News Article

The second phase of an innovative project to help the region’s businesses  cope with  the future effects of  severe weather and climate change is launched this week. 

Run by Prince of Wales’s charity, Business in the Community, and funded through regional development agency, ONE North East,  the project builds on a pilot scheme introduced last year, aimed at encouraging  businesses to take action to reduce their vulnerability to the effects of severe weather and ensure  they can remain in business following a severe weather event.

The project is being  launched at a time when there is growing  recognition that the world’s climate is changing, and will continue to do so for some time, even if current efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are successful. 

Here in the North East, we are likely to see, for example, an increase of some 21% in winter rainfall and an increase in extreme hot temperatures of around 3C. 

The potential impacts of these changes  include increases in flooding from rivers, streams, the sea, and from drainage systems, all causing disruption to road, rail and transport systems.

Yet recent evidence suggests that very few businesses have woken up  to the impacts these changes will have on their operations. 

This is especially important for smaller businesses who can be particularly vulnerable, last year’s catastrophic flooding in Morpeth and the subsequent impact on over 100 local businesses being a stark example of these risks.

BITC’s  Climate Change Adaptation Project will target businesses in priority areas such as sectors whose products, services or processes are weather dependant , or companies that  have already been affected by extreme weather.

As well as offering businesses face to face advice, the project is aiming to develop an online risk checklist which will generate a detailed report and action plan, which will allowing business to take action to minimise their potential risks.

BITC’s Project Manager, Gareth Williams, said “ All businesses, whatever their sector, location and size, are faced with direct and indirect impacts of climate change, as we have seen only too recently in Morpeth and Rothbury. 

"Through this project, we hope to be able to help business avoid some of the risks, and remain in business in the longer term.”

One North East Business Support Manager, Simon Allen, said: “In recent years incidents of flooding have increased in the region. Disrupting businesses, causing physical damage and a great deal of heartache to local communities.

"Anything that can help people avoid this trauma or cope in the aftermath of a natural disaster must be welcomed."

“One North East is delighted to support this project.”

For further information or advice,  contact Project Manager Gareth Williams gareth.williams@bitc.org.uk   0191 294 6033.

For media enquiries please contact Claire.taylor@bitc.org.uk BITC North East on 019 294 6033