Environmental Bill – Post Brexit Update

The Environment Bill was re-introduced to Parliament on 30 January 2020, with Defra releasing a policy paper alongside it.

The Bill outlines measures intended to protect and enhance the UK’s environments in a world without EU oversight.

The UK’s departure from the EU leaves an environmental ‘governance gap’. The Bill aims to ensure maintain key EU standards, including measures to tackle air pollution, meet net zero by 2050, and restore and enhance nature.

Key Outcomes:

1. New Green Watchdog

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) will hold the government to account on environmental law and its Environmental Improvement Plan. The proposed body will enforce its powers through a new kind of legal instrument, an ‘environmental review’, that can force public authorities to take action if a court finds they have failed to meet environmental standards. The body will also examine the worth of new environmental policies and investigate potential breaches

2. Environmental issues enshrined in law

As part of a new environmental governance system, the Bill outlines requirements for legally binding targets on air and water quality, biodiversity, and waste efficiency. These new targets replace those under the existing EU framework.

3. Biodiversity net gain

If enacted, the Bill will enshrine in law the principle of biodiversity net gain. This would require a developer to offset and improve the value of any natural habitat damaged or destroyed as a result of development.

Biodiversity net gain applies to almost all development in England, with 10% net gain to be achieved though a structured plan. National infrastructure projects covered by the Planning Act 2008, some small developments not requiring an environmental impact assessment, or those on brownfield land, will be exempt from the net gain policy.

If a developer is unable to provide a 10% biodiversity gain in habitat creation, it must provide an offset on another piece of land or purchase conservation credits from the Secretary of State.

What’s NEW?

1. International leadership

The Bill includes a new pledge to create a two-yearly review of ‘significant developments in international legislation on the environment’ to feed into the Environmental Improvement Plan and target-setting process. The aim is to position the UK as a leader in environmental protection.

2. No commitment to non-regression

One of the changes in the ‘level playing fields’ section of Boris Johnson’s renegotiated EU Withdrawal Agreement means there is no obligation to uphold EU environmental standards. But Defra communications do stipulate that the UK will be free to go above and beyond current rules.

Read more the Environment Bill 2020 update: HERE

Website & Digital Merchandiser – New Position

NEW POSITION for 2020!

An exciting opportunity to join our dynamic Helping Hand Environmental Sales & Marketing team – and an essential part of our growth plans to build our community and ultimately sales, through e-commerce channels.

A key role in the customer journey – this full time role is an excellent opportunity for someone wanting to progress their career and make a difference everyday.

Responsible for:

  • maintaining and developing website inc creating and editing engaging content & managing live chat
  • building and developing social campaigns through a number of channels to drive traffic, PPC and SEO
  • managing and optimising google shopping, adwords
  • managing community engagement (across several digital platforms)
  • implementation of digital campaigns utilising all the marketing tools and channels available uploading promotions and offers across all digital platforms
  • monitoring, reporting on google analytics and making recommendations to improve performance
  • identifying trends and areas for growth to the overall e-commerce strategy
  • conducting keyword research and competitor landscape to feed SEO
  • supporting website development via WordPress
  • Its a fast paced environment in which you will have great opportunity to learn, develop and huge empowerment to make a difference every day in our quest to protect our planet.

Graduated with a min 2 years track record in utilising digital acquisition channels to drive direct sales and proven commercial skills. Experience of both Amazon Seller Central, marketplace and other online shops eg eBay highly desirable.

In addition to managing our online assets, the successful candidate will liaise with the sales team and support our key distribution customers online presence in the UK and into Europe.

General administrative support may be needed to help process orders, answering telephone for online enquiries – versatility in a small business environment, a real team player!

We are looking for bright, energetic and enthusiastic individual within 60 minutes of Head office in Herefordshire. We can offer flexible working hours to accommodate balance of office/remote working.

