The Green Digital Academy, a project that supports North Wales businesses to reduce their environmental impact, has supported over 50 companies to date.
Led by Busnes@LlandrilloMenai, the academy was funded by the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund in 2022 to work with businesses in the hospitality, tourism, social care, creative industries and manufacturing sectors across Gwynedd and Anglesey.
Following substantial business and stakeholder support, the academy is now working with the next round of companies in anticipation of growing the innovative project through the £126m UK Shared Prosperity Fund held by local authorities in the region.
The academy provides expert support and recommendations that have empowered companies and businesses to adopt smart digital technologies to improve energy usage and efficiency, in addition to the larger capital items like solar panels, air source heat pumps and battery storage.
To help people and businesses in North Wales who have been impacted by inflation and the rising cost of living, the project has also supported nearly 1,000 employees of regional organisations to review their own energy usage.
An easy to understand energy efficiency guide has been produced to help people to take simple actions at home and in the workplace to save energy and costs.
One business that has benefited from the academy, which analyses carbon footprint and encourages decarbonisation and digitisation, is Bodorgan based ice cream company Môn ar Lwy.
“We are keen to make a difference and reduce the impact of our business on the climate,” explained business owner Helen Holland. “I have gained a real insight into what can be done and the technology we can put into practice to make Môn ar Lwy a truly sustainable and environmentally friendly business.
“This is the beginning of our journey and we’ve really benefited from the support and advice we have received through Green Digital Academy.”
Paul Bevan, executive director at Busnes@LlandrilloMenai, is excited about the impact the academy has had on businesses.
“We’ve been able to help so many businesses in North Wales to cut their carbon and up their digital,” he said. “Our ambition is to further develop the project and support hundreds more companies over the next two years across the whole of North Wales.
“It has been amazing to hear how many real and impactful changes have already come about in response to the ‘Roadmaps’ we’ve produced with our expert partners.”
