Links : VisitBritain

Energy

Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust work with organisations to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies. Grants are available to help business reduce its CO2 emissions. Also offer interest free loans to business between £5,000 and £100,000 to invest in energy efficient equipment, a free telephone advice for small businesses on saving money on energy and offers site surveys from a local energy efficiency adviser.

Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs)
The ECA scheme allows a business to gain tax cuts and 100% capital allowance in the first year of purchase of energy efficient products, low carbon dioxide emission cars and water efficient products.

Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation, funded by both the government and private sector which provides advice on energy saving products and how to save energy in the domestic home.

Hospitable Climates
Hospitable Climates is an energy efficiency agreement between the Institute of Hospitality - the professional body for hospitality, tourism and leisure managers worldwide - and the Government. It is an energy advisory programme, supported by the Carbon Trust and managed by the Institute of Hospitality.

Low Carbon Buildings
The programme provides grants for the installation of micro generation technologies in a range of buildings to include households, community organisations, public, private and the non-profit sectors.

National Energy Foundation (NEF)
NEF empowers individuals and organisations to take action to reduce their carbon emissions through energy efficiency and use of sustainable energy sources to counter climate change.

UK Energy Saving
The UK Energy Saving website is designed to point you in the right direction for advice and tips on UK Energy Saving in your home and business.

General Advice

Envirowise
Envirowise offers UK businesses free, independent, confidential advice and support on practical ways to increase profits, minimise waste, manage water and reduce environmental impact.

Forum for the Future
Forum for the Future is a charity which is dedicated to sustainable development. They currently work with over 120 leading businesses and organisations to bring about change by providing advice and practical solutions as well as training.

Green Futures
Green Futures is a unique sustainable solutions magazine, published by Forum for the Future. It brings you the latest news and thinking on positive progress towards sustainable development in the UK and the rest of the world.

NetRegs
NetRegs provides free environmental guidance for small businesses in the UK. They will help you to understand what you need to do to comply with environmental legislation and protect the environment.

Government

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, VisitBritain’s sponsoring Government department, is responsible for setting policy for sustainable tourism development.

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
DEFRA aim is to protect and improve the environment, and to integrate the environment with other policies across Government and in international fora. Also see information on sustainable development by following this link - DEFRA - sustainable development.

Environment Agency
The leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. The EA provide information on issues regarding land, air and water quality, which also includes, waste management, conservation and recreation.

Recycling

WRAP
WRAP works in partnership to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. This helps to minimise landfill, reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment. Their helpful Recycled product guide is a useful tool.

Regional Advice

One NorthEast Tourism
One NorthEast Tourism are in the middle of a 3 year project with Green Tourism Business Scheme to recruit 110 businesses from the region. Businesses receive a subsidy from the scheme fees and the opportunity to have an advisory visit.

London Development Agency
The London Development Agency launched Green Tourism for London in October 2007. For the first 2 years the LDA is offering a subsidised rate to the first 150 businesses to join.

Sustainable Transport

Department for Transport
The role of the Department for Transport is to determine overall transport strategy and to manage relationships with the agencies responsible for the delivery of that vision. The above link provides policy, guidance and research on sustainable travel.

Sustrans
Sustrans in the UK’s leading sustainable travel charity that actively campaigns for sustainable transport. Sustrans provide up-to-date research and also work on innovative ways to combat current and future transport issues.

Certification Schemes

David Bellamy Conservation Awards
The David Bellamy Conservation Awards are made each year to parks which commit to preserving and enhancing the environment. (Not currently a VisitBritain validated scheme)

Green Tourism Business Scheme
Green Tourism Business Scheme is the largest sustainability certification programme of its kind in the world. GTBS provides excellent value for money to a wide range of tourism firms with first class environmental advice and auditing.

Communities and Charities

Cleaner Safer Greener
Cleaner Safer Greener Communities is about creating quality spaces in which people want to live and can be proud - and which others will respect. The website is a one-stop-shop of best practice examples. Find out about the initiatives that really work.

ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns)
ENCAMS is an environmental charity which aims to achieve litter free and sustainable environments by working with community groups, local authorities, businesses and other partners. ENCAMS also manage the Blue Flag Beach awards and the Quality Coast Award in England.

Guidestar UK
Guidestar UK provide free information on all charities and voluntary organisations that currently operate in the UK. Currently the site has 168,000 registered main charities in England and Wales.

Farmersmarket.net
The Farmersmarket.net specialise in local farmers markets, farmers markets, organic gardening and organic pest control and plenty of information on these topics can be found on the website.

Fairtrade
Fairtrade is a development organisation committed to tackling poverty and injustice through trade, by ensuring better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.

Soil Association
The Soil Association is the UK's leading campaigning and certification organisation for organic food and farming and it provides current research and information on organic food, food miles and organic labelling.

Wildlife and Culture

English Heritage
English Heritage exists to protect and promote England's spectacular historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood.

RSPB
The RSPB is a UK charity which serves to protect birds and the environment. The RSPB also provide a wildlife garden guide which gives advice on how to attract wildlife.

WWF
WWF work to conserve biodiversity and address threats to the environment by working with people for sustainable solutions.