Case studies

As part of its Zero Carbon Strategy, South Cambridgeshire District Council has invested £1.9 million in a retrofit of its Cambourne headquarters, installing renewable generation and efficient energy management systems to dramatically reduce energy bills and almost halve the carbon emissions from the building in year one.

In line with Warrington Borough Council’s plans to be carbon neutral by 2030, the authority have made significant headway through investment in renewable energy projects within and beyond the borough. Having developed and acquired two large solar farms near York and Hull, the Council now own renewable assets that generate more power than its uses. Using a commercial approach to green energy investments has proven viable in creating a regular income for essential council services and wider public benefit in Warrington via a community benefit fund.

The West Bromwich outdoor market redevelopment sought to improve the visual amenity of the area, deliver against the Council’s climate change agenda and increase the economic impact of the market, which is at the cultural heart of the town centre. The scheme was shortlisted for The Energy Awards 2021.

Work Well Suffolk is a locally integrated coaching and employment service that tackles the deep-seated barriers to work for all who need it. The service acts as the ‘cement between the bricks’ of the health, employability, skills and wellbeing services that are available to people in Suffolk. It will ensure that individuals can gain bespoke and timely access to relevant services whilst blending in coaching, employability support, skills provision, advice and guidance.

Apprenticeships Suffolk is an impartial and completely free service being offered by Suffolk County Council as part of their strategic aim to increase the quality and quantity of apprenticeships within the county, thereby supporting businesses and helping to achieve economic growth.

In Wakefield the council and local NHS have set up a roving vaccination team to work with communities at risk of low uptake.

Gateshead Council partnered with a range of voluntary sector organisations to encourage asylum seekers and refugees to come forward for a COVID-19 vaccine. 

To help tackle the low vaccine uptake in Newcastle's working age men, Newcastle City Council and the local NHS worked closely with the city’s football club to help increase vaccination rates.

To ensure good uptake in black and ethnic minority communities, the council has worked closely with its communities, training local people to become vaccine advocates and running mobile pop-up clinics.

A women-only vaccination clinic was set up in a local area in Leeds experiencing lower vaccine uptake rates in order to provide a safe space for women to access the vaccine.