19/08/2005 - A conference
designed for local businesses is taking
place at Kimbolton Castle on Thursday 1
September and applications for free places
are being invited now.
The conference deals with issues that are
key to the sustainability and profitability
of all businesses; the need to prepare for
flooding, legislation, resource efficiency
and pollution prevention
The event, titled The Efficiency, Profitability
& Protection Conference , is being delivered
by the Environment Agency, Business Link
Northants and Business Link Cambridgeshire.
Businesses in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire
and Northamptonshire are being offered 2
free places at this event, which is taking
place between 9am and 3.30pm, at Kimbolton
Castle, off the B645 between Kimbolton and
Stonely.
Earlier this year a timely report was issued
by the Environmental Audit Committee that
said 70-75% of small and medium sized enterprises
were unaware of their environmental obligations.
Gill Thornalley of the Environment Agency
commented, ‘We have developed this conference
because we are worried about the awareness
levels of these issues amongst businesses.
We know that business owners are very busy
people, but we would like to work in partnership
with them to supply up to date information
to carry out best practices and importantly
save money too!’
A number of poignant facts should be taken
into account when considering attendance
at the conference:
80% of businesses affected by a major incident
close within 18 months
Every year since 1998 there has been serious
flooding somewhere in England and Wales
Flooding does not only happen from rivers
or the sea; you can get water damage from
surface water flooding, flash flooding or
flooding from burst pipes
A systematic resource efficiency programme
could save you money
Customers increasingly favour environmentally
friendly companies
There will be a number of experts speaking
at the conference, including Cambridgeshire
Fire & Rescue, Cambridgeshire Police
and Bedfordshire County Council.
The aim is to give information, with a
focus on practical steps that can be taken,
and awareness of the organisations and people
that can offer support and advice.
For further guidance a number of exhibitors
will join the event, including the Flood
Products Association who can give advice
on protecting property, and Envirowise who
can offer free business advice and consultancy,
helping SMEs improve business efficiency
and environmental awareness.
Businesses who cannot attend the whole
conference can still benefit from the advice
and information available from exhibitors
by dropping in between 10am and 11.30 am
and 2pm and 3.30 pm when the exhibition
space will be open.
For enquiries and bookings, businesses
are asked to contact the Business Link Northants
Events Team on telephone number 01604 490490.
For businesses interested in attending
the exhibition stands only, please call
the Environment Agency during normal office
working hours on 01480 483848.
