Suffolk’s Green Economy Manifesto to be presented to Government

The leading work in Suffolk and Norfolk on green business will be presented to the Government in a manifesto this Spring it has been announced.

The Green Economy Pathfinder celebrates business initiatives which contribute a large part of the UK ambition to develop EU and global markets for green goods and services. The Government's “Transition to a Green Economy” paper identifies the UK share of the global low carbon market to be more than £116 billion in 2009/10 with great potential to grow.

“A Green Economy is good for business and nowhere more so than in Norfolk and Suffolk,” the President of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Dr. Peter Funnell said as the Chamber of Commerce committed to providing a lead coordination role for a Green Economy Pathfinder across the two counties on behalf of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.

“This is one of the most exciting opportunities for the Norfolk and Suffolk economy. We are world leaders in a wide range of sectors and we have many of the UK’s most dynamic and innovative business leaders and academics here too,” added Mark Pendlington, the Director of Corporate Communications at Anglia Water who is Chairing the Group.

“Being asked by Government to take the UK lead with this ‘Green Economy Pathfinder’ allows us to bring together all that is best in terms of people, ideas and experience, and to demonstrate how important the ‘green’ economy is to UK economic recovery and to sustainable growth.”

“In the Spring, we will be presenting to Government a manifesto that brings together a wide range of best practice case studies, combined with some innovative thinking on how to put low carbon at the heart of business success,” he added.

The duration of the Pathfinder is 6 months, at the end of which a Pathfinder Manifesto of best practice case studies will be submitted to the Government. This manifesto will profile both existing and planned actions in Norfolk and Suffolk that reflect a leading role in the Green Economy.

The pathfinder is focusing on three main areas:

• Energy - incorporating off grid energy developments, nuclear, and offshore renewable energy
• Low Carbon Innovation and Finance incorporating energy and resource efficiency
• Natural Capital incorporating landscape, tourism, local food and wildlife

The pathfinder will establish the “Green Economy Brand” as a unique selling point for Norfolk and Suffolk and through collective marketing will undoubtedly bring benefits to businesses and to the wider economy of Norfolk and Suffolk.

A Pathfinder event on March 1^st will feature many businesses that demonstrate a cutting edge approach to the green economy, a market place and the opportunity to network with other like minded businesses. If you are interested in attending this event please contact rowena@suffolkchamber.co.uk or click here to book.