An update on Sustainability West Midlands activity Sian Thomas Project officer uk midlands.org.uk

Contents The City Region project – 19 January event Award winners and good practice case studies How to get involved with SWM

The City Region project – low carbon economy leadership programme Aims The aim of the programme is to help local authority and other public sector leaders within the City Region understand and create the opportunities for business to deliver the low carbon economy. Key objectives: a) To influence the other City Region Work to maximise the economic opportunities for growth and employment following on from the recession, while moving towards the low carbon economy. b) Promote the City Region as a place to do low carbon business globally c) Build a common understanding around the issues for a low carbon economy d) Learn from the past examples of economic leadership in the City Region from the Birth of the Industrial Revolution to date. e) Recognise current good practice around the low carbon economy in the City Region and surrounding region

The City Region project – low carbon economy leadership programme and event 19 January event Part of a larger leadership programme – now targeted at wider regional audience not just City Region Supported by Advantage West Midlands and the Regional Improvement and Efficiency partnership. Additional support from DEFRA. The Summit is aimed at elected leaders and portfolio holders, chief executives and directors with a responsibility for economic development and climate change from local authorities within the City Region. The focus of the event will be on realising the economic opportunities emerging from the low carbon economy.

The City Region project – low carbon economy leadership programme and event The Summit will cover: Risks and opportunities of the low carbon economy for jobs and productivity A baseline of our current performance and those of our competitors Emerging project ideas where working together will improve our performance and realise the benefits for our businesses and communities Facilitated event to ensure suitable challenges are put to all the delegates - lead to agreed priorities which will benefit both local businesses and communities.

The City Region project – low carbon economy leadership programme and event After the Summit; will have key projects that will have been tested and refined during the event. These will then be championed and delivered by a number of authorities to ensure benefits for the City Region and wider region. Report collective progress later in the year at a follow up summit with Jonathon Porritt

Good practice examples and award winners Range of award winners and good practice examples from around the West Midlands now on our websiteour website This includes; Cleone Foods, Birmingham - Winner of Impact on Society for a Small Company Award 2009 Back to Bikes, Stafford - Winner of Stafford Borough Council’s Green Award Recommendations 2004 & 2005 and a Green Apple Award Calthorpe Estates, Birmingham - C+ Carbon Positive Consumer Choices 2009 Rocks Green, Shropshire - Winner of a Sustainable Housing Award 2009

Includes an example from each of the areas who are part of the City Region on different topics; Sustainable buildings Transport New green business/jobs Research and Development Projects tackling worklessness through intermediate labour market Graduate brokerage into supported placements with environmental sector business Waste reduction / reuse projects Energy reduction / supply projects Inward Investment examples Public sector procurement examples Good practice examples and award winners – for the City Region project

Please fill out your questionnaire Send us your good practice or award winning examples Do you receive our newsletter? Thank you Sian Thomas Project officer