NEEBS

Guy Bashford, project manager of NEEBS, said: "Because many small and medium sized businesses lack the resources to be able to make environmental issues a priority within their organisation, support has been made available.

"Through NEEBS, businesses can find out about legislation, cost cutting, and gaining a competitive edge through managing their environmental impact.

NEEBS can help organisations to identify potential cost savings through waste minimisation and savings on energy and fuel.

The NEEBS programme works through experienced consultants visiting businesses to identify their key environmental impact, potential savings through waste minimisation and highlighting any weaknesses or gaps a business faces to tackle environmental issues - for example, lack of environmental awareness among employees.

The Environmental Industries Federation (EIF), the region's environment business cluster, administers NEEBS on behalf of Business Link Tyne and Wear where Guy Bashford has just been appointed as project manager.

Guy, a former environmental officer with Sara Lee in Slough - manufacturers of household toiletries - has made the move North to join EIF and lead the NEEBS project.

In addition to reducing businesses' impact on the environment and improving their efficiency, Guy and the team at EIF also hope NEEBS will help firms avoid falling foul of environmental legislation.

In addition to reducing businesses impact on the environment and improving their efficiency, Guy and the team at EIF also hope NEEBS will help firms avoid falling foul of environmental legislation.

Already 11 firms from across the North-East are benefiting from the NEEBS programme.

For more information about NEEBS, contact Guy Bashford at EIF on Tel: (0191) 229-1824.