07 February 2012 14:04
E.ON and Knowsley Council announce sustainable energy partnership

Knowsley Council has this week agreed to form a low carbon partnership with energy company E.ON, which will see them work together to promote low carbon energy solutions for local homes and businesses.

Councillor Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council, and Michael Woodhead, Managing Director of E.ON's Sustainable Energy business, signed the pioneering agreement between Knowsley Council and E.ON which will see them work together to improve energy efficiency and renewable technology as well as promoting new skills and job opportunities in the area.

Through their combined expertise, the partnership will help deliver the Sustainable Knowsley Programme and support the council's commitment to cleaner, more efficient energy and helping to combat the impacts of Climate Change.

Councillor Round said: "The council is keen to work collaboratively with a range of public, private, charitable and local community based organisations and we're delighted to secure E.ON's expertise to help us develop Knowsley's low carbon economy."

The partnership will lead the way to launch the Knowsley Community Energy Fit scheme, with charity National Energy Action (NEA). This will involve the recruitment of 40 volunteer ‘Energy Champions' through local job creation schemes who will be trained to deliver in-home energy saving advice and signpost support to vulnerable families.

Sheena Ramsey, Chief Executive of Knowsley Council, said: "These champions will develop their skills, and job prospects, while helping to tackle fuel poverty in the heart of their community. We're confident this scheme will help improve energy efficiency in homes, reduce fuel bills and help protect the environment."

Michael Woodhead, Managing Director of E.ON's Sustainable Energy business, said: "In these difficult times, it's essential that companies, councils and the community come together to help tackle people's concerns about energy head-on and face-to-face.

"We're pleased to be working with like-minded partners in Knowsley to focus on sustainable and low carbon energy technologies such as micro generation and renewable heating who can help us deliver this as part of our partnership with the area."

E.ON is also working with Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) and Elmfield Training on its Energy Assessors scheme, creating jobs to 15 previously unemployed people in the area and giving them the chance to develop valuable skills and knowledge while also identifying and helping local residents who may be living in fuel poverty.

The Energy Assessors have been recruited through the Route 2 Employment job creation scheme. It's hoped they will carry out more than 4,000 home assessments in the coming months, giving residents energy efficiency advice and directing them to a range of resources to help them, including financial assistance and impartial advice help lines.

 

Ends

Notes to editors:

There are 7,036,863 fuel poor households in the UK (Source: CSE/Consumer Focus NowCast for fuel poverty 2011).

All Energy Assessors will wear Route to Employment uniforms and carry photo ID cards.

About E.ON:

• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, and retailing power and gas - and is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies;
• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies, and has around 5 million electricity and gas customers, covering domestic, SME and industrial;
• E.ON has formed Sustainable City partnerships with a number of cities in the UK to help reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions across entire communities whilst also stimulating local economies and jobs through energy efficiency measures and smart technologies;
• E.ON is working with skills company Elmfield Training and five local authorities - Knowsley, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Birmingham and Coventry - to recruit and train 75 energy assessors throughout the UK to offer help and advice to those facing fuel poverty.

About Knowsley Council:

• The Sustainable Knowsley Programme has been established to maximise the significant economic and social benefits the low carbon economy offers to Knowsley in terms of enhancing employment through skills development and job creation, securing investment in regeneration programmes, mitigating fuel poverty and protecting the environment. The programme involves officers from all parts of the Council, and its partners, and is being led by David Coulson, Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services.

About Elmfield Training:

• Elmfield Training is a talent development organisation working with some of the UK's largest employers;  
• Elmfield understands the negative impact on individuals and families resulting from the lack of job sustainability and how difficult it can be to progress to better paid jobs without the right qualifications;
• Elmfield supports career mobility by offering a range of apprenticeships and higher level qualifications created to suit a range of industries.

About NEA:

• NEA is the UK's leading fuel poverty charity campaigning for affordable warmth in the homes of vulnerable people. For further details visit http://www.nea.org.uk/
• A fuel-poor household is defined as one needing to spend more than 10% of household income to achieve a satisfactory and healthy heating regime.

For more information contact:

Victoria Blake at E.ON on 024 7618 1304 or victoria.blake@eonenergy.com