Free eco advice is on offer for firms

The Leeming Bar industrial estate, near Northallerton, has been selected for a pilot project which, if successful, could be rolled out to help scores of other traders across the county.

It is the first industrial site in the area to receive free support from the York and North Yorkshire Business Environmental Forum.

The group is looking to help businesses save money on energy and utility bills through free on-site support and consultancy work.

Advice on recycling and waste issues will also be available, together with assistance for firms wanting to compile environmental policies.

Each of the 30 companies based on the Hambleton District Council-run estate is eligible for the help, from large businesses employing hundreds of people to those with only a handful of staff.

Denise Loten, project co-ordinator, said: "We want to work with a wide variety of businesses. We recognise that time is valuable to the business community, so the scheme has been designed to keep that to a minimum.

"However, we do believe we can help all companies to save some money on their bills.

"This is a first for North Yorkshire and one that we hope will be repeated across the county in the future."

She added that energy efficiency, water conservation, waste minimisation and recycling will be among the topics explored, and she hopes the project will raise the level of environmental awareness.

"Environmental pressures are starting to build up on businesses," she said. "The introduction of the climate change levy last year has seen fuel bills rise by ten to 15pc.

"On top of that, rising landfill tax coupled with stricter legislation will make disposal a more expensive option in the future. More and more people are looking to deal with companies that demonstrate good environmental practice and we can help that happen."

The Leeming Bar scheme will run for 18 months and its success will be evaluated at the end of the trial