PAST PROJECT EXPERIENCE

The Community Works senior team (previously under the auspices of the Institute for Sustainability, and independently in the 2014 – 2020 programme) has extensive ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) innovation and business support experience

 

ERDF Track Record

  • Established strategic partnership with Technology Strategy Board (Innovate UK) in two ERDF programmes (FLASH & FLASH+) and secured £6.25m match funding from them (“Retrofit for the Future” and “Building Performance Evaluation”)
  • Set up partnerships with leading trade bodies and professional institutions in the built environment sector to deliver FLASH and FLASH+ programmes – RIBA, RICS, CIBSE, CIOB, CIC, CPA, ECA, FMB, CIPHE
  • Delivered over 1200 SME (12 hour) business assists in the FLASH programme; and a further 550+ in FLASH+ and RE Start Local programmes. Additional outputs included Jobs, GVA, Tenders submitted and new product introduction
  • Partnered with Universities across London/SE including UCL, Imperial College, Greenwich, Southbank, UEL, Southampton, Oxford Brookes, Reading and Brighton
  • National Award winners in 2012 for industry knowledge dissemination (at for Low Carbon Domestic Retrofit Guides (see below)
  • Established strategic partnerships with Innovate UK, Homes & Communities Agency, LDA, SEEDA and multiple local authorities to deliver the three ERDF programmes
  • Produced two Toolkits (for widescale dissemination) on Local Procurement and Renewable Energy
  • Organised major programme of low carbon pilot demonstration projects and site visits for knowledge dissemination across the industry, and requested to nominate sites for Ministerial visits
  • Employed ERDF/EU strictly compliant processes to procure six delivery partners for six sub regional “Clusters” across 7 counties of the South east region
  • Established strong relationships with Managing Authority (MHCLG) – project managers, admin and auditing staff – in delivering all programmes. References as required
  • Substantial knowledge and experience of all ERDF compliance requirements and procedures. Created ERDF project delivery Handbook to assist new staff and delivery partners ; and demonstrate capability to Managing Authority and others
  • Working with local partners in multiple LEP regions to develop and deliver ERDF programme solutions that deliver on local ESIF strategy, and meet with Managing Authority requirements

 

Examples of ERDF projects successfully completed

Lead Partner

Project lead and concept developer working with seven delivery partners (and national Strategic Partner  – Technology Strategy Board) to support a step change in the low carbon built environment industry by supporting over 1200 London  supply chain SMEs to access learning from UK’s leading TSB-funded retrofit demonstrator projects through 12 Award-winning best practice guides and tailored support, to tap into new market opportunities, improve their economic/environmental performance; create or protect over 1000 jobs; help over 100 businesses to innovate including 59 new products. Three reports published with UCL explored the impact of retrofit process on social housing and identified how disruption could be minimise

 

Co-Lead Partner with SECBE

Concept developer and project co-lead with South East Centre for the Built Environment, working with national partners (Technology Strategy Board, Homes and Communities Agency and Construction Industry Council); and Local Authorities in priority areas – to help over 250 built environment supply chain SMEs to deliver practical economic energy efficient  low carbon solutions and exploit the latent demand for renewable energy through a Sustainable Innovation Network; and over 70 SMEs to innovate and collaborate with the knowledge base and other businesses; and to evaluate Building Performance  through a widely disseminated guide using the learning from national state of the art projects

 

Lead Partner

Concept developer and project lead working with 5 delivery partners across South East England to create local economic benefit, supporting 300 SMEs to grow and create new jobs;  designing a Renewable Energy Toolkit and Local Procurement and Supply Chain Toolkit (for both SMEs and procurers); helping 120 SMEs secure new contracts; engaging with clients and large procurers of onshore renewable energy investments (including Councils, Housing Associations and local Community Groups) to understand their procurement requirements and support local SMEs to secure contract and associated job opportunities.