Carbon cutting catalyst for Devon enterprises
The climate emergency needs action now!

Organisations across Devon
are keen to reduce their
carbon output to help
tackle this emergency and Devon
is blessed with many enterprises
already operating in the low carbon
sector. The Sustainability Hub;
Low Carbon Devon Project has
been developed to support these
enterprises and catalyse action
around cutting carbon.
Supported by an investment
from the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF), the
three year (£2.6m) programme,
supports Devon-based enterprises
(sole traders, micro-businesses,
SMEs, social enterprises and CICs
engaging in economic activity) to
access research, and engage with
University academics around the
low-carbon agenda. This means
research and innovation leading
to the development of low carbon
products, services or processes,
adopting low carbon technology
or reducing carbon use.
Through a series of knowledge
exchange workshops and events,
Devon enterprises will be able to
collaborate with university Industrial
Research Fellows focusing on four
specialist research areas; Green
/ Living Walls, Power Electronics
(Photovoltaic/LEDs), the Creative
Industries and Energy Efficiency in
Buildings (Occupant Behaviour).
Academics and enterprises
can work together within the
collaborative space of the
Sustainability Hub which has been
awarded SKA gold rating, the
highest accolade for sustainable
fit-out. The Hub functions as a living
lab, showcasing the latest low
carbon technology.
Low Carbon Devon will produce industry responsive solutions to the problems facing enterprises trying to move towards a sustainable low carbon economy, for example green wall installation, retrofit LED lighting systems, efficient building management and occupant behaviour studies.
“As councils around the UK announce climate emergencies, this university-based project is here to work with enterprises to find practical answers to reducing their carbon impact and putting Devon at the forefront of low carbon economic growth in the UK.”
Chris Woodfield, Knowledge Exchange Officer for Low Carbon Devon
There is also the opportunity for enterprises to benefit from students working on impactful, fully funded 1-3 month internship programmes to make a measurable, positive difference to the environment and to their business. Through collaborative research and partnerships, the University of Plymouth will support enterprises to develop the low carbon sector in Devon.
The Low Carbon Devon project will set the precedent for other regions in the UK by bringing together world-renowned academic expertise and Devon based organisations to facilitate practical low carbon solutions for a sustainable and prosperous future.
If you are a University of Plymouth academic
or a Devon based enterprise keen to
get involved, please contact the team
sustainabilityhub@plymouth.ac.uk.
Read the next article >
The Sustainability Hub is a place where businesses, social enterprises and community groups can mix with researchers and students to exchange knowledge, collaborate and form partnerships around sustainability goals.
The Sustainability Hub : Low Carbon Devon project is currently supporting Devon-based SMEs to access research, business support, and engage with the University of Plymouth around the low-carbon agenda. The project is supported by an investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Find out more about Low Carbon Devon