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The "100 in 100" Apprenticeship Challenge

Are you interested in hearing how an apprentice could add value to your business?

Do you already run a successful apprenticeship scheme that you want to shout about?

Then you might consider getting involved in this new initiative, whose aim is to have 100 apprentices placed with employers based in Bath and North East Somerset within 100 days.

Bath and North East Somerset Council has a proud history of developing skills through apprenticeships. Today there exists a pool of talented young people who are actively looking for apprenticeship opportunities across the private sector.

An event is being held to launch the initiative on Thursday 10th February, hosted by a partnership of education providers, businesses, and the National Apprenticeship Service.

Employers who currently run apprenticeship schemes will talk about what the skills benefits to their organisations have been - plus there will be information on the costs of employing an apprentice and training grant incentives which are available.

Event details:

Date: Thursday 10th February
Time: 6p.m. - 8p.m.
Venue: Bath Golf Club, Sham Castle Golf Course Road, Bath, BA2 6JG

RSVP to: Sophie Miles, Services to Business Apprentice, City of Bath College 01225 328874 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Hydrogen-powered ferry to kick start environmental enterprise in Bristol

Featuring Low Carbon South West member, Auriga Energy Ltd:

The UK s first hydrogen-powered ferry, set to run in Bristol s harbour this summer, will stimulate enterprise in new technologies in the city.

Bristol Hydrogen Boats - a consortium formed between No 7 Boat Trips, the Bristol Packet, and Auriga Energy Ltd - will showcase the hydrogen-fuelled ferry for six months from June 2011.

A local boat builder will be contracted to build a ferry to the consortium's design. Auriga Energy has developed the fuel cell system that will be integrated into the boat. Air Products will supply the hydrogen fuel and the dockside refuelling rig.

Clean and green, the ferry will carry up to 12 passengers per journey in order to demonstrate the commercial advantages of this technology to business, residents, commuters and tourists.

As an alternative to petrol and diesel engines, hydrogen powered transport impacts significantly less on the environment as they produce zero direct emissions: the only waste product is water. This would mean a big reduction in air and water pollution, in addition to reduced noise, in the harbour if the technology was widely adopted in the future.

Other European cities are running or planning to introduce hydrogen-powered ferries, but here in Bristol the project is seen as an important contributor to the development of the city's economy. As an environmental technology it is linked to one of Bristol s five priority high growth sectors, which are key to the city s ambitions to create a long term, sustainable, prosperous and productive economy.

Councillor Neil Harrison, Assistant Cabinet Member for Sustainability, said, This project is innovative for Bristol, and innovation brings growth. The initial 225,000 investment that this project will cost is pump-priming. This project will help kick start enterprise in new environmental technology and new areas of economic growth in Bristol providing investment and more jobs for local people in the technologies of the future.

Jas Singh, Managing Director of Auriga Energy Ltd and spokesperson for the consortium, said: This is an exciting opportunity for Bristol Hydrogen Boats to demonstrate the viability of the new zero-emission fuel cell technologies in marine transport operations. The project will introduce hydrogen technologies to the public and provide a stimulus to the wider adoption of this technology throughout the city, putting Bristol at the forefront of the emerging hydrogen economy and help maintain its position as the UK s green capital.

Notes to Editors
The consortium members were selected following bids submitted as
part of a tendering process.
The five priority high growth sectors are:
o Creative and media
o Advanced engineering, aerospace and defence
o Micro-electronics and silicon design
o Environmental technologies/maritime renewables
o Tourism

For more information about Bristol Hydrogen Boats contact Jas Singh:
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , tel. 0117 941 5340.
Issued by Bristol City Council press office on 0117 922 3332

Low Carbon Technology Journal

Please click here to access the latest edition of the Low Carbon Technology Journal, a free of charge publication produced by our colleagues at the Bath Ventures Innovation Centre, featuring innovative technology and show-casing start-up companies which address the challenge of climate change.

This issue includes articles and videos of the presentations given at the 'Sustainable Cities: Building the Future' conference held at the Bath Ventures Innovation Centre in 2010.

Low Carbon Business Breakfast: Clean Tech Companies and Investment

Investment in clean technology companies based in the South West will take centre stage on Tuesday 18th January at our first Low Carbon Business Breakfast of 2011.

Guest speaker, Philip Tellwright, managing director of SWAIN, a business angel network covering the South West, will address the current situation regarding general business investment in the region and highlight the benefits of the South West Cleantech Co-investment Fund, recently launched to aid companies looking to develop low-carbon technologies and innovations.

The new fund will provide loans of up to £100,000 for a period of three to five years to start-up clean technology companies and will invest alongside private investors and small venture capital firms who have both knowledge of the sector and experience in making business investments.

The process and criteria for any companies looking to apply for funds will also be outlined at the event.

Alan Bailey, chairman of Low Carbon South West, said: "The high concentration of clean tech companies in the South West underpins the region's drive and progression towards a low carbon economy. Its importance lies not only in the creation of new technologies to reduce carbon emissions in line with regional and national targets, but also through the provision of opportunities for growth and investment, creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs in the region."

Places at the business breakfast cost £12 (including VAT). For more details and to register online, please click here or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Date: 18 January 2011
Time: 08:00am to 9:00am
Venue: Bath Innovation Centre, Broad Quay, Bath, BA1 1UD

About Philip Tellwright and SWAIN
Philip Tellwright is managing director of SWAIN (South West Angel and Investor Network) and partner of the South West Cleantech Co-investment Fund.

SWAIN is a business angel network covering the South West. SWAIN connects private investors, or ‘Business Angels', with companies looking for investment. SWAIN specialises in helping small and medium sized companies to find equity finance, and assists private investors in the South West to search for investment opportunities in businesses in growth potential.

Would you like your organisation to be listed in our new Membership Directory?

Welcome to the LCSW Membership Directory. Users must log in or join to set up a Directory listing but anyone will be able to browse the listings. Please follow the quick and easy steps below to ensure that your organisation does not miss out on this promotional opportunity:

1. Open our homepage in a new window (so you can refer back to these instructions) and log in (or join).
If you have forgotten your username or password, please use the links provided.
2. Go to the Resource Centre tab and click on ‘My Dashboard' in the drop-down menu.
3. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a section called ‘Your contacts/organisations'. Click on ‘edit organisation'.
If there is no organisation listed, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for help.
4. Complete the form with your organisation's details. This should not take any longer than 5-10 minutes.
5. Save the information and it will immediately appear in the Directory.
6. To search for other organisations, go to ‘Search Membership'.

If you have any problems with any of this, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for further assistance.

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