Raising standards, reducing costs

The UK’s leading manufacturer of high quality deli-fillings for retail and industrial suppliers, Fresh-Pak, starts to benefit from the Green Gain Accelerator.

Having undertaken a full baseline audit of energy, waste and water earlier this year, Green Gain has now developed an environmental strategy that will help the company to reduce costs, improve profit margins and make its primary operations more sustainable.

Following a desk top review, a number of on-site audits and staff-engagement workshops, a series of key recommendations are now being implemented by Green Gain. These will collectively deliver anticipated savings over £300,000 and the diversion of 650 tonnes of waste from landfill in to recycling. All actions will achieve payback in less than 2 years. Activities include:

·       

           -  Implementing a new segregation system for key waste streams and the delivery of an     awareness raising programme;

·         - Sourcing cheaper end markets for egg-shell waste and food waste;

·         - An assessment of power quality and actions to improve this;

·         - An assessment of steam boiler load profile and review of the control strategy; and

·        -  Investment in a flexible pigging system for pipe cleaning of the mayonnaise mixer.

See how we can help reduce your costs and raise your standards by contacting us at info@greengain.co.uk.

Significantly reduce your energy bill at no cost. But hurry as the offer ends on the 15th March 2015 on a first come, first served basis GreenGain is working in partnership with social enterprise iPower (a UK developer of low carbon projects) to promote the take up of the FREE BlueGEN micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) units. BlueGEN is the only Fuel Cell Micro CHP product in the UK to receive MCS accreditation and thus, eligible for Feed In Tariff. BlueGen is the world’s most efficient small-scale product to convert natural gas into power and heat. Key features: The BlueGEN model is a free model based on recovery of value through the 10 year FITs guarantee – in this case, iPower pays for (and owns) the fuel cells and the FITs go back to the funder. BlueGen ownership can pass to customer after ten years. The user pays for service (approx £520 per annum (yr 1) rising with RPI over 10 years) and for the gas supply (commercial/domestic grid connection required). The savings are made because of the efficiency of the fuel cell in generating electricity and heat from the gas – this typically translates to a 20-45% saving on total energy import displaced by the BlueGEN (i.e. combination of heat as well as power). Benefits and Costs: Onsite supply of electricity: 13000+ kWh/year Onsite supply of heat: 6000+ kWh/year CO2 reduction: 3.6+ tonnes /year Costs: cost of gas supply to BlueGen unit and cost of service contract. Eligibility Requirements: Gas supply to building and space for BlueGen with standard installation Electrical load of 20,000+ kWh per year and the ability to use all power generated by the BlueGen unit. No export meter. Ability to utilize approx. 200L hot water/day Minimum 10 year interest in the property Acceptable credit risk assessment.

So if you are interested in hearing more about the FREE BlueGEN then please contact Ashley Robb at: ashley@greengain.co.uk

Green Gain can provide free resource efficiency support to Yorkshire-based SMEs operating in the built environment, advanced manufacturing and environmental technology sectors.*  

An ERDF framework funds our expertise so that we can help you to take new initiatives forward to reduce both energy consumption and waste where you may lack the time, skills or resources in-house.

Our support is designed to be hassle free. We will handle all the paperwork and there is no match funding requirement.

The support is therefore 100% risk free and can be tailored exactly to your needs. As way of example this support may help you to:

• Improve your energy efficiency;
• Minimise your waste generation;
• Get better value from your waste contractors;
• Find higher value end-markets for your waste materials;
• Communicate on environmental issues within your business;
• Increase profitability.

The funded support places are limited, so contact us now to secure your free support!

You can reach me on Steven@greengain.co.uk or 07519 428475.

This is what a recent client said about our support on resource efficiency and waste reduction:

“We really couldn't have done it without you so thank you for your expertise and time – it really is appreciated.”

Abi Lawrence, Front of House Operations Manager, Chapter Arts Centre.

*This offer unfortunately excludes the South Yorkshire sub-region

FREE technical support for SMEs now available!

Green Gain is now able to offer free technical support to SME businesses across the whole of the Yorkshire and Humber region to help improve productivity, innovation and growth. we can provide up to five days of free consultancy. This can be used in a variety of ways including:

• Identify and measuring your environmental impacts;
• Generating savings by managing waste and resources more effectively;
• Improving margins by finding new high-value markets for waste materials;
• Generating savings by improving energy efficiency;
• Generating income and savings though renewable heat/energy;
• Redesigning your product and packaging to improve margins and reduce carbon impacts;
• Environmental management and policy;
• Technical support to Develop your own green product, service or technology;
• Insights into accessing public sector contracts and financing new developments.

