Envirolink North West

Envirolink North West was a regional environmental organisation established in 1999 to promote, strengthen and support the low-carbon and environmental goods and services sector in North West England. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer-facing brand, it functioned as a sector-support and business-development network for companies, research organisations and other stakeholders working in environmental technologies and related services. The organisation’s work was focused on helping environmental businesses develop commercially and compete in domestic and international markets. Its stated activities included helping companies identify and win new business, supporting access to research, development and demonstration funding, connecting businesses with universities and other research bodies, and contributing to the development of skills needed by the environmental industry. It also represented the regional environmental sector at regional, national and international levels. Envirolink was supported by the Northwest Development Agency and was based at offices in Birchwood, Warrington. At its height, the organisation hosted a network of more than 1,500 companies connected with the regional environmental economy. This network-oriented model allowed Envirolink to act as an intermediary between businesses, public-sector bodies, funders and research institutions, at a time when policy attention and investment in low-carbon industries were increasing. A significant part of its activity was an events programme delivered between 2007 and 2010. The programme comprised approximately 150 events, including meet-the-buyer sessions and funding clinics. Envirolink also managed Envirenergy North West, a regional conference and exhibition focused on environmental and energy-related business activity. The flagship event attracted more than 400 delegates in total, providing a forum for networking, commercial introductions and discussion of environmental technologies and markets. The organisation expanded substantially before its closure. In 2010, its reported peak year, it employed around 90 staff and recorded turnover of approximately £6 million. These figures describe the scale of the organisation at that time and are not evidence of a listed company or shareholder-owned commercial enterprise. Envirolink North West subsequently entered liquidation in January 2013, ending its operations. Its historical significance lies in its role as a regional intermediary for the environmental and low-carbon economy, particularly through business networking, technology development support, events and sector representation.

Envirolink North West was founded in 1999 as a not-for-profit organisation serving the environmental and low-carbon economy of North West England. Its purpose was to strengthen the region’s Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services sector by helping businesses grow, encouraging innovation and creating connections between companies, research institutions, funders and potential customers. The organisation operated from Birchwood in Warrington and received support from the Northwest Development Agency. Its activities combined business support, sector representation and practical networking. Envirolink sought to help companies find and win business in the United Kingdom and overseas, while also helping them obtain funding for research, development and demonstrations of environmental technologies. Another central objective was to bring regional businesses together with universities and other research bodies so that new technologies, products and commercial ventures could be developed. Envirolink also worked on skills and industry development. It aimed to help build the talent and capabilities required for expansion of the environmental sector and represented regional interests in national and international settings. In this respect, it functioned as an intermediary organisation rather than as a manufacturer or retailer: its value came from connecting participants, sharing opportunities and supporting the commercialisation of environmental expertise. Between 2007 and 2010, Envirolink delivered a broad events programme of roughly 150 individual events. These included meet-the-buyer sessions, which connected suppliers with prospective customers, and funding clinics designed to help organisations understand and pursue available finance for environmental innovation. The organisation also managed Envirenergy North West, a conference and exhibition that served as a flagship gathering for the region’s environmental and energy communities. More than 400 delegates attended the conference and exhibition in total. The organisation reached its largest reported scale in 2010, when it employed approximately 90 people and had turnover of around £6 million. It also hosted a network of more than 1,500 companies associated with the regional environment sector. Envirolink later ceased operating and entered liquidation in January 2013. Available reference material does not identify a successor organisation, a specific liquidator, or the detailed causes of the liquidation. The organisation is therefore best understood as a defunct regional environmental-sector support body whose main legacy was its network, events programme and role in promoting low-carbon business activity in North West England.

• 2013

  Liquidation

  [1]Envirolink Northwesten.wikipedia.org

  Envirolink North West entered liquidation in January 2013 and became defunct.

• 2010

  Peak reported scale

  [1]Envirolink Northwesten.wikipedia.org

  Envirolink reached its reported peak, with approximately 90 employees, turnover of about £6 million and a network exceeding 1,500 regional environmental companies.

• 2007

  Expanded events programme begins

  [1]Envirolink Northwesten.wikipedia.org

  The organisation delivered a comprehensive programme of environmental-sector events, including meet-the-buyer sessions and funding clinics, during the 2007–2010 period.

• 1999

  Organisation established

  [1]Envirolink Northwesten.wikipedia.org

  Envirolink North West was established to promote and support the low-carbon and environmental goods and services sector in North West England.

A regional, not-for-profit intermediary supporting companies and research organisations in the low-carbon and environmental goods and services sector.

• Business development

  Environmental business support

  Support intended to help companies in the low-carbon and environmental goods and services sector identify commercial opportunities, win business and expand in domestic and international markets. The service was delivered through an organisational network and sector-focused activities rather than through a standardized commercial product.

• Environmental innovation

  Research, development and demonstration support

  Envirolink helped environmental businesses pursue funding and partnerships for research, development and demonstration of environmental technologies. It also connected businesses with research bodies to encourage new technologies, products and commercial ventures.

• Conference and exhibition

  Envirenergy North West

  A flagship conference and exhibition managed by Envirolink North West for the regional environmental and energy community. The event provided a setting for delegates to exchange information, develop business contacts and discuss environmental technologies and markets.

1. 1Envirolink Northwesten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Envirolink North West websiteenvirolinknorthwest.co.uk