Do you have:

  • min 24 months web content management experience
  • experience in using CRM, PPC, SEO
  • demonstrate experience in increasing website traffic
  • an eye for detail with a passion for learning, ready for the next step in your digital career
  • good working knowledge of photoshop, send blue, hoot suite (or equivalents)
  • excellent verbal, written communication skills and proof-reading – content management key.
  • ability to prioritise and work under own initiative

With feed in from the rest of the team, this is a brilliant opportunity to build on the success of our existing platforms, adding functionality and stakeholder engagement to enhance the customers journey and ultimately generate new enquiries and sales.

Application via email with CV as soon as possible to sales@helpinghand.co.uk 

Christmas Shutdown Dates

Helping Hand Environmental want to ensure every customer is guaranteed their order in time the festive season. Should you need any products in time for Christmas, place your order by:

Friday 13th December for personalised or non standard AND
Friday 20th December for ex stock items.

Call our Sales Team today on 01531 635678.

The Helping Hand Company will close for business on Monday 23rd December and reopen on Thursday 2nd January 2020. 

We will still be accepting online orders online during our Christmas Shutdown period, but we will not be processing your order until we return to work on Thursday 2nd January 2020.

May we take this opportunity to thank you for your custom throughout 2019 and wish you a very Merry Christmas & New Year!

Brummie Bull – Community Trust Project Launched

The Helping Hand Community Trust were delighted to launch Brummie Bull on Friday 25th October in partnership with Andrew Wood – Herefordshire Community Recycling Raising Money for Local Charities, Lynne Stokes and the Eco Club from St Mary’s Primary School.

Brummie was proudly made by Helping Hand Rotherwas colleagues – Mark Bishop, John Anderson and Gareth Hughes as our sponsored Community Trust October project.

  • Brummie is very special he is built to collect funds for the Hereford Royal British Legion and Hereford SAS branch.
  • The name Brummie was chosen to honour Herefordshire SAS legend and 22 regiment member – Brummie Stokes.
  • School children across Herefordshire will make recycled poppies (from the end of plastic bottles and old uniforms) to pin onto Brummie as part of his official campaign tour.
  • The Helping Hand Company want to encourage as many as possible of all ages to make poppies – to thank those who gave so much for us to have what we have today and generations forward.

Brummie will be making a guest appearance at several Herefordshire locations this Autumn including:

  • Hereford Railway Station on Tuesday 29th October 10am
  • Boulder Barn, HR1 1JS on Friday 1st November all day
  • High Town, Hereford on Saturday 2nd November all day
  • Weston Under Penyard on Thursday 7th November 12 noon
  • Bromyard High Street on Friday 8th November 9am
  • High Town, Hereford on Sunday 10th November for Remembrance Day Parade
  • Old Market, Hereford on Saturday 30th November 9am

You can also follow the latest campaign updates on Facebook, LIKE Herefordshire Community Recycling Raising Money for Local Charities and LitterpickersUK

For further information on this innovative project and The Helping Hand Community Trust, please contact Lindsay Richmond-Kearns, Communities Manager on 01531 635678.

What Impact will The Environment Bill have in your local Community?

The Environment Bill was announced in the Queen’s Speech on 14 October 2019 but what does the Bill mean for your local environment?

The Facts:

The Environment Bill 2019-20 sits alongside the Government’s longer-term objective for “this, to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than that in which we inherited it.”

The first part of the Bill is to provide measures to address environmental governance gaps following withdrawal from the EU and beyond.

The Bill puts into legislation a series of environmental principles and establishes an Office for Environmental Protection, which will have scrutiny, advice and enforcement functions.

It also makes provision for the setting of long-term, legally binding environmental targets in four “priority areas” of air quality, water, biodiversity and resource efficiency and waste reduction, along with the production of statutory Environmental Improvement Plans – 25 Year Environment Plan

The Highlights:

  • A new direction for resources and waste management

The Bill makes provisions for the managing of waste and producer responsibility. The provisions introduce a revised extended packaging producer responsibility scheme, the power to regulate for ecodesign standards and resource efficiency information across a wider range of products, and amendments to the responsibilities and powers for separating and recycling waste. It provides a framework for a deposit return scheme.

