Were you aware that there’s a new industrial revolution being incubated here in Farnham? The Centre for Sustainable Design (based at UCA) is organising Sustainable Innovation 2014 in Copenhagen later this year, but for Farnham businesses, with an interest in the green economy, there’s an opportunity to find out more this month. Scott Keiller from the CfSD will be talking about The Makers and Fixers movement at The Farnham Hub on Friday 24 January. This grassroots movement unites individuals from engineering, arts and crafts, designers and innovators bringing them together in Makerspaces or Hackspaces. Makers are engaged in the technological extension of DIY; whilst the centuries old Fixer Economy is now being reinvented in new business models such as the US site www.ifixit.com, or in the form of community projects like Repair Cafes.
What does this mean to local Farnham businesses? Well if your business produces a product that is currently using unsustainable resources, then perhaps a new approach is needed. The green economy is now a core part of global environmental policy, so if you are an innovator or designer engaging with this is becoming increasingly important.
The CfSD offers free consultancy support for SMEs and start-ups to help develop eco-innovative services, products, technologies and new business models in the South East under the FUSION project. FUSION can help both the development of new products, and the greening of existing products, services and technologies. The Farnham Hub has successful referred Hub members to this mentoring programme; and there is an option to ask for a referral when booking this talk.
The Makers and Fixers talk will be followed by an informal Q&A about the CfSD, the FUSION project and the advantages of running a sustainable business. To book a place at this event, which is being held at Farnham Maltings, go to the Farnham Hub event page. If you’re new to the Hub this first event is free!
photo credit:gruntzooki via photopin cc
