Missed out on our September stakeholder meeting? Don't worry, we have all the latest in our blog below!
The Forest Economic Partnership (FEP) held its latest stakeholder meeting on Wednesday 11th September, it was a fantastic opportunity for local businesses, organisations, and community leaders to come together celebrate the Forest of Dean.
The stakeholder meeting opened with a welcome from FEP Director Wendy Jackson, in the absence of our Chair Neill Ricketts and vice-Chair Cllr Johnathan Lane. Among the latest announcements was the news that long time FEP Director Ian Price has decided to step down from his role in the FEP. Ian had been a Director for 4 years acting as the finance guide and has been a vital support during the end of the financial year accounts season. We are incredibly grateful to Ian for his many years of support and will miss him. Wendy also welcomed Kathy Probert, the Forest of Dean District Councils new bid writer, and Sally Adcock, the new Low Carbon Business Advisor, jointly funded by FEP and FoDDC. The Low Carbon Business Advisor is specifically funded to support with the Net Zero & Climate Action subgroup, so we’re looking forward to working with Sally closely in the future.
FEP Director Wendy Jackson
We also shared why The Wesley was chosen as our venue for this meeting. This incredible venue has recently been brought into the 21st century with renovations funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, making it a warm, accessible and welcoming building that can be enjoyed by future generations of the Forest. Local students at Gloucestershire College also played a key role in the redevelopment of ‘The Green Room’, essentially the backstage dressing area which had previously been left unloved. This offered them a valuable opportunity to practice and develop their skills in a real world environment. Matt Dunkley, Gloucestershire College’s construction lecturer, oversaw the students and joined us a speaker to share more about what they did.
Cinderford Town Council Estate Manager Les Love sharing her experience on The Wesley renovations.
Our first guest speaker was Luke Freeman, joint chief executive of MF Freeman, one of the Forest of Dean’s most recognisable construction businesses. Their overall mission is simple, ‘Building for a Better Future.
Luke took our audience through how MF Freeman have aligned themselves with 7 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDGs are an interconnected set of targets established by the UN as a global call to action. The goals are designed to “tackle poverty, safeguard the environment, and ensure that by 2030, everyone experiences peace and prosperity”, so no small feat.
Here’s how MF Freeman have met 7 of the targets,
- Good Health & Wellbeing (SDG #3). Supporting employee well-being and fostering a culture of appreciation through partnerships with The Lighthouse Charity and regular team events.
- Affordable & Clean Energy (SDG #7) Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy, 75% of their energy is from renewable sources and 100% of their homes in the pipeline and all those built in the last 12 months are EPC A-rated.
- Decent Work & Economic Growth (SDG #8). Promote inclusive & sustainable growth, productive employment and decent work for all by offering inhouse training and partnering with external training agencies (including with our other speaker AccXel!) to secure the future workforce.
- Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure (SDG #9). Building resilient and sustainable infrastructure by handpicking locations that have access to sustainable transport and designing homes that will evolve with modern life.
- Sustainable Cities & Communities (SDG #11) All settlements will be safe, resilient and sustainable, with energy-efficient designs and renewable technologies with minimal consumption in mind.
- Responsible Consumption & Production (SDG #12). To ensure sustainable consumption and production they are on target for 0% waste going to landfill by 2025.
- Life on land (SDG #15) Protect & restore sustainable use of land ecosystems & halt biodiversity loss by including wildlife friendly features on homes, e.g. bat boxes, low lighting, and hedgehog highways.
From Luke’s presentation it was clear that MF Freeman are in the business of delivering big promises and ensuring a positive influence across all areas of business.
Next up we heard from Hayley Selway from Two Rivers in Newent, who took over as CEO in early 2024. Hayley is passionate about providing warm, safe, and affordable homes to her residents, and overseeing a positive and sustainable business now and into the future. By 2030 all of Two River’s homes will be EPC C rated with most new builds rated EPC A, and this is just the beginning!
Two Rivers recently participated in the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund pilot to upgrade homes in Blakeney from EPC D/E ratings to EPC C. This initiative was projected to cost £1 million over 12 months and included installing external wall insulation, loft and floor insulation, triple-glazed windows and doors, solar PV systems, air source heat pumps, and improving ventilation. The results exceeded expectations, all homes are now rated EPC A, beating their original target! Residents have also reported reduced bills and an improved quality of life, with their homes being quieter and maintaining better temperature control. With further projects planned across the Forest of Dean in the next phases of funding, Two Rivers is set to continue future-proofing its homes for a greener future!
Two Rivers CEO Hayley Selway
Natalie King, Managing Director of AccXel (and FEP Director), then shared her insights into their businesses unique approach to solving a problem. Founded in 2022 by Natalie and her sister Nicola Bird, both third-generation members of the KW Bell Group, AccXel is a construction school specifically designed to plug the industry's workforce gap and create a talented, ambitious construction workforce. By offering comprehensive training and apprenticeship programmes, AccXel equips students with future-ready skills. They currently have 65 apprentices, 250 students in a range of upskilling programmes, and boast an incredible 100% pass rate. What further sets AccXel apart is their collaboration with construction companies who communicate their specific needs to AccXel, who then develop a considered, tailored solution to ensure the right skills are available.
In their latest exciting news, Natalie announced that AccXel is now officially a Higher Education Centre, offering qualifications in various construction disciplines at a level equivalent to the first year of a university degree! This will open up pathways for learners to develop skills and advance in their careers, cementing AccXel as the place to learn the construction trade. With this comes new students, new lecturers, new partners, and an exciting stage of growth for AccXel!
Finally we heard from Matt Dunkley, a construction lecturer at Gloucestershire College who, as we mentioned earlier, oversaw the renovation of The Wesley. Matt emphasised the significant skills gap in heritage crafts, a sector wide challenge also highlighted by AccXel earlier in the evening. Without education and practice, these skills are at risk of disappearing. Thanks to the government-provided Levelling Up Funding, Cinderford Town Council was able to modernise The Wesley, transