Latest News
Resilience Network Scoping 2022  We've been commissioned by the Environment Agency and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to review existing materials on resilience and adaptation in the local authority practitioner support space and identify the currently active networks providing support for resilience and adaptation across the UK. Following on from this we are developing options and considerations for developing a practitioner and partner support network in Liverpool City Region to take forward adaptation and resilience activity. LIFE Bid Support 2021 An interesting start to the year, providing facilitation and support to SNIFFER/Adaptation Scotland to explore partnership and project potential for a LIFE funding bid. Concluding our Cumbria Support  We are proud to have been involved in delivering the lottery funded "Rebuilding Together" programme in a range of ways over the last 5 years. We have been working with Cumbria Action for Sustainability, CVS and ACTCumbria to build community and SME business resilience to climate change and flooding. Many outputs can be found here: https://cafs.org.uk/our-projects/rebuilding-together/ Supporting the New Local Energy North West Hub  December 2018 We're working with the new Local Energy North West Hub, hosted by Liverpool LEP, to help them develop their brand, website and online knowledge/resource hub. Watch this space for updates in 2019. Low Carbon Heat for Scotland  2018-2019 In collaboration with SE2 Consultants we've been appointed to deliver a range of stakeholder workshops for Zero Waste Scotland to build capacity within local authorities to develop a strategic approach for implementing low carbon heat. Scoping The Greater Manchester Environment Fund  March 2018 We've been helping Greater Manchester Combined Authority explore how they could create a sustainable GM Environment Fund. The Fund was one of many ground-breaking initiatives announced by Andy Burnham at his recent Mayor's Green Summit. Our Project in Government 25 Year Plan January 2018  We're pleased to see that the project we managed in 2017 on behalf of Business in the Community, developing Sustainable Drainage in Greater Manchester schools, has been included as a case study in the Government's new 25 Year Environment Plan! You can find the case study on page 149 of: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/25-year-environment-plan Rebuilding Together in Cumbria  Summer 2017 In partnership with Cumbria Action for Sustainability, with funding from the Big Lottery, we are working throughout 2017 & 2018 to deliver a range of training and information across Cumbria. Our sessions delivered so far have focused on the use of the Climate Just tool for understanding local climate risk and vulnerability. Coming up in July 2017 we'll be organising training on Retrofitting Traditional Buildings for Flood Resilience and Energy Efficiency. All events are free to attend, for all - and are advertised via our CLASP programme. Heat Networks in the UK: Delivering the Opportunities  2016 & 2017 Along with SE-2 consultants, we're currently delivering a range of event and networking support for BEIS, bringing local authorities and private sector technology providers together to further the development of district heating in the UK. One of our recent events in May 2017 brought together 78 delegates from Scandinavian and UK organisations to examine the UK heat market and showcase solutions. Revealing the Benefits of SUDS in Schools  April 2017 We've been busy so far in 2017 working with Business in the Community again to continue our scoping and piloting of how Greater Manchester schools can better manage and reduce their surface water drainage costs through SUDS. This year included an examination of the multiple and indirect benefits of SUDS to local communities. Find out more here. Flood Resilience Support  December 2016
One year on from the devastating Storms Desmond and Eva we've been working with Cumbria County Council and the Cumbrian district authorities to support small businesses in becoming more flood and climate resilient. We're researched and written new rural focused guidance and have delivered workshops across Cumbria in the anniversary week of the storms. You can view the new guide online.
Supporting BEIS and Heat Network Development
November 2016
Along with SE-2 consultants, we've been appointed to provide support to local authorities and others in the development and delivery of district heating networks. We'll be running a series of events and engagement sessions for the Heat Networks Delivery Unit of BEIS in 2017 and beyond.
Evaluating Climate Justice
 October 2016
We're pleased to be working with Manchester University and Climate UK to evaluate the impact of the Climate Justice tool and create a road map to future research collaborations. This work is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. You can use the Climate Justice tool for free, online at: www.climatejust.org.uk
Lottery Support for a Resilient Cumbria!
September 2016
The Big Lottery Fund has announced a £1 million 3-year package to help Cumbrian communities become more resilient. This comes in the wake of December 2015’s devastating floods, and will help local people, communities and organisations to prepare for similar events in the future. We will be working with this project to deliver a range of information and training to local organisation and community groups, on planning for a resilient and energy efficient future.
