Free workshop to help businesses save money

Small to medium sized manufacturing business owners, managers and those interested in sustainable issues from across south Wales will have the opportunity to take part in a free workshop on December 1 in the Valleys Innovation Centre, Abercynon.

Hosted by WRAP Cymru and C-Tech Innovation, the day will provide businesses with invaluable information on grants and funding available to them. It will focus on the role of recycled materials in manufactured products and packaging, resource efficiency and eco-design within businesses, all having the potential to significantly reduce business costs.

More than £250,000 worth of support is available through the REMake scheme, a project funded by the European Commission’s Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, which will offer up to 30 small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses in Wales the opportunity to apply for expert technical advice and support up to the value of £17,500 per company.

The REMake project can help reduce the amount of waste Welsh manufacturers send to landfill and will encourage them to reduce their reliance on virgin materials by using recycled content. It will also help to stimulate new markets for recyclate, increase innovation in products and packaging and importantly, lead to increased profitability for Welsh businesses.

Beth Winkley, head of WRAP Cymru said: “Our REMake workshops have been very popular over the past year and we have noticed a significant rise in the number of manufacturers that are attending these events, all of whom are becoming more aware of the fact that green measures can notably reduce business costs.”

“This is the first time for us to bring an event of its kind to Abercynon and we are looking forward to meeting manufacturing businesses from the area. The morning workshops will concentrate on the wider issues of sustainability and what they mean at a practical level for businesses, the afternoon will offer hands on support to delegates who will have the opportunity to learn how to use simple tools to assess their own resource efficiency and undertake life-cycle assessments and carbon footprinting of products.  Business will also be able to speak one-to-one with staff from WRAP Cymru and C-Tech Innovation to access advice specific to their business needs.”

“We will also use example case studies during the day so that delegates can learn at first hand just how profitable applying sustainable measures can be to their businesses.”

Places are limited and so businesses should book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

The workshop is taking place at the Valleys Innovation Centre, Abercynon between 9am and 4.30pm on Thursday, December 1.

If you would like to register your interest for these events please email [email protected], call 0151 347 2982, or visit www.ctechinnovation.com.

For more information on WRAP Cymru and the grants you may be eligible for, please visit www.wrapcymru.org.uk/remake.