Green business on US trade mission

Six businesses will join Climate Change minister, Greg Barker, in a tour of US cities to explore the openings for UK green business in the U.S. and inward investment opportunities in the UK’s low carbon sector.

The firms, with Greg Barker, will meet politicians, business groups, investors and regional development bodies.

The trade mission has three main aims: to help UK companies break into the U.S. market, demonstrate the opportunities presented by the green economy, and highlight the opportunities for investment back in the UK.

Greg Barker said: “I am proud to be a cheerleader for Britain’s green businesses and am in America this week flying the flag for those firms that are breaking into the U.S. market.

“The companies joining me on this U.S. trade mission are living proof of the economic benefits of the new green economy and can therefore help me make the case that going green is good for the economy, as well as energy security.”

The companies taking part in the trade mission include:

·Jupiter Asset Management which creates investment vehicles for those wanting to invest in environmentally sustainable companies.

·The Mark Group, an energy efficiency and renewables firm.

·The RES Group, developers and constructors of renewable energy projects: on-shore wind, off-shore wind, biomass and large-scale solar farms.

·Adnams Southwold, UK brewer, hotelier and wine merchant. Its sustainability initiatives are include “zero-carbon” beer (East Green) sending its brewery waste to an anaerobic digester that creates gas that heats the company’s buildings and will soon fuel its delivery trucks. The gas that is not used by Adnams is sold back into the grid.

·Intelligent Energy, a global clean power systems company, with a range of leading fuel cell and hydrogen generation technologies

·Willis Group Holdings plc, a global risk management advisory firm and insurance broker with expertise in helping clients prepare for and manage extreme events and climate-related risks. Willis advises on clean and renewable energy technology.

Alison Brown