GFirst LEP raise over 3,300 pounds for Vision 21 Charity

Proceeds from GFirst LEP’s energy event earlier this year were given to Cheltenham based charity, Vision 21 Gloucestershire, an independent sustainability charity with the aim to help local people in Gloucestershire improve their quality of life, as well as the environment.

Proceeds from GFirst LEP’s energy event earlier this year were given to Cheltenham based charity, Vision 21 Gloucestershire, an independent sustainability charity with the aim to help local people in Gloucestershire improve their quality of life, as well as the environment.

Showcasing the latest energy innovations to help reduce a business’s carbon footprint, save fuel bills and increase profitability, the energy event was the brainchild of GFirst LEP’s Energy Sector Group headed up by Paul Bolton, Managing Director of Severn Controls in Gloucester.  Under the watchful eye of business mentors and professional marketers, the event was successfully organised by a team of second year students from the University of Gloucestershire studying event management. Attracting businesses from across the county, the day included a line-up of inspirational speakers and exhibitors to demonstrate how businesses could adopt measures to be lean, mean and green in their energy consumption.

Presenting the cheque of £3,300 to the Trustees of Vision 21Gloucestershire pictured above, Paul Bolton from Severn Controls said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to make a difference to Gloucestershire with the energy event. It helped in so many ways; by not only raising valuable funds for the charity to help reduce carbon emissions, it encouraged businesses to be more energy aware and also imparted valuable real-life experience to the students. They did a remarkable job in applying their skills and knowledge to organise a very successful event.”

Receiving the cheque, Martin Hewett, Chairman and company secretary of Vision 21 Gloucestershire said: “I am extremely appreciative of the amount raised by GFirst LEP for Vision 21 Gloucestershire.  Our charity is based on the ethos of building strong local communities and the need to make them both more environmentally sustainable and more resilient.  This donation and many others allow us to continue to strive to reduce carbon emissions throughout the county and so help to reduce the overall effects of global warming and climate change.

David Owen, Chief Executive, GFirst LEP commented: “The aim of the Energy Sector Group is to boost sustainable economic growth and create jobs in our local economy, whilst ultimately reducing the overall carbon footprint across Gloucestershire. This event was a brilliant example of the partnership between the business community and the University of Gloucestershire.  I’m delighted that the event was a huge success in so many ways to benefit local communities, students and the business community across the county, especially as we were able to raise funds for a charity that has aims and objectives closely aligned with our Energy Sector Group.”

Working to reduce carbon emissions and to help combat the effects of global warming, Vision 21 Gloucestershire can offer advice and assistance to the business sector, councils, community groups and individuals to help them cut their CO2 emissions. The charity also works as an agent to attract funding to develop environmental initiatives/projects. For more information about Vision 21 or make a donation, please visit: www.vision21.org.uk.