  • Improving the air we breathe

The Bill deals with air quality and amends the requirements and management of Local Air Quality Management Frameworks. It also provides local authorities with greater powers in smoke control areas and includes provision to require the recall of road vehicles on environmental grounds.

  • Delivering sustainable water resources

The Bill includes provisions relating to water resources management in six different areas: the development of joint regional plans for long-term water resource management, a statutory duty for water companies to develop long-term drainage and sewerage management plans, amendments to the water company licencing process, amendments to the abstraction licence process, powers to amend water quality standards and the land valuation process for internal drainage board (IDB) charges.

  • Restoring and enhancing nature and green spaces

The Bill legislates for the creation of the net gain requirement of 10%, expands the duty on relevant authorities from conserving to “conserving and enhancing” biodiversity, and legislates for the creation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies to cover the whole of England supported by DEFRA and legislates for the introduction of conservation covenants.

  • Chemicals regulation (REACH)

The (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation regulates the manufacture, placing on the market and use of chemicals. The REACH Enforcement Regulations 2008 set out how the requirements of the REACH Regulation are enforced.

The Conclusion:

This Bill creates a framework in which strong local government leadership will be enhanced to drive the necessary, and once in a lifetime environmental improvement to reverse decades of biodiversity loss and improve air quality. Most of the Bill extends to England and Wales and applies in England. There are some parts that extend to the whole of the UK or apply to specific countries.

Government will fully fund all new burdens on local authorities arising from the Bill in order to make our ambition a reality. We are committed to working in partnership with local government, businesses and wider stakeholders on the implementation of these measures, to identify and secure the capacity and skills to deliver a cleaner, greener and healthier environment.

To make a difference today to your local community, give us a call on 01531 635678 or email sales@helpinghand.co.uk

 

 

Believe in Business Beyond Brexit

Helping Hand Environmental division have been honoured to showcase our #BelieveinBusiness ethos at several high profile events this last week.

After winning the Queen’s Award for International Trade – we were invited to present at The Institute of Export and International Trade  #WorldTradeSummit.

The event yesterday; chaired by Lord Popat gave Helping Hand UK Sales Manager, Carly Di Crescienzo the opportunity to showcase what we do and highlight #BuyBritish #SustainableManufacturing #PartnershipWorking principles.

Ahead of Saturday’s critical #Brexit vote , our VP for Sales & Marketing Lara Bryant was asked to feature on BBC Hereford & Worcester Breakfast Show to discuss what impact #Brexit might have on Herefordshire businesses.

Catch Lara’s interview here – though you will need to forward to 1 hour, 12 minutes in to listen in

And read Lara’s Top Tips on how your business can survive #Brexit – deal or no deal!

 

 

 

 

The C Word

Since Greta Thunberg “Wake Up” speech at the United Nation’s Climate Change Conference earlier this month, the world has been hooked on Climate Action, but what does this really mean? And can we make any difference to the outcome of Climate Change?

The Helping Hand Company is committed to support – Climate Action (UN Sustainable Development Goal 13) but it is important to understand what Climate Action is and how can we help to reduce the amount of carbon we are all producing;  as individuals, families and of course as businesses.

Climate Change is an acute threat to global development. Keeping rising temperatures to below 2 degrees will require coordinated global action, but we can all make a difference locally to implement Climate Action.

At the United Nations conference, five key climate challenges were addresses during the day with speakers presenting case studies of practical solutions to support each challenge. However, we can all take part in developing climate action for positive change, just like our business is doing below.

In support of United Nations Day today – read on how The Helping Hand Company is implementing Climate Action as a business and with our customers.

1 Healthy Energy Systems can prevent dangerous effects from climate change. This can be achieved through a shift toward cleaner energy.

Our Example: accelerate the transition to electric vehicles or cleaner modes of transport by 2030.

