The results of the survey are particularly positive news for Regen SW, who, from Monday April 7th, will have an extended remit to champion energy-efficiency initiatives and work to grow energy-efficiency businesses.

The ‘Economic Contribution of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Sectors in the South West of England’ survey – commissioned by Regen SW, the region’s sustainable energy agency, and carried out by DTZ – also showed that the value of the energy efficiency sector is £294m.  Combined, the two sectors now include over 300 companies, which directly employ 7,200 workers and have an economic value to the region in excess of £1/2bn per annum.

Wind is the largest renewable energy sector employer (32 per cent of all renewable energy employees in region), with a further 23 per cent of firms involved in the wind sub-sector.  The whole renewables sector is still dominated by small businesses, and 90 per cent of them expect their firms to grow either very strongly or gradually over the next few years.  In addition, 75 per cent of businesses said they expect to increase employment over the next few years, and over 60 per cent said they will recruit and train new managers or staff, expand existing UK markets, or develop new UK markets.

Matthew Spencer, chief executive of Regen SW, said: “Renewable energy businesses in the south west are growing at a very impressive rate, and are bullish about the future. The survey suggests that there continue to be opportunities for entrepreneurs setting up new businesses, or diversifying into renewables. This is good news for the region’s economy, because these are generally firms that create well paid, high-skill jobs, with high levels of productivity. The challenge for our economy is to meet as much of this new demand for skills and technology as possible from within the region”

He added: “The energy efficiency sector is the poor cousin of renewables. It delivers huge carbon savings to our economy, but energy efficiency businesses get much less attention than those in renewables. Thanks to additional support from the South West RDA, Regen SW is now able to provide networking and promotion opportunities to these firms. We’re also committed to joining up and championing the best energy-efficiency initiatives in the region, which are vital to shrinking the South West’s carbon footprint.”

Jonny Boston, energy manager, from the South West RDA, which has now committed more than £3.3 million of funding to Regen SW since 2002, said: “The impressive growth of the region’s renewable energy sector is an excellent step towards achieving a low-carbon economy in the south west.  We hope that the results of today’s survey will inspire more entrepreneurs to set up and grow green businesses, employing skilled people with high levels of productivity.  This in turn will help the region to benefit from our efforts to mitigate against climate change, and to demonstrate that the economy can grow within environmental limits.”  

The survey will be used to help inform Regen SW’s program me of activity over the coming years.  To read the full survey, visit http://regensw.co.uk/downloads/RegenSW_149.pdf

Any renewable energy or energy-efficiency businesses that wish to be either included in Regen SW’s company directory or that would like to know more about Regen SW’s work, should visit www.regensw.co.uk

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