SMEs to benefit from SCLAA energy-efficiency program

The Supply Chain and Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA) has received a $743,310 grant from the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism to develop and deliver a comprehensive and targeted program called Energy Efficiency Solutions for Australian Transport and Logistics SMEs.

Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) - defined as 200 employees or fewer - in the supply chain and logistics industry face time and competitive pressures, but lack the targeted skills and resources to identify and improve their energy use, SCLAA Chairman David Rogers said. This project aims to address this need by delivering a comprehensive closed loop program for SMEs in the supply chain and logistics sector.

The program, which is being funded by the Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program, will be delivered face to face at 30 locations across Australia, with all program components also available online.

Mark Skipper, SCLAA National Director, has outlined the program’s seven stages:

• Stage 1: Research and stakeholder consultation.
• Stage 2: Creation of a web-based ‘Energy Efficiency Assessment tool’ to assist SMEs to benchmark their energy performance against industry best practice and understand where opportunities to improve energy efficiency exist within their business. Each SME will receive a tailored assessment action plan, providing recommendations to cost-effectively reduce energy use.
• Stage 3: Creation of comprehensive workshop packs of tools and resources based on Stage 1 outcomes to assist time- and resource-poor SMEs to take action on energy efficiency.
• Stage 4: Promotion of the project through existing channels to build awareness across the sector of the project and how they can benefit environmentally and financially by participating.
• Stage 5: Delivery of half- and full-day workshops in all eight state and territory capital cities, plus 22 regional locations. In addition, 10 interactive webinars will be delivered, during which participants can ask questions in real time and learn from similar businesses.
• Stage 6: Workshop content and recordings will be made available online so SMEs that are unable to participate in workshops or webinars can still benefit from the events.
• Stage 7: Three- and six-month follow-up of all participants after stage 4 or 5. SCLAA will ensure all benchmarks are being bettered and each SME has a strategy to reduce energy consumption.

Stages 1-6 will be completed by July 2014 and Stage 7 by December 2014. All content will be available on the SCLAA website until the end of 2021 at the very earliest.

SCLAA will work with project partner ClimateWorks Australia to deliver the project.