AS South Tyneside moves towards a low carbon economy, this creates great opportunities for businesses in the North East and shows a real commitment to the creation of green industries in the future.
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 about £3.2 trillion in 2008/9. The UK’s sector is already valued at £112 billion with almost 910,000 jobs.
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.
In South Tyneside a new programme of activities has been launched by TEDCO and partners North East innovation company Wood Holmes to provide support for new businesses and ventures in green businesses.
The project is funded by South Tyneside Council which will provide start-up support, and help for high growth green businesses across all sectors, including: renewable energy and related low carbon markets, recycling and waste management and resource efficiency.
South Tyneside is well-placed to benefit from the development of the low carbon economy; the project aims to support those green businesses re-locating to South Tyneside with tailored packages depending on business requirements.
One such GREEN business which benefited from TEDCO’s support was renewable energy business OPUS Green.
The company was set up in TEDCO’s The Quadrus Centre, in West Boldon, which proved to be the perfect place to launch and grow their new green business.
Started by Gavin Richardson as a spin-off to his successful Opus Building Services, the company is now set to soar after winning a £1.8 million order with Your Homes Newcastle to install rooftop photovoltaic solar energy systems.
On top of that the company has made it on to the Yorkshire Procurement supplier list which is a select register of companies who will handle a total of £750m over the next 10 to 15 years.
The company is being driven by managing director Chris Cassells who has overseen the move into new public sector markets. As well as photovoltaic solar systems the company specialises in ground and air source heat and solar thermal systems.
Chris said: “The speed of growth has been very exciting and being based at The Quadrus Centre has given us the ideal place to launch. Working as part of the Opus family enabled us to go for bigger public sector work which has got the company off to a flying start.”
OPUS Green now employs six fitters and will look to take on more skilled workers over the next year as the business grows.
This exciting new project in South Tyneside provides the perfect environment to start your new green business, with start-up support from TEDCO, a business incubator to give you the base to grow and funding to get you set up there’s never been a better time to explore a green opportunity.
Your business could be part of the transition to a cleaner, more efficient economy, so why not get involved and start your green business in South Tyneside. For more information about the new green project in South Tyneside, contact TEDCO on: 0191 519 7206 or email enquire@tedco.org.