THE transition to a low-carbon infrastructure will transform the country’s economy. It will change the industrial landscape, the supply chains of businesses and the way we all live and work.

Research from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills puts the global market value of the low-carbon and environmental goods and services sector at around £3.2tn in 2008/9. The UK’s sector is already valued at £112bn with almost 910,000 jobs.

The North East of England has established an international reputation and is leading the way in new and renewable energy technology. Significant investment, together with industry expertise and excellence in research, is positioning the region as a major player in the drive towards a low-carbon economy.

Businesses of all sizes are perfectly positioned to take advantage of the major growth opportunity provided by the development of these markets. New businesses will provide growth and a rebalancing of the local economy from public sector to private sector employment.

A programme of support has been launched by Tedco to provide support for new green businesses.

Coined Operation Green, the project will provide free business start-up support and funding for new businesses in the green sector.

Support of this kind is very rare in these times. Tedco is holding an event on December 1, to launch this new offer to businesses in the green sector.

This event not only gives new and prospective businesses in this sector a chance to talk to one another about their products, services and ideas, but also to find out about free support and funding for new businesses in the green sector.

Small business owners are often led to believe that low-carbon businesses means electric cars and building wind turbines, but the sector has the potential to encompass that and so much more for entrepreneurs to take advantage of.

These opportunities run across sectors and may only focus on one aspect of the green agenda such as eco-friendly transport services like bike hire, organic food delivery, or maybe you could even write a blog about developments in an increasingly green economy.

Your business could be part of the transition to a cleaner, greener, more efficient economy, so why not get involved?

For more information on Operation Green contact Tedco on 0191 519 7202 or email operationgreen@tedco.org.

If you require any further support or advice, please call Tedco on 0191 428 3300, email starting@tedco.org  or visit www.tedco.org .

:: Carole White, Business Support Manager at Tedco