  • Our business is investing in greener technology for our fleet of vehicles. Already the majority of senior management team own cars which are fully hybrid or electric.
  • We offer a Bike to Work scheme at both our Hereford and Ledbury manufacturing sites in support of Government legalisation. Our scheme saves over 100 miles of ‘carbon negative’ car journeys every week which comes to 4,800 miles per annum; with our Senior Management team saving over 1,000 miles every year in C02!

 

2 Inclusive Economic Growth requires climate leadership, clean technology and smarter supply chains.

Our Example: set sustainability targets and built climate resilient supply chains

  • As our company name, suggests, we really care about the environment. As well as our mission to make the whole world litter free and divert as much rubbish as possible from landfill to recycling, we also constantly look for new ways to minimise our environmental impact. From manufacturing as much as possible (KPI of 97%) using recyclable materials to recycled compostable packaging, we aim for zero waste. We also produce recycling kits alongside our products, which can extend their lifespans by 300%.
  • We work with our suppliers to reduce single use plastics, refuse excess packaging and polystyrene entering our factories
  • We work with our customers to help them implement sustainable procurement – #factory2hand

3 Sustainable Communities create buildings, communities and infrastructure that is clean, healthy and liveable.

Our Example: transform our infrastructure through innovation and partnership working

  • We have invested in LED Lighting, Solar Panels and Air Source Heating across our factories reducing our carbon footprint by 75%
  • Our Helping Hand Community Trust, has helped communities in Herefordshire to renovate school and community gardens, redevelop trust premises and our recent Herefordshire Bull project encourages schools to recycle.

4 Land and Ocean Stewardship implementation of climate friendly land use, conservation and agriculture policies

Our Example: transform our communities through innovation and partnership working

  • We worked with 346,012 litter pick volunteers in the first three months of this year alone, providing them not just with litter-pick tools, but also educationally to recycle on the go.
  • As well as supplying more than 90% of all local authorities in the UK, we are the official partners for environmental charities and campaigns in the UK and Europe from Marine Conservation Society, Keep Britain Tidy and Keep Scotland Beautiful to Nederland Schoon in Holland and Limburg.net in Belgium. We work in partnership to implement game changing campaigns to help tackle litter in our communities and encourage the segregation of waste (zero to landfill) in support government legalisation and policies.

5 Transformative Climate Investments encouragement to act in one or more of the following areas: investment, corporate engagement, policy advocacy and investor disclosure.

Our Example: inspire others to implement change which in turn will have global benefit

  • We invest annually in £500K worth of blue sky innovations with our customers to provide game changing solutions to tackle environmental issues.
  • Due to our knowledge, experience and network of partners, we can act as a valued advisor on new environmental litter clearance projects and help link up community groups with local authorities, charities and businesses looking to fund such projects. We have a long-term view on developing sustainable relationships, working with global brands such as McDonalds, Coca-Cola and Costa.

Lastly, if you would like our help and inspire others who may wish to participate in Global Climate Action, please give our team a call on 01531 635678 or contact us

 

 

 

 

Helping Hand Community Trust – October Project Revealed

We are delighted to announce our next Helping Hand Community Trust project for October – Herefordshire Bull Project!

The Helping Hand Company have been working in association with the inspirational Andrew Wood – chair of UK Litterpicking Groups and the Hereford Community Environment Group and previous chair of Hereford Community Clean Up Group.

Andrew is helping schools across Herefordshire learn more about recycling in fun and innovative ways. He works directly with local schools to help them set up recycling schemes at their school which a local business can then sponsor. Back in June, we sponsored the installation of recycling bins at Colwall Primary School in support this initiative – read the blog article here: https://www.hhenvironmental.co.uk/colwall-primary-school-given-a-helping-hand-to-recycle/

From this initial pilot project of ten schools now over 60% of all Herefordshire schools involved in collecting a variety of recyclable materials at their school. Andrew wanted to take his recycling project one step further and commissioned a ‘Herefordshire Bull’ sculpture which he could take on tour to teach and encourage children to collect recyclable materials – he piloted ‘William’ to collect plastic bottle tops, but the pilot became so successful it gained interest from businesses too. William went on tour across the county and has been present at a lot of festivals and community events through the Summer.

