Committed to a sustainable future

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has numerous initiatives that focus on energy, in particular on how businesses can reduce their energy usage in order to become more sustainable.

Eco-I North West – Research and development to support a green recovery

The recently launched Eco-I NW is a £14m business Research and Development (R&D) programme that supports small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across the North West, including Lancashire and Cumbria, as they undertake low carbon business innovations.

Eco-I NW is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is not led by specific technologies or area of research, but instead is driven by business needs.  

It can mean supporting the development of a new product or service, exploring an innovative technology, or expanding understanding to allow new markets to be reached.

As one of the partner universities in this initiative, UCLan can provide support to businesses in three different ways:

  • 12-month Masters by Research
  • 140 hours internship
  • Three-month innovation project

The 12-month Masters by Research consists of a dedicated full-time researcher working with your business, supported by UCLan’s academics, to solve your challenges.

The 140 hours internship involves an appropriate student matched to your business needs, funded to work on your project supported by an academic, or team of academics.

The three-month innovation project sees a specialist academic who has expertise in the area, supporting your business’s innovation idea.

They will work collaboratively with your business for three months to develop opportunities and innovation that will not only help to reduce your carbon footprint but could support your company’s growth in the existing market or help enter new markets.

To find out more about how Eco-I NW can support your business please contact wastemanagement@uclan.ac.uk, or call 01772 894324. Alternatively, see our website https://www.uclan.ac.uk/research/activity/eco-i-north-west-research-and-development-to-support-a-green-recovery.

Centre for Sustainable Transitions – addressing the challenges of climate change

The Centre for Sustainable Transitions brings together engineers, social scientists, architects and psychologists to explore a variety of challenges:

  • Changes brought about by climate-related instability and associated environmental issues
  • Questions surrounding energy demand, generation and supply
  • The zero-carbon agenda and its potential impact on the health and wellbeing of communities
  • Society’s ability to predict and respond to potential future scenarios
  • Uncertainties such as climate-induced disasters

The centre aims to provide new perspectives and develop unique solutions to the challenges we are facing.

It currently works on regional projects with businesses and civic institutions. The broad range of work includes two transport projects with Lancashire County Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Blackpool Council.

Centre members have been awarded a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Place-Based Climate Action Network (PCAN) for a project ‘Climate Resilience, Social Justice and COVID-19 Recovery in Preston’, working with Preston City Council, Community Gateway Association and other stakeholders.

The centre has secured projects on the sustainability of large-scale energy developments, for example leading on the £3m Horizon 2020 Nuclear Fission Research Program grant, History of Nuclear Energy and Society (HoNESt), carrying historical and social science research on the relationship between nuclear energy and society in 23 countries over the last 60 years.

The team have also supported large scale public engagement projects for energy infrastructure developments in the UK. These projects have worked with the public, supply chain businesses and industry.

To find out more about the centre, go to www.uclan.ac.uk/research/centres/sustainable-transitions

Enjoyed this? Read more from Lancashire Business View

Latest news

1

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

2

First speakers confirmed for Lancashire Business Day Dave Walker with Richard Slater at Lancashire Business Day

First speakers confirmed for Lancashire Business Day

08 Oct 2025

3

Hemmings steps down as PNE chairman as hunt begins for new investors Craig Hemmings

Hemmings steps down as PNE chairman as hunt begins for new investors

08 Oct 2025

4

Chamber calls for three council county Lancashire County Council County Hall

Chamber calls for three council county

08 Oct 2025

5

Victorian Plumbing reports strong financial performance Victorian Plumbing Leyland

Victorian Plumbing reports strong financial performance

07 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace
Muted Blue (4).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
08 Oct 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:30

Empowering franchise growth in the North West
TFA Event - Empowering Franchise Growth.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering franchise growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors Sceptre Way Walton Summit Centre , Preston, PR5 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West
Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West event
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit Centre, PR5 6AW, PR6 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin