construction into a Net Zero industry – identifying and encouraging new ways of working.

Buildings Sponsor

SPECIFIC IKC

SPECIFIC is a UK Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC), accredited by UKRI, leading in energy technology research and full-scale demonstration.

Our vision is a world in which ‘Active Buildings’ can generate, store and release their own heat and electricity from solar energy. To deliver this, we research, prove and promote early commercialisation of building-integrated technologies that can capture energy from the sun and store it in a building until it is needed.

Working with partners, we aim to enable adoption of the Active Building concept, by steering project delivery teams through the process of designing, constructing and operating Active Buildings.

SPECIFIC can provide tours of their Active Buildings on Swansea University’s Bay Campus and provide expert advice on how your business can run more sustainably. Click here to find out more.

Energy Sponsor

Afallen — Energy Sponsor

Afallen is Wales’ leading sustainable development consultancy, helping organisations identify, embed and accelerate sustainability strategies for transparent, inclusive and long-term social, environmental, cultural and economic value. All of our work is underpinned by the Well-being of Future Generations Act, Ways of Working, and Goals. 

 Afallen’s recent work in the Swansea Bay region includes:

• Supporting production of decarbonisation strategies for Designated Landscape Organisations in Wales
• Mapping food networks for Swansea Food Partnership
• Stakeholder engagement for Pembrokeshire’s Local Area Energy Plan 
• Marketing support for Swansea University’s Circular Economies Innovation Communities programme
• Development of Circular Economy activities in Carmarthenshire

Transport Sponsors

Natural Resources Wales — Transport Sponsor

Working jointly with Swansea Council to design, develop and implement green infrastructure solutions in Swansea. Natural Resources Wales ensures the environment and natural resources of Wales are sustainably maintained and used, now and in the future.

Swansea Environmental Forum — Transport Sponsor

Swansea Environmental Forum (SEF) is an association of organisations and individuals working together to initiate, develop and co-ordinate environmental action in Swansea. Set-up in 1985, SEF is a fully constituted voluntary group with membership open to any individuals and organisations that support its aims and are interested in furthering its work.

SEF recognises that the protection and enhancement of the environment is best achieved by working together in the context of sustainability. The principles of sustainable development are at the heart of the Forum’s work.

Nature Sponsor

Natural Products BioHUB — Nature Sponsor

Swansea University’s, Community Renewal Funded Natural Products BioHUB project, in partnership with Swansea Council, will bring together multi-disciplinary expertise from academia, industry and business, to address the need to:

• Harness and develop the unique value of natural products and processes.
• Provide environmentally friendly solutions to meet the needs and demands of agricultural, manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries.
• Develop Green Infrastructure and create more business and job oportunities.
• Help to combat climate change and increase the amount of BioDiversity within the Region.

Food Sponsor

Castell Howell — Food Sponsor

From small rural beginnings in 1988, Castell Howell Foods are this year celebrating 33 years of business and have grown to become Wales’ leading independent food service wholesaler, servicing the length and breadth of Wales, the Border Counties and the South West of England.

Waste & Materials Sponsor

Gavin Griffiths Group

Gavin Griffiths Group, is an established, family owned company providing transport services, supply of aggregates, waste management solutions and contracting, to a wide range of clients in the UK and further afield.

With a proven track record we continue to grow and develop, making significant investment in our staff, operational facilities, fleet and plant ensuring our capability to evolve whilst meeting the needs of our clients and the environment responsibly.

Exhibitors

Andrew Dauria Solutions

We provide first class commercial and domestic building, heating, plumbing, mechanical and electrical services. We offer a comprehensive solution for all your building, heating, plumbing, mechanical and electrical needs. Headquarters based in Landore, Swansea and Forge Hammer Estate Cwmbran and heading into Pembrokeshire. we serve clients ranging from individual households to councils and other large organisations across Wales.

Awel Aman Tawe

Established in 1998, we are leaders in the field of community based renewable energy. We have many years’ experience of developing and advising on community schemes, including wind, solar, biomass and hydro; and have implemented energy efficiency measures across thousands of homes and community centres in south Wales.

Business in Focus

Business in Focus is a not-for-profit organisation that has been helping businesses to start up and grow for nearly three decades. We have an excellent track record of creating and implementing business support contracts on behalf of a range of clients, including UK and Welsh Governments, other public and private sector bodies.

Bwyd Abertawe

Bwyd Abertawe is a broad partnership with bold ambitions for Swansea to become a Sustainable Food Place with a food system that works for people and nature, where everyone who works, lives, visits, has a business or studies in Swansea has access to good food, and there is a strong support network for local food producers and food businesses.

Bwyd Abertawe wants to take a strategic and collaborative approach to good food governance and action; build public awareness, active food citizenship and a local good food movement; tackle food poverty, diet-related ill- health and access to affordable healthy food; create a vibrant, prosperous and diverse sustainable food economy; revitalize local and sustainable food supply chains; and tackle the climate and nature emergency through sustainable food and farming, and an end to food waste.

Business Wales

Business Wales is the Welsh Government’s fully-funded business support service, helping Welsh businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs to access the information, advice and support they require to start, run and grow their businesses.

Gower College Swansea

An award winning, sector leading Further Education College with a diverse range of training programmes that develop the skills of employees.

Low Carbon Swansea Bay

Public, private and voluntary organisations in South West Wales working together to reduce carbon emissions. We’re excited about developing new contacts and partnerships at this conference.

Pobl Group

Pobl are leading on a community focused green regeneration project in Penderi. In partnership with the Environment centre, Swansea Community Farm Room2Grow and the Council we are working with the community to build knowledge and enthusiasm in the area for developing green spaces for people and nature.

Swansea BID

As the first BID in Wales we’re proud to champion our BID area businesses and to make our city centre a better place to live, work and study.

Social Business Wales

Social Business Wales is helping our economy to become both fairer and greener by growing the number and scale of social enterprises, co-operatives and employee owned businesses in Wales.

We offer a team of specialist businesses advisors with expertise in supporting social enterprises. If you are looking to start up or grow a social enterprise, we’re here for you. Our social business support is fully funded meaning that you get free guidance every step of the way.

The Social Business Wales programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through Welsh Government and delivered by Cwmpas.

Swansea Council – Business Swansea

Swansea Council’s Business Swansea team provide a business support service to the City’s Business Community. Main activities include administration of grant funding, business engagement through the Business Swansea Newsletter, delivering business support workshops and networking events.

LOCAL SOURCING APP

4theRegion has developed an app to promote local sourcing, and to showcase local businesses who are a “force for good”.  Register your business on the app and then scan the event QR code to collect your GREEN RECOVERY profile badge, to show you have been part of this event.