UK business news in short

UK Coal – Britain’s biggest coal producer – has successfully bid to join the UK Emissions Trading scheme, designed to reduce the volume of greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere (see related story). The company has bid for about 10% of the target reduction, and has qualified for over £21 million of the £215 million that the Government has made available to kick-start the trading market over the next five years.

Meanwhile, Entropy International, an environmental software provider, has been named as one of the UK’s top 100 most visionary organisations in this year’s BT Vision 100 Index, alongside companies such as Ford Motors, EasyJet and J D Wetherspoon. The index recognises those organisations that represent what is most innovative and radical in UK enterprise today. Entropy has been included due to its development of a web-based environmental, quality and health and safety management system.

Viridis, the sustainability and waste management research arm of the Transport Research Foundation (TRF), has launched new guidance on the permitted uses of secondary and recycled aggregates in roads. The advice, part of the Aggregates Information Service, includes in-situ recycling techniques.

Yorkshire Water has announced that one of its regional sludge managers is going to the US to share his and the company’s expertise in waste water operations. Simon Parker will be spending two months from April at the headquarters of Yorkshire Water’s US sister company, Aquarion, in Connecticut.

And finally, the ET2002 tradeshow will be taking place on 21-23 May, and again will be the UK’s largest event providing environmental solutions for all businesses. This year, the show will feature three dedicated zones – air pollution, waste and water, and environmental management – which will offer practical advice and solutions relating to key issues facing local government and industry today, including training and legislation.