The overall aim of the Eco-Centre is to help tackle climate change and improve environmental sustainability by:
- Enabling people to make a step change in their daily life – to live and work more sustainably
- Helping make sustainable products and services more accessible to more people
And so help address both supply and demand.
The Eco-Centre itself is a key part of our plans - a centre of excellence for sustainability in Somerset, able to attract regional and even national interest, clients and visitors. The Centre will be resource base and focus for:
- The Eco-Explorer visitor centre – promoting sustainable living and working, and products and services. Alongside interactive displays will be permanent exhibition and regular shows that feature technology, products and services – serving both the public and trade.
- A Green Business Hub – Incubator units to support enterprises developing sustainable products, technologies and services. An Eco-lab will provide a space for collaboration and new product development or refinement.
- The Eco Business Network – a network for businesses to access and share information and the opportunity to collaborate and for partnerships.
- Training - Enabling the development of skills & know-how of people working in sectors critical to carbon emissions and sustainability
- Public Promotion- Promoting sustainable living through education and training for schools, communities and the general public. Centre-based and in local communities.
As a community benefit society, the Eco-centre is owned by the community it serves. Anyone who supports sustainable development can have a say in its running, by buying one or more £1 shares. Everyone who buys a share gets one vote regardless of the number of shares they own. Membership forms are on the website.
Note – the area of benefit is all of Somerset including the districts of North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset. We are keen to hear from any businesses who is based in or operates in this area (or intends to).