Higher education support to small medium enterprises: A local experience in energy efficiency

Abstract

Industry accounts for 29 % of UK energy use, with 86 % derived from non-renewable sources, placing energy efficiency in this sector as a fundamental to sustainable development. Given that some 99 % of UK industrial companies are Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), who are least able to devote specific resources to energy analysis, supportive initiatives in this area have the potential for significant savings and success. This paper provides example and advice on methods of support from Higher Education (HE) to improve the sustainability of industrial SMEs. This is exampled through the experiences of a 24-month project called “SUSTAIN Lincolnshire” with a focus on SME energy efficiency. A critical analysis, starting from the existing literature, will centre on the problems of co-ordinating and encouraging a large number of SME to become pro-active in this area. This uses a project life-cycle approach, discussing the importance of clearly defined requirements, SME engagement, lessons learned and further work beyond the project. Current initiatives in Higher Education/Industry cooperation make this paper particularly timely and its critical analysis will provide HE institutions with guidance and advice when developing similar projects. The paper identifies resources and techniques whilst highlighting the difficulties in developing higher-level strategies to the hard-pressed SME communities. It shows the importance of persistence in this area for the initiating bodies and the benefits of building on outcomes in a coherent manner. This paper has does not analyse the most appropriate areas for project deployment or the format in which they should be provided. It does, however, provide insights into the exploitation of local implementations.