Two Counties

TREES PLANTED FOR THE JUBILEE AT EVESHAM COLLEGE AND PERSHORE COLLEGE

Students and staff at Pershore College and Evesham College have been planting trees to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. WCG, which includes six colleges across Warwickshire and Worcestershire, is taking part in the Queen’s Green Canopy, an initiative which invites people to ‘plant a tree for the Jubilee’ to mark the Queen’s 70 years of service and enhance the environment. Students and staff at Evesham College and Pershore College have come together to plant a rowan tree at each of the sites. The young rowan trees, which are a favourite for wildlife, were supplied by Pershore College Garden Centre and Nursery, which is also part of WCG. The initiative’s focus on sustainability mirrors the college group’s own green ethos, and the tree planting comes as the college group is awarded the Planet Mark sustainability certificate for an eighth consecutive year, which recognises organisations that make year-on-year reductions in carbon emissions. WCG reported a 7.5 per cent reduction in carbon emissions in 2020/21 compared to the previous year. This reduction was supported by the college group’s detailed Environmental Policy, which is fundamental to its business strategy and is linked to its Sustainability Policy. It has now set a target in conjunction with Planet Mark to reduce its carbon footprint by another 2.5 per cent in the 2021/22 academic year, alongside launching its revised Sustainability Strategy and Climate Action Roadmap. Angela Joyce, Chief Executive of WCG, said: “We are extremely pleased to support the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative and add a rowan tree to the grounds of each of our colleges. “The trees will not only be a lasting legacy in recognition of the Queen’s 70 years of service, but also help to enhance the environment.

“We run a number of land-based courses at WCG so sustainability is something that is embedded in both our policies and our curriculum, and we have worked hard to reduce our carbon footprint, cut down waste and crack down on single use plastics. “This is why we are also thrilled to be awarded the Planet Mark sustainability certificate for the eighth consecutive year. “We are continuing to develop our policies and engage with students and staff about the importance of carbon reduction and are committed to reducing our carbon footprint even further during this academic year and beyond.”

THE MARCHES LEP: ENERGY FUND

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) recognises that energy provision is a critical element for unlocking future growth. Consequently, the Marches LEP Board has given approval to open a £4million call for capital energy projects. The LEP is seeking to support projects in the Marches that are able to achieve the following key objectives, as set out in the Marches Energy Strategy: Smart control and mitigation of grid ---constraints Innovation in agricultural technologies Sufficient reliable energy supply Development of the supply chain in key ---areas of the low carbon economy Local renewable energy supply Addressing high levels of fuel poverty The call is for projects with a minimum grant funding requirement of £100,000, and a maximum value of £2,000,000 and a requirement for a minimum of 20% match funding. The call is being run as a two-stage process. Applications will initially be asked to submit a short Expression of Interest (EOI) form. Shortlisted projects will then be invited to submit a Full Business Case, for appraisal. The full business cases will need to be able to demonstrate how they meet the objectives of the Fund and that they can contribute at least 20% match funding to the project. See the Marches LEP Energy Fund Guidance on how to submit an Expression of Interest to the Marches Energy Fund. A list of Frequently Asked Questions is also available. If you have any further questions, please email tim.yair@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

GJS DILLON NEGOTIATES LETTINGS FOR ENTIRE INDUSTRIAL PARK IN KIDDERMINSTER

Worcestershire commercial property consultancy GJS Dillon has successfully negotiated all six lettings at an industrial park in Kidderminster. Relay Engineering Ltd, a specialist service provider operating primarily in the marine, oil and gas industries and CrossFit Wyre Forest, a fitness training facility, were the first two occupiers. They have now been joined by Music Industry Education LLP, Syxthsense Ltd, an energy equipment and solutions company and Streamline Solid Surfacing Ltd, a specialist in interior surfaces. The final letting to 24xpress Ltd, a courier company, has just been completed. The six industrial warehouse/units are based at Forest Industrial Park in Kidderminster, and benefit from six-metre high eaves, good loading/unloading facilities and allocated parking. The development supports Wyre Forest District Council’s strategy to build a portfolio of small and medium-sized units to enable businesses to grow locally and attract new investment into the area. The units are ideally located close to Kidderminster town centre with easy access to Junctions 4,5 and 6 of the M5. Andrew Lewis, GJS Dillon’s Commercial Agency Director who negotiated all of the 5-year leases says ‘We’re delighted that all six of these units have been let. As highlighted in our 2022 Worcestershire Commercial Property Market Report, the Wyre Forest industrial market has improved the most out of all six sub-districts of Worcestershire in the past five years. Forest Industrial Park is a great example of how Councils can support local businesses in providing the right size of accommodation to cater for a buoyant industrial market’ Cllr Helen Dyke, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council said ‘It’s great to see new units being created that are in demand in this area. We continue to make small and medium-sized businesses a priority as well as the larger more established companies in terms of providing modern and fit for purpose work spaces.’ For further details on commercial property available in Worcestershire please contact GJS Dillon’s Agency team on 01905 676169 or via andrewlewis@gjsdillon.co.uk GJS Dillon’s Worcestershire Commercial Property Market Report can be found here www.gjsdillon.co.uk/marketreport.