There are multiple opportunities for organisations in Leeds to cut energy bills and carbon emissions by investing in commercially attractive energy and low carbon projects, but barriers to change mean that these are often not being exploited.

To address this and support Leeds on its journey to becoming a low carbon city, Leeds Climate Commission is running a capacity building programme to help organisations secure investment in energy efficiency and low carbon projects. 

The programme, which is part of the Commission's plan to develop a prospectus and a pipeline of investable energy and low carbon projects, was introduced at a board level briefing at Merrion House in Leeds on 29 January 2019.

The series of four capacity building workshops are for medium sized businesses (ca. 50-250 employees) and are aimed at helping employees develop project ideas, prepare a business case for board level approval, or secure project finance.

The three-hour workshops commence in March and will run monthly from 15.00-18.00 at Walker Morris LLP. 

Workshop 1 (26 March): The benefits of energy efficiency and low carbon business

Workshop 2 (30 April): Business case development and risk assessment

Workshop 3 (21 May): Reviewing financial models and business options

Workshop 4 (18 June): Building board-level support and securing investor buy-in.

Workshops will be practically focused, with the emphasis placed on developing real projects and taking them through to a point where they can secure finance and move to delivery. Sessions on the programme will be run by people with expertise in:

• Project identification and evaluation;
• Business case development and risk review;
• Understanding financing options and business models for delivery;
• Securing board level support and investor buy-in.

Throughout the programme, participants will review real case-studies of innovative projects and of different approaches to project development and financing. Engaging, interactive sessions will enable participants from different organisations to benefit from peer-to-peer learning, joint problem solving and the transfer of best practice.

The workshops include speakers from Engie, Arup, Abundance, SDCL, Iona, Taylor and Townsend, CO2 Sense, Walker Morris, WSP.

The programme is free to participants. You are required to commit to the entire programme to receive maximum benefit.

The programme will conclude with a wrap-up event and a post-project review briefing, where we hope to showcase the projects and investments that are moving forward as a result of the programme. 

Book here to attend the workshops:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/project-development-and-finance-workshops-tickets-54272914749

Email: leedsclimate@candocities.org for further information. 

Read more here.

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