The Scottish Government is committed to simplifying the landscape for energy and resource efficiency advice to business, particularly for our many SMEs who have limited time and resources to devote to tackling climate change. The Scottish Energy and Resource Efficiency Service (SERES) is a partnership comprising the key delivery bodies Business Gateway, Carbon Trust, Energy Saving Trust, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Zero Waste Scotland.
It is committed to developing a ‘virtual one stop’ service so that organisations in Scotland can more easily receive accurate, relevant advice and support on energy and resource efficiency issues affecting their business. The SERES partners are working on development of a dedicated web-portal (www.business.scotland.gov.uk/seres), a comprehensive training and referral system, and integrated events management and delivery.
In addition, the Scottish Government has recently announced its intention to combine a number of these support services into a single delivery contract from April 2013 onwards.
The new service will provide greater cross-referral and more consistent and comprehensive advice, encouraging businesses and public sector organisations to consider taking action on energy and wider resource efficiency at the same time. This holistic approach to low carbon transition ultimately aims to help more businesses to reduce their emissions, save money and increase their competitiveness.
Stakeholders are currently being consulted on their requirements of the new service in order to help define its scope. Should you wish to contribute and provide comments then please email EEM@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.
A framework route approach for the procurement of the new service is being considered. If this route is adopted, it is expected the framework Invitation to Tender (ITT) will come out in early summer, followed by ITT’s on the framework itself in late summer.
Further information will be provided as the development of the new service continues.