Industry News

BIS: Business Secretary Vince Cable witnessed a series of ‘firsts’ last week as he toured Toyota’s Burnaston plant in Derby and officially launched production of the first Auris Hybrid cars, which is the first mass-produced fully hybrid vehicle in Europe and has the first hybrid engine to be made outside of Japan, which is manufactured at Toyota’s Deeside plant in North Wales. The Toyota Auris Hybrid went on sale in the UK on Thursday 1 July 2010.
Press release ~ Auris Hybrid cars
 
ScotGov: Environment Secretary, Richard Lochhead, has announced the first step of a major new programme to deliver the benefits of local ownership of energy into the hands of Scotland's communities & businesses.
 
He has commissioned a feasibility study to look into early stage financing for renewables projects.  It will be carried out by the Scottish Agricultural College in conjunction with Community Energy Scotland who will report back in 3 months. 

This study will consider whether a loan fund could be established that will encompass the needs of both the wider community and landowner/farming businesses.
Press release ~ Renewable Energy ~ Forum for Renewable Energy Development Scotland (FREDS) ~ Community Energy Scotland
 
LBRO: Tough budget constraints may threaten staff development programmes at local authorities but the LBRO says it has part of the solution in its FREE Trading Places (TP) scheme. LAs and their trading standards & environmental health officers can benefit from placements arranged with commercial organisations via TP - a ‘get to know you' project that encourages closer relations and reduces misunderstanding & confusion.
 
Available in one or two-day formats, TP gives enforcement officers the opportunity to see the impact of their decisions on business.  Fostering understanding between local authority regulatory services and the businesses they monitor removes cultural barriers to communication, strengthens working relationships, encourages mutual trust and promotes a partnership approach to achieving compliance.
Press release ~ Trading Places
 
WAG: Wales’ Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, has launched a new project designed to support the dairy industry in Wales to improve the efficiency, sustainability and added value of the dairy supply chain. 

The project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Press release ~ WAG: Supply Chain Efficiencies Scheme ~ Rural development plan for Wales
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