Andrew second bull ‘Jimmy’ which was launched in September – working in partnership with Breast Cancer Haven, Hereford to help collect unwanted bras to give proceeds back to the charity.

Our really exciting news  is thanks to the Helping Hand Community Trust, we will be sponsoring the production of the third ‘Herefordshire Bull’ in partnership for our October community trust project.

The next bull called ‘Brummie’ and will be made by Mark and his team of volunteers at Helping Hand Rotherwas (pictured) who will manufacture the bull using surplus metal bars, carrying on the recycling theme.

Brummie  is a very special bull as he is being made to support the British Legion and SAS Hereford branches in support of Remembrance Day Parade and the Poppy Appeal. The name Brummie has been chosen to honour SAS legend and Herefordshire 22 regiment member, Brummie Stokes. We are delighted to be working with Lynne Stokes, Brummie widower on this project too.

School children across the county will be asked to make poppies to pin onto Brummie for when he tours schools after October half term to get him ready for the Remembrance Day Parade in November. Herefordshire school children will be making poppies out of recyclable materials, again supporting and encouraging children to learn about reusing materials which would of ended up in landfill.

Further announcements to be highlighted throughout October – watch this space!

 

 

Costa in the Community

We were delighted to be part of a partnership broadcast on Thursday 10th October with Costa Coffee and the BBC Hereford & Worcester in support of the ‘Costa in the Community’ programme.

Helping Hand Environmental were asked to take part in this broadcast by the BBC to highlight our working partnership with Costa and how our sustainable litter kits are helping Costa stores across the UK clean up litter and engage with their local communities and with a listening audience of 32,000 we wanted to highlight our partnership with Costa to the listeners of Herefordshire.

Hear the full BBC Hereford & Worcester radio interview with Helping Hand UK Sales Manager, Carly Di Crescienzo:  http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=b561ecea-ec3e-4250-a950-94428a441adb which appeared during the evening drive-time show and Friday morning during the half six show.

Since 2014, over 48,139 hours have been donated across 1,300 stores in support of ‘Costa in the Community’ programme. “We really value the long-standing partnership we have with Helping Hand, and it’s great to have it showcased so well during the interview”. Costa Coffee

 

Cleaning Up Nicely

We were honoured to welcome HM Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire, The Dowager Countess of Darnley CVO to present the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade after growing our export business by 750% in just six years.

The company’s products are manufactured at two facilities in Herefordshire, using sustainable materials and packaging that can be recycled wherever possible. A massive 97% of all Helping Hand Environmental production waste is recycled or reused.

The company prides itself on successfully combining commercial enterprise with socially responsible action which facilities environmental campaigns.

“We are an adaptable business that is not solely focused on the commercial gain of a product sale but more on a sustainable relationship with our customers. This approach makes us unique in our industry,” said Lara Bryant, VP Sales and Marketing

A Herefordshire-based business, sales of professional waste collection tools through HH Environmental division, has defied the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.  Supplying more than 90% of local authorities and waste contractors in the UK, exporting of litter collection hand tools and environmental educational support services to over 20 countries worldwide has been instrumental in its growth.

“We are committed to promoting environmental awareness today for our world tomorrow. Working alongside the Eco Schools programme and other local, national and international environmental education initiatives is a central focus for us – doing something as simple as a litter pick is a great way to engage children in learning about litter.”

“Our mission is to get rid of all the world’s litter – which would mean we’d have no business, but it’s what we want.”

“We support organisations and individuals in tackling litter scattered on pavements, carparks, greenspaces, beaches, rivers and motorways – we need to turn the tide. “

By recycling just 50% of all litter thrown on our streets today, could save £14.8million pounds every year or £40,547 a day.

We can all make a difference – to find out more about our anti-litter consultancy services and how you can make a difference in your area, visit: https://www.hhenvironmental.co.uk/community-engagement/ or give our team a call on 01531 635678.

#SustainableManufacturing #BuyBritish #HerefordshireMeansBusiness