Knowsley Council launches sustainable energy partnership with
E.On
7 February 2012
Knowsley
Council has this week formed a low carbon partnership with energy
company E.ON, which will see them work together to promote low
carbon energy solutions for local homes and businesses.
Councillor Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council, and Michael
Woodhead, Managing Director of E.ON’s Sustainable Energy business,
signed the pioneering agreement between Knowsley Council and E.ON
which will see them work together to improve energy efficiency and
renewable technology as well as promoting new skills and job
opportunities in the area.
Through their combined expertise, the partnership will help
deliver the Sustainable Knowsley Programme and support the
council’s commitment to cleaner, more efficient energy and helping
to combat the impacts of Climate Change.
Councillor Round said: “The council is keen to work
collaboratively with a range of public, private, charitable and
local community based organisations and we’re delighted to secure
E.ON’s expertise to help us develop Knowsley’s low carbon
economy.”
The partnership will lead the way to launch the Knowsley
Community Energy Fit scheme, with charity National Energy Action
(NEA). This will involve the recruitment of 40 volunteer ‘Energy
Champions’ through local job creation schemes who will be trained
to deliver in-home energy saving advice and signpost support to
vulnerable families.
Sheena Ramsey, Chief Executive of Knowsley Council, said: “These
champions will develop their skills, and job prospects, while
helping to tackle fuel poverty in the heart of their community.
We’re confident this scheme will help improve energy efficiency in
homes, reduce fuel bills and help protect the environment.”
Michael Woodhead, Managing Director of E.ON’s Sustainable Energy
business, said: “In these difficult times, it’s essential that
companies, councils and the community come together to help tackle
people’s concerns about energy head-on and face-to-face.
“We’re pleased to be working with like-minded partners in
Knowsley to focus on sustainable and low carbon energy technologies
such as micro generation and renewable heating who can help us
deliver this as part of our partnership with the area.”
E.ON is also working with Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) and
Elmfield Training on its Energy Assessors scheme, creating jobs to
15 previously unemployed people in the area and giving them the
chance to develop valuable skills and knowledge while also
identifying and helping local residents who may be living in fuel
poverty.
The Energy Assessors have been recruited through the Route 2
Employment job creation scheme. It’s hoped they will carry out more
than 4,000 home assessments in the coming months, giving residents
energy efficiency advice and directing them to a range of resources
to help them, including financial assistance and impartial advice
help lines.
Ends
Notes to editors:
There are 7,036,863 fuel poor households in the UK (not our figures
- Source: CSE/Consumer Focus NowCast for fuel poverty 2011).
All Energy Assessors will wear Route to Employment uniforms and
carry photo ID cards.
About E.ON:
- E.ON is one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies –
generating electricity, and retailing power and gas – and is part
of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power
and gas companies
- E.ON is one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies, and
has around 5 million electricity and gas customers, covering
domestic, SME and industrial
- E.ON has formed Sustainable City partnerships with a number of
cities in the UK to help reduce energy consumption and carbon
emissions across entire communities whilst also stimulating local
economies and jobs through energy efficiency measures and smart
technologies
- E.ON is working with skills company Elmfield Training and five
local authorities – Knowsley, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham,
Birmingham and Coventry – to recruit and train 75 energy assessors
throughout the UK to offer help and advice to those facing fuel
poverty.
About Knowsley Council
- The Sustainable Knowsley Programme has been established to
maximise the significant economic and social benefits the low
carbon economy offers to Knowsley in terms of enhancing employment
through skills development and job creation, securing investment in
regeneration programmes, mitigating fuel poverty and protecting the
environment. The programme involves officers from all parts
of the Council, and its partners, and is being led by David
Coulson, Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services.
About Elmfield Training
- Elmfield Training is a talent development organisation working
with some of the UK’s largest employers
- Elmfield understands the negative impact on individuals and
families resulting from the lack of job sustainability and how
difficult it can be to progress to better paid jobs without the
right qualifications
- Elmfield supports career mobility by offering a range of
apprenticeships and higher level qualifications created to suit a
range of industries.
About NEA:
- NEA is the UK’s leading fuel poverty charity campaigning for
affordable warmth in the homes of vulnerable people. For further
details visit http://www.nea.org.uk
- A fuel-poor household is defined as one needing to spend more
than 10% of household income to achieve a satisfactory and healthy
heating regime.
Photo caption
Pictured left to right Sheena Ramsey, Chief Executive of Knowsley
Council, Councillor Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council, Cllr
Eddie Connor, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Community and Culture,
Michael Woodhead, Managing Director of E.ON’s Sustainable Energy
business and Dave Morgan, Head of Business Development at E.ON.
For more information contact:
Victoria Blake at E.ON on 024 7618 1304 or victoria.blake@eonenergy.com
Catherine Sheel at Knowsley Council on catherine.sheel@knowsley.gov.uk