Rolling Pin Pies owner / general manager Nathan Williams with their awardwinning pies .
Participants in the first cohort of the program included Rolling Pin Pies and Cakes , an award-winning bakery in Ocean Grove , Victoria . Co-owners Stacey and Todd Lincoln commented that the “ program was the kick start our business needed to get to the core of what our customers really need from us . The facilitators ’ ability to generate advice specific to each of the participants ’ businesses was really impressive and knowledge sharing between the group was invaluable . We now feel we are armed with the tools to take our business forward focusing on circular economy principles ”.
Another participant was B-Alternative , an environmental solutions group , cultivating awareness of environmental issues and providing low impact alternatives to businesses , organisations and events such as the Queenscliff Music Festival . General manager James McLennan said “ The Circular Economy Business Growth Program gave B-Alternative the tools , knowledge and skills to identify and evolve new circular economy opportunities by evaluating the gap between our business and the external environment . The content was fantastic and very tangible to problem solving ”.
Several of the projects delivered by Cleantech Innovations Geelong have focussed on circular economy principles , although they were not identified as circular economy projects during delivery .
With the release of the Victorian Government ’ s Recycling Victoria – a new economy Cleantech Innovations Geelong can legitimately classify these as circular economy projects to demonstrate an impressive track record in this area .
WHAT ’ S NEXT FOR CLEANTECH INNOVATIONS GEELONG ? Greater Geelong has a concentration of skills and businesses related to cleantech and the circular economy . Cleantech Innovations Geelong is committed to attracting and investing in more of those businesses locally .
The program will continue to support existing and developing cleantech market opportunities in Greater Geelong .
Over the next three years , Cleantech Innovations Geelong will deliver three key activities :
1 . Establish Geelong as a Centre of Excellence for cleantech and circular economy solutions in Australia During 2020 , Cleantech Innovations Geelong explored creating a Greater Geelong cleantech cluster , precinct or district .
Cleantech Innovations Geelong : Market Analysis demonstrates that a cleantech cluster / precinct / district can provide opportunities , at scale , to create jobs , attract investment , and combine technologies for long-term growth .
Several Greater Geelong businesses ( including those involved in current demonstration projects ) that have received support from Cleantech Innovations Geelong during 2014 – 21 could be clustered in a single location or throughout Geelong . This would also utilise industrial zones in existing and new urban growth developments within the region .
2 . Attract more businesses to conduct scalable clean technology and circular economy demonstration projects Cleantech Innovations Geelong will seek expressions of interest from national and international cleantech companies to
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