Limited free places are available, so please get back to us ASAP to talk through this in more detail if you are interested. One of our Directors will be happy to talk through how we can put a plan of free support together for you.

Green Gain is able to offer free SME support thanks to being a delivery consultant on behalf of three ERDF funded, business support frameworks - namely:

1. The GREAT Project - managed by the Grimsby Institute Group;
2. Business Brains - managed by the University of Bradford;  
3. Enterprising Barnsley, Phase 2 - managed by Barnsley Development Agency. 

For more information please contact Steven Ogden on 07519428475 or steven@greengain.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Green Gain is very proud to have helped deliver some significant industry research into the Circular Economy

“The Circular Economy: what does it mean for the waste and resource management sector?” - this report is the product of a research project commissioned by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) in April 2014 from a Yorkshire based consultancy consortium of Ray Georgeson Resources Ltd (RGR), Beasley Associates Ltd and Green Gain Ltd. The desired intention of CIWM was to seek a deeper understanding of and preparedness for the circular economy from across a broad range of the waste and resources industry, especially focused on the CIWM membership. An electronic online survey was completed by 612 respondents, and 54 detailed interviews were completed with industry leaders. 440 respondents stated they were CIWM members, representing 8% of the total membership in July 2014.

The research shows that it means different things to different people. It has covered a broad spectrum of interests in the waste and resources sector across the five countries of these islands. It has included a wide range of organisations across the industry and employees from CEOs to operational staff. It provides CIWM with an important insight into the understanding of the Circular Economy and provides them with a valuable building block and a positive opportunity in plotting their future direction.

The report can be found here: http://www.ciwm.co.uk/web/FILES/Technical/CIWM_Circular_Economy_Report_SUMMARY_FINAL_Oct_2014.pdf

Do you want to pitch for public sector contracts but don’t where to start?

For a one-off payment of £299 (plus VAT), Green Gain will provide you with one-to-one support to get you tender-ready. For this one-off fee, we will:

• ·        Conduct a site visit and ‘readiness assessment’ – this will involve getting a broad understanding of your business and its ability to service the public sector. Understanding your assets, infrastructure, personnel and customer services will be an essential part of this task.
• ·        Register with up to 10 public sector procurement portals – once we have collected your company information we will create a profile, keywords and register with up to 10 public sector portals that befit your geographic and sectoral coverage. We will set up daily / weekly email alerts to a dedicated person within the company for them to peruse the relevant opportunities.
• ·        Review your company policies, procedures and financial standing – we will assess your company policies (including Health & safety, Environmental, Quality, Equal Opportunities policies etc) to assess their robustness and ability to satisfy public sector procurement needs. We will make recommendations on areas of improvement.

This foundation will ensure you are ready to grow your business, diversify into public sector markets and access millions of pounds worth of public sector contracts.

We have been appointed as a bid-writer for a large UK-based regional waste management company. Over the past 2 years, we have successfully secured 2 large NHS waste collections contracts, 2 integrated waste management contracts for academic institutions and 2 large scale WEEE and bulk hauling contracts on behalf of North East England local authorities. We also secured nearly £100,000 from WRAP to purchase a vehicle for the collection of commercially-sourced food waste for the company. Collectively, these contracts are worth approximately £12 million per year to the company.

So if you require a fresh approach to bid-writing then get in touch to see how our professional, friendly and confidential approach can help strengthen your business. info@greengain.co.uk

Are you paying too much for your business electricity and gas?

Sourcing energy is a real challenge for businesses. Most of the businesses we work closely with struggle to answer the following questions:

• Are we getting a good deal from our existing energy provider?
• Are we paying too much for our energy?
• Why aren't we being supplied with green energy?
• How can we avoid paying climate change levy charges?

Green Gain through our partnership with Green Energy Consulting is now able to answer these questions for you. Our team can help you understand the energy marketplace and find a supplier and contract to suit your business needs. We will help you to lower overall tariff rates, advise on long term contracts, and move your energy to renewable supplies. In doing so we can establish products that are exempt from the Climate Change Levy charges.

We are able to use our high-level energy supplier relationships and buying power to access products unavailable to the market place directly, to secure you the best green energy deal available. All clients, from SME to large corporate level businesses, can now benefit from bespoke energy management and an end‐to‐end service. 

Where it is not possible to use renewable energy, our carbon management strategies can be implemented to offset the carbon use of your energy in a cost effective way.

By identifying affordable and practical green solutions, our customers can benefit from:

• exemption from Climate Change Levy charges;
• a reduction in energy expenditure;
• access bespoke services with enhanced green credentials; and
• increased social, environmental and ethical responsibility.

Contact us today for a free, no obligation review of how you source you energy:
email: steven@greengain.co.uk or call: 07519428475