The Green Business Programme is a partnership project led by Cambridge City Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, part funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK-SPF) and overseen by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA). Climate change is a key priority for all three councils and our work to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions includes engaging and supporting local businesses on sustainability. \r
Objectives of the Green Business Programme \r
1. To support local SMEs to improve productivity and sustainability by reducing their carbon footprint, increasing efficiencies, lowering utilities costs and meeting customer and employee expectations on sustainability.\r
2. To enable SMEs to feel empowered and confident to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations, to understand which activities to prioritise to have a higher impact on reducing their carbon footprint, to embed sustainability into business operations and integrate climate change into decision making and where relevant, introduce technologies which are new to their firm, following the Green Business Programme.\r
3. To deliver the specific SPF related minimum outputs and outcomes \r
4. To foster the development of new businesses offering carbon reduction solutions to businesses and consumers via a start-up programme.\r
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The CPCA is seeking to appoint up to 2 providers to deliver key elements of the Peer Network Programme. This is expected to support the growth of a specified number of participants and SMEs, through the provisions of cohort groups, across the relevant LEP/Growth Hub area. The requirement has been divided into 2 geographical lots, and tenderers are invited to submit a proposal for one or both. As the aim of this funding is to boost economic recovery, the CPCA has decided to apply the option of accelerating the procurement, in accordance with the PCR2015, so as to realise the benefits as soon as possible.