Knowledge transfer partnerships
Creating sustainable solutions for SMEs
Company
SMEs across a range of sectors
Expertise
Sustainability Research School
An event to build partnerships between SMEs, large companies, academics and policymakers was organised by Loughborough University’s experts in sustainability.
An International Conference on Sustainability Solutions for SMEs was organised by Dr Ed Brown, the Associate Director of the Sustainability Research School at Loughborough.
Experts from universities, non-governmental organisations and industry from across the UK, Europe and South America attended the event. Speakers included Alejandro Diaz, of Acción RCE, Chile, Professor Francisco Castaneda from the Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Shamir Ghumra, Head of Sustainability for Aggregate Industries and Drs Grahame Boocock and Laurie McAulay from the University’s School of Business and Economics.
The event was designed to discuss and move forward solutions for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) on sustainability and climate issues. It aimed to show delegates the value that can be gained from interaction between SMEs, large companies, academics and policy makers.
Areas covered included behaviour change initiatives, the regulatory, financial and personal motivations for changing business behaviour and creating opportunities for firms to expand. Dr Jacqui Glass, from the University’s Department of Civil and Building Engineering, talked about two research projects which are focusing on responsible sourcing in the construction industry.
Funding for the event came from the Higher Education Innovation Fund – a joint initiative by HEFCE and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills designed to support and develop a range of knowledge transfer activities which result in economic and social benefit to the UK.
Impact
- Strengthening of existing relationships between stakeholders in the sustainability arena
- Creation of new relationships between academics and SMEs
- Dissemination of information about new and ongoing research projects underway at Loughborough University
(Photography courtesy of Nick Rawle Photography www.nickrphotography.com)