Launched in May 2006, the new Team Valley Resource Efficiency Club is the first REC in the North East. It is open to businesses within the Team Valley, which includes some of the region's largest industrial estates, and offers free, expert advice and simple, practical action plans to help companies target areas of waste and find ways to eliminate or reduce them. Run by The Environment Practice, the Newcastle-based environmental management company, the Club successfully bid for funding administered by Envirowise. Better 'green credentials' can also give companies a competitive advantage, according to Rita Callender, Partner at the Environment Practice: "Energy costs are rising and environmental legislation will only increase. Every company is going to have to learn ways to reduce waste, use their resources more efficiently and be more environmentally responsible. But the process can actually save companies money. We hope by teaching best practice to the Club's members we can create environmental champions who will spread the message."

Find out more about Envirowise in the North East

Become a partner in profit

£2 million of funding per year is available from Envirowise for more Resource Efficiency Clubs (RECs). Funding of around £5k - £8k is available for feasibility studies and access payments are in the region of £30k per year but may be up to £50k in exceptional cases.

Thousands of companies have made considerable environmental and cost savings with the help of these clubs. Businesses joining a REC can receive free advice and support to achieve resource efficiency improvements, reduce costs and consequently realise environmental and cost savings. Studies have shown that resource efficiency programmes can save manufacturing companies around 1% of turnover.

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