Spreading the Green Goodness

At the TLS we are all about spreading the love of things Green, especially when they save us money. For this reason the Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associate project is hosting a "Save Money by Carbon Foot-Printing" workshop on Thursday 11th Feb. Aimed at local business owners and managers, the workshop will show companies how they can save money and the environment by understanding the inter-relationship between carbon equivalent emissions reduction, resource efficiency measures and investment. Email Richard at r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk if you would like more details about this free event.

The Green Thing

I've been trying to think of a heading for a series of posts I'm going to write about the "greening" of the Thurrock Learning Shop but my mischievous mind keeps sniggering at the colour. You see, I studied in Spain for awhile and over there green translates to blue. So if for example you watch a blue movie, the Spanish would say a green movie; to tell a blue joke would translate to a green joke and the phrase "dirty old man" is "viejo verde" or "old green". Suffice to say, when you meet your madrileno flatmate's mother for the first time, don't be asking her if she has green fingers - it doesn't translate well.

So back to the Green Thing and today I've picked up the recycling bin for the Thurrock Learning Shop so we can start to collect the used paper without causing a fire hazard. I was hoping to get a second-hand bin from our friends at 2ndGeneration in Thurrock but it seems that bins don't get recycled often. Getting the bin is the start of the journey towards carbon reduction that we've documented in the Thurrock Learning Shop's Green Commitment. Hopefully there will be some fun things too like growing our own herbs on the window-sill and a potato-bucket in the car park so if anybody has any knowledge of moon-phase planting, a spare watering can or some spare seed potatos that they would like to donate, please email me at r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk

Social Enterprise Round Table

The Learning Shop is looking forward to hosting it's first event for Thurrock's social enterprise community on Friday 5th February from 0830 until 1030. Social Enterprise is the fastest growing business model in Europe - some of the more well known names include retailer John Lewis, The Eden Project in Cornwall, Jamie Oliver's restaurant group 15 and Cafedirect.

Social Enterprise East of England Director Andy Brady will be talking briefly about the opportunities and threats facing social entrepreneurs in 2010 and then Richard will be explaining how Social Enterprises can take advantage of subsidised support from the Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates project.

The Round Table will also provide an excellent opportunity to meet other managers of social enterprises, network and do business over bacon butties. More information is available from r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk or by calling 07500 802 311.

Siberian Winds Blow Towards Grays

Well, I must of chosen the coldest day of the year to visit the recently opened Thurrock Learning Shop. The journey from East London to Grays town centre was thwarted by one car in the garage, one woman unwilling to drive in the ice and a broken down C2C train. But make it I did (along with Gail and Ray also from UEL) to meet with Development Corporation colleagues to talk about the launch and official opening of the new Shop.
Wow, what a change from the pictures Debbie (shop manager) had previously posted on the Blog. Pleased to report the heating is now working, the interior is very impressive and the kettle is fully functional (thank you to one of the partners who made me tea). Despite the very poor weather, over a couple of hours there were a few interested individuals, families and couples that called in to find out 'what was going on' and 'could it help them'. Richard did a great job on the meeting and greeting front whilst Debbie attempted to leave Grays (we kept getting texts that she was still on the station waiting for a train). Sadly, we forgot to give Debbie leaflets to distribute whilst she stood on the platform to promote the next Saturday learning and community event taking place at the end of January focusing on health and well-being, drat........