Mid and East Antrim (MEA) Borough Council has launched its Net Zero Business project (MEANZ Business) which will support local businesses in 'delivering sustainable futures'.

Stakeholders and local business owners attended the lunch to hear how the Council will deliver a series of activities to support businesses and expedite the Council's journey to achieving Net Zero targets.

Funded by Innovate UK, the MEANZ Business Project will lead a comprehensive engagement, support, and dissemination program focused on achieving Net Zero for businesses throughout the borough.

While the MEANZ Business project primarily focuses on supporting local businesses, it will also provide Council with invaluable insights and information to enable greater alignment to deliver on Net Zero innovations and targets.

Funding for the project was awarded as part of the £6 million Fast Followers competitive process, which falls under the umbrella of the Innovate UK Net Zero Living programme, designed to help places and businesses across the UK to accelerate the delivery of the transition to Net Zero.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna, said: "This is a timely and unique opportunity for businesses in the Borough. This area is only one of three areas to secure £300k of funding from Innovate UK to develop the MEANZ Business project to put in place a Net Zero Innovation and Delivery Manager and provide access to UK-wide industry expertise. This level of commitment to Mid and East Antrim businesses cannot be underestimated.

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"Council has already taken bold steps towards a greener future, exemplified by initiatives like the collaborative public-private sector Hydrogen Training Academy, the £15m HyTech NI project in conjunction with Queens University, the CleanTech Collaborative Growth Network funded by Invest NI and the forthcoming £24 million i4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre at the former St Patricks Barracks site.

"These strategic projects are the key drivers to Mid and East Antrim, leading the way as the CleanTech hub for Northern Ireland and the MEANZ Business project is another string to that bow."

Nicolas Wallet, Global Innovation Lead for Climate at Innovate UK and keynote speaker at the MEANZ Business launch event, said: "There is a vast amount of knowledge and expertise across the UK in relation to Net Zero innovation - MEANZ Business will enable direct access to this for both Council and the businesses its serves. There will be greater collaboration on how different industry sectors can tackle carbon emissions, how businesses both small and large can have an impact locally, and ultimately how we can achieve Net Zero targets and drive green growth."

Graham Whitehurst MBE, Chair of the Mid and East Antrim Manufacturing Taskforce, stated: "We're seeing that collaboration in Net Zero is stronger than ever before and to now have a team on the ground equipping our businesses with expertise, best practice, and access to Net Zero leaders across the UK will be fundamental in delivering sustainable futures."

Local companies Translink and Moore Concrete also presented at the MEANZ Business launch event and shared how Net Zero innovation is transforming their business.

William McCullagh, Head of Major Programmes at Translink said: "This project is a fantastic opportunity for our local companies to collaborate across the wider Innovate UK network and gain further knowledge and expertise to help them achieve their Net Zero goals. Translink has been at the forefront of innovation in relation to decarbonisation. We have been running zero emission buses for over 2 years now, including the first hydrogen fuelled double deck buses in the island of Ireland. Currently there are over 140 zero emission buses in service with another 100 due to enter service during 2024/25."