For far too long we have been sceptical on the idea of Green business blossoming into great business.
That is now changing rapidly and Gloucestershire has the opportunity of being a trailblazer in establishing a thriving Green economy.
But don’t take my word for it - take the word from an expert.
That comes from Andy Slaney, former operations director for South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, who is now managing director of Low Carbon Estates.
“Green is not a business for the future”, he told me. “It is a business for right now.
“I think it is a bit like the race to the moon.
We have now got a date – 2050 - to be carbon neutral as a country and the race is on.”
At Business West we are committed to becoming net zero carbon by 2030, and will be championing the business community to do the same.
In our Local Industrial Strategy developed before we were hit by Coronavirus, GFirstLEP recognised the importance of backing this new Green business sector to the hilt.
That’s why GFirstLEP have invested in the site of the former Berkeley nuclear power station developed by South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.
SGS were right on the money here.
And investment in the Berkeley Green campus from companies like Green Fuels is an indication of the growing importance of this sector to our local economy.
I think Green provides great career opportunities for our young people whose interest is growing in it and needs harnessing to worthwhile jobs.
This has been recognised by Cotswold District Council in their draft Green Economic Growth Strategy which I have just seen.
It is excellent.
Councillor Tony Dale, the council’s Cabinet member for economy and skills says in its introduction:
“We want to help all our businesses become Green, save money on energy bills and engage in a new digital and on-line revolution so they create fabulous customer experiences in the Cotswolds and around the world”.
I couldn’t agree more.
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