1
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
AGENDA 21 PANEL
26 FEBRUARY 1996
HELPING HAMPSHIRE BUSINESSES
REPORT FROM THE HEAD OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Contact: John F Gregory Ext: 6751
1 Purpose of Report
.
To advise members of information held by Surrey and
Hampshire Environmental Business Association (SHEBA) and
to suggest how the County Council can assist in making
this information more accessible to Hampshire
Businesses.
2 Background
.
Two of the County Councils corporate aims are to care
for the environment and achieve economic prosperity
through sustainable development. The development of a
directory of firms providing environmental services and
technologies could help to meet both aims.
SHEBA has a database of 600 firms in Surrey and
Hampshire involved in this field and also has details
about the availability of EC funds. This information
needs to be updated, maintained and made available to
Hampshire businesses. SHEBA does not have the resources
to do this.
A well maintained directory will support the 300
Hampshire businesses involved in environmental work,
provide information to all businesses about the services
and technologies available at Hampshire and increase
awareness of the importance of the environment and the
need to comply with environmental regulations. It will
help firms undertake a range of relevant activities
including green auditing and recognise that
environmental awareness can add value and save costs.
A recent survey by SHEBA of firms on their data-base has
concluded that:-
__43% of Hampshire firms are in manufacturing
__main interests are waste management, water treatment
and air pollution control
__75% of firms rely heavily on exporting particularly
3 to Western Europe
.
Role of the County Council
A well maintained directory of businesses, services,
technologies and availability of European funding would
benefit businesses and the environment. This could I
believe, be achieved, very economically, if the County
Council, SHEBA, Hampshire and Surrey TECs and Surrey
County Council combined resources.
If members consider that such a service would be of
benefit it is suggested that discussions are initiated
with the above partners.
4 Recommended that:-
.
1 The Economic Development Office be asked to initiate
. discussions with SHEBA, the Hampshire and Surrey TECs
and Surrey County Council to explore the implications
and feasibility of setting up a database of firms,
services, technologies and EC funding opportunities.
2 This panel be kept informed of progress.
.
3 The Hampshire Economic Partnership be advised of
. these discussions.
JGC26496
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