<p> FREE BUSINESS BREAKFAST TO HELP SME BUSINESSES IN INVERCLYDE DEVELOP A CARBON MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT WILL HELP THEM TO IDENTIFY ‘GREEN MARKETING’ OPPORTUNITIES AND SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS</p><p>The Carbon Trust Scotland is hosting a free business breakfast in partnership with Inverclyde Council to support local businesses in their carbon reduction efforts. The breakfast will be held in the Waterfront Campus of James Watt College on March 9, 2012. </p><p>The breakfast, which will open for registration at 8.00am and run from 8.30am to 10.30am, will provide an informal introduction to the Carbon Trust’s support services and what is on offer for Scottish businesses. </p><p>Attendees will find out more about how to:  Raise staff awareness and improve employee engagement  Utilise the free online suite of Carbon Trust energy management tools  Complete an energy action plan and develop an energy policy  Realise business benefits of identifying and implementing energy saving measures  Map their carbon footprint. </p><p>Eileen Findlay of the Carbon Trust Scotland said: “Our briefings provide businesses with the confidence to embark on emissions-reduction projects. Previous carbon coaching events have been instrumental in educating organisations in Scotland about the business benefits of saving energy.</p><p>“ We continue to receive a huge amount of interest and positive feedback from participants who have moved onto developing their own carbon management plans and are already starting to see the business benefits of becoming more energy efficient.”</p><p>Caroline Gregory, owner of The Lovat Arms Hotel, Inverness-shire, said: “As well as looking to offer our guests a truly memorable experience we are also keen for them to learn of our eco-conscious activity, which is vitally important to the success of the business. In signing-up to the Carbon Trust Carbon Management Programme we have taken an additional step to a firmer commitment to going that extra ‘green’ mile. By cutting utility costs as well as having more acute environmental management, we are ensuring that the Lovat Arms meets recognised “best practise” operational standards.”</p><p>Following on from the success of the 2011 events and in addition to this Glasgow business breakfast, the Carbon Trust Scotland is hosting a series of carbon coaching briefings for businesses across Scotland in 2012. </p><p>The business breakfast on March 9, 2012 at James Watt College, opens at 8am for an 8.30am start. Breakfast will be provided and there is an opportunity for networking. To confirm your place, or for more information, please call 0141 222 2040 or email: [email protected]. </p><p>ENDS</p><p>Notes to editors </p><p>For further information, please contact Kirsten Blackie or Lynne Hughes at Smarts on 0141 222 2040 or email [email protected].</p><p>Other events</p><p>Events will be taking place in the following locations:</p><p>February March </p><p>8th - Glasgow 1st - Perth </p><p>10th - Shetland 7th - Orkney</p><p>15th - Edinburgh 9th – Greenock </p><p>22nd – Aberdeen 14th - Stornoway</p><p>28th - Hamilton </p><p>About the Carbon Trust </p><p>The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company with the mission to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy, providing specialist support to business and the public sector to help cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies. By stimulating low carbon action we contribute to key UK goals of lower carbon emissions, the development of low carbon businesses, increased energy security and associated jobs. </p><p>We help to cut carbon emissions now by:  Providing specialist advice and finance to help organisations cut carbon  Setting standards for carbon reduction</p><p>We reduce potential future carbon emissions by: </p><p> Opening markets for low carbon technologies  Leading industry collaborations to commercialise technologies  Investing in early stage low carbon companies</p>