Automotive and construction sector to benefit from new business programme
1st February, 2007
Birmingham based, National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP) has received funding from Advantage West Midlands (AWM) to extend its successful business opportunity programme with the launch of NISP++. The programme – a UK first – will specifically target the region’s two biggest industries – the automotive and construction sectors.
The programme has made a promising head start by naming LTI Vehicles – the Coventry based manufacturer of the world-famous purpose built London taxi – as the first automotive company to sign up to NISP++.
NISP++ will build on the significant results of its mainstream programme, which uses industrial symbiosis principles to help create commercial opportunities for businesses through the exchange of their resources (including materials, energy and water and sharing assets, logistics and expertise).
By engaging two of the region’s biggest industry sectors in industrial symbiosis, NISP++ will be able to penetrate the West Midlands much more quickly and propagate even greater benefits to a wider range of companies and communities. To do this, NISP++ will be developing sector specific material and support and will be working alongside some of the region’s leading companies and their supply chains to deliver results.
The programme will positively contribute to the environment, assisting in diverting materials that would otherwise go to landfill or be stockpiled and utilising them as more useful resources. This not only has the advantage of creating local jobs, but also contributes to the environmental sustainability of the region.
NISP West Midlands Director, Adrian Murphy, said: “The mainstream NISP programme has been really successful at delivering relatively easy first-time synergies our members.
“However, a key challenge for us is to shift the understanding of industrial symbiosis up a level within the West Midlands so it becomes retained as a core skill and adopted directly by the businesses themselves as every day practice. NISP++ will help us to do this by targeting the region’s biggest industry population and the results should benefit the wider business community.”
Ralph Hepworth, Environmental Technology Cluster Manager at Advantage West Midlands, said:
“The pioneering NISP project that Advantage West Midlands supported in 2003 has already established a clear lead for the Region in this important and growing area. This new project will build on this lead bringing more economic and environmental benefits to the West Midlands.
“Through participation in the mainstream NISP programme, many West Midlands companies have already benefited from reduced costs, increased sales, higher asset utilisation, new products and business opportunities, innovation and shared innovation and expertise. Further social and environmental ‘by-products’ of these business benefits have also included job creation and safeguarding, new business start-ups, diversion of waste from landfill, reduced energy use leading to reductions in C02 and reduction in pollution.”
Carl Richardson, HSE Manager at LTI Vehicles added: “At LTI we actively seek new opportunities to improve our resource efficiency and we’re delighted to be the first company to sign up to the NISP++ programme.
“This is a great opportunity for automotive businesses to work together to help bring more economic and environmental benefits to the West Midlands.”
The project management of NISP++ will be undertaken by Dr Adrian Murphy, NISP West Midlands Regional Director supported by a project team who will take responsibility of day-to-day management of activities and delivery of all outputs.
Any automotive or construction business interested in joining NISP++ programme should contact Frederic Kertrestel at NISP++ on 07795 574376.