Weathering The Storm - Business Resilience Guide for SMEs
 June 2016
Freshly updated for 2016 (with the kind support of Liverpool City Council) we've produced a refreshed version of "Weathering the Storm" for local authorities to use with their SMEs. This is a guide to the key impacts (and opportunities) that climate change can have on business operations, with simple checks and actions to take. You can download the document from here
Boosting SME Business Resilience
 June 2016
We have been continuing to deliver workshops on climate resilient business for SMEs. Through these workshops we've been introducing SMEs to the Business Resilience Healthcheck and helping them carry out an online audit of their business. This month we've been in Liverpool - as part of the International Business Festival fringe, and in Kendal - with businesses flooded by December 2015's devastating storms. Find out more and book a session for your area here.
100 Events - and Counting!
May 2016
We were delighted to note this month that we've now delivered over 100 events, knowledge sharing and training sessions for our clients. More than 4,000 people have attended, and the 100th session was the launch of "Hot Spot Stoke" a new Business, Competence and Innovation Centre in District Energy.
We'll be continuing to support Hot Spot Stoke as it develops. SUDS - Water Resilient Schools
 April 2016
One of our key projects so far this year has been working with Business in the Community on a defra project to identify how schools can better manage and reduce their surface water drainage costs through SUDS. We've been creating and testing audits with schools in Greater Manchester, and producing a ready-reckoner tool for schools to use.
DECC £300m Investment in Heat Networks
 April 2016
Working with the District Heating Vanguard’s network we hosted a workshop for DECC in Manchester providing invitees with insight into, and opportunity to shape, the future of district heating in the UK. Delegates heard first-hand from DECC re their new £300m district heating investment programme, and had the chance to ask questions and shape DECC's plans.
Increasing Resilience of SMEs
 February 2016
Responding to demand from authorities in our CLASP network we are offering a new service, of workshops on climate resilient business for SMEs. Through these workshops we've been introducing SMEs to the Business Resilience Healthcheck and helping them carry out an online audit of their business. To find out more, or book a local session contact us.
Learning from Storm Desmond
 December 2015
The impacts of the December 2015 storms were significant across many sectors. Local social care provision was significantly affected in many areas and CLASP has produced a case study about the impacts on social care in the village of Halton, north of Lancaster. There are many lessons to be learnt from this for increasing resilience in other local areas. You can download the new case study from here.
Danish-UK Business Exchange
November 2015
 This month we’ve been busy organising a visit to the UK by the Danish Board of District Heating, and representatives from a consortium of Danish technology companies. This involved two open seminars, in Leeds and Manchester, 1-2-1 business exchange meetings, a Danish embassy event at Manchester Metropolitan University, plus numerous meetings between CLASP member organisations and the Danish visitors. “Rart at møde dig!” Cost-Effective Public Sector Sustainability
October 2015
We’ve been working with Quantum to demonstrate how local authorities that take a sustainable approach to their operations and services can reap multiple benefits, such as improved performance, lower costs and better outcomes for their communities.  We’ve published 9 short briefings to share these business cases and examples. You can view them here. Mastering District Heating
September 2015
We’re pleased to announce that we’ll be working with Nordic Heat and HEATNET throughout 2015 and 2016 to deliver a series of District Heating Masterclasses across both England and Scotland. Four different courses will cover issues including: Technologies, Designing, Installing & Operating, Financial Investment Case, Selling & Pricing District Heating, and The Legal and Procedural Guidelines. All dates will be advertised via our CLASP network. Learning from the Swedish Approach
June 2015
Our CLASP public sector sustainability network has welcomed experts on District Energy from Sweden this month. We organised a workshop to discuss potential for the creation of a UK District Energy Procurement Agency, to be led by Manchester City Council, which would be open to all local authorities in the UK. Please contact us for more information on this. New Future For CLASP
 April 2015
We’re pleased to announce that our award-winning CLASP public sector sustainability network is now part of the Climate UK group. We continue to deliver this network and look forward to increasing its activity nationally. 2015 will also see the start of new opportunities for private sector partners to engage with the network members. Please contact us for more information.
Powering Up North!
 February 2015
We teamed up with Friends of the Earth, 10:10, Community Energy England and others to deliver Powering Up North! This was the first Community Energy conference in the north of England to bring together, on a large scale, community groups, local authorities and technology installers.
Over 200 delegates made this an amazing event, full of energy. You can catch up with the day online.
APSE Energy Support
 October 2014
We are now providing regular research, information support, newsletters and information bulletins to APSE Energy Network. This is a national network of authorities looking at the developing prospects of municipal energy.
 Police Eco Handbook Launched
September 2014
As the first stage of our work for the National Police Estates Group we have produced an Eco Handbook
for officers and management of all England and Wales Police Forces, the Home Office and ACPO. The text of this new guide is not publicly available but the client is happy for it to be adapted for non-profit purposes by other public sector bodies. For more information contact info@ailsa.org
Keeping Scotland Beautiful
 September 2014
We are pleased to have been appointed to a technical support framework for Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Scottish Sustainability Network. We look forward to the opportunity of working with them in the future.
 Live Link-up to ASC Launch
July 2014
As part of our work providing secretariat to the NW Climate Change Partnership we hosted a satellite event in Manchester for the launch of the Committee on Climate Change Adaptation Sub-Committee report to Parliament on 9th July. The video link-up was a new experiment for us, and enabled delegates to see and hear Lord Krebs live.
ECO & Green Deal Consultation
 April 2014
On behalf of DECC, as part of our ongoing work delivering the CLASP support programme, we have organised and facilitated the only official ECO consultation event in the North West of England. Over 70 people attended, contributing to five different discussion themes, and sharing perspectives from across the wide range of stakeholders affected by these changes.
Under The Weather - Launch
 February 2014
We have organised and facilitated a Launch Event in Manchester for the new health and social care adaptation toolkit: Under the weather – improving health, wellbeing and resilience in a changing climate. This event was delivered on behalf of Climate UK and Climate Ready, in partnership with the Department of Health, Public Health England, and the Sustainable Development Unit.
SMEs Weathering the Storm
 November 2013
As part of our ongoing work delivering the CLASP support programme we've produced a special version of "Weathering the Storm" for Cheshire and Warrington local authorities to use with their SMEs. This is a guide to the key impacts (and opportunities) that climate change can have on SME operations, with simple checks and actions to take. You can view the document here.
Creating and Managing Resilient Local Highways
September 2013
 Following on from our series of events for Climate UK on local highway climate resilience we have produced this management guide for practitioners. The guide provides an introduction to identifying, addressing and appraising risk. It includes example tools, matrices and case studies from real world situations. You can view the document here.
Local Highways Resilience Events  June 2013
We're working with the Environment Agency and Climate UK to design and manage a series of 9 events taking place across England in July 2013. These events will be focussing on approaches to increasing the resilience of local highways to our changing climate.
Supporting North Devon SEAP
 January 2013
We've been working with Devon County Council and the North Devon Biosphere Reserve, delivering a workshop looking at the priorities for partners and activities to be included in a new Sustainable Energy Action Plan. The workshop took place on the 24th January, with 40 local stakeholders.
Local Health & Wellbeing in a Changing Climate
January 2013
We're working with the Environment Agency and Climate UK to host a workshop in March 2013 as part of the Climate Ready support service. This event will focus on helping Health & Wellbeing Boards to realise their objectives in a changing climate.
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Climate Change North West Relaunch
September 2012
AILSA and associates have redeveloped www.climatechangenorthwest.co.uk for the North West Climate Change Partnership. The site hosts a wide range of collaborative resources, all focussed on reducing the impacts of, and increasing resilience to, climate change in the North West of England.CLASP Programme Delivery Re-awarded June 2012  AILSA and associates have just been reselected, by tender, to continue to provide the management and delivery of the CLASP programme. We look forward to developing the service further in 2012/13. See www.claspinfo.org
CLASP Programme Future Confirmed April 2012  The Environment Agency has confirmed additional support for 2012/13 to match NWIEP legacy funding for the CLASP programme. An evaluation in February 2011 found CLASP to have become a leading source of support for local authority work on environmental resilience and carbon reduction.
AILSA has recently launched www.claspinfo.org to host CLASP's information and resources. Climate Change NW / Climate UK Support April 2012  AILSA is pleased to be providing services to Climate UK, supporting the NW Climate Change Partnership in 2012/13. One of the first tasks will be to redevelop the Climate Change NW website and relaunch the Partnership communications. Ailsa Gibson, in her role as lead consultant to CLASP, and her associates at Quantum Strategy & Technology has recently delivered a bespoke training package for Scottish local authorities on behalf of Adaptation Scotland and SNIFFER. Find out more here.
Public Sector Carbon Management Case study launched  January 2012 AILSA has recently produced this case-study capturing the progress made and lessons learnt by the Cheshire and Warrington Public Sector Carbon Management Partnership which she has facilitated for the last 2 years. The case study is being shared with public sector leaders across the NW and beyond and can be viewed by clicking here. Ailsa Gibson worked with her associate at Rainger Graphic Design on this document (www.rainger.co.uk).  December 2011The Eco-Reps' Handbook that AILSA researched, wrote and produced for 20+ public sector organisations in Cheshire and Warrington has now been taken up nationally and adapted for use by police forces and local authorities alike. This Handbook, produced for the Cheshire and Warrington Public Sector Carbon Management Partnership, can be viewed here and is free to adapt for non-profit use. Contact AILSA if you are interested in using this approach in your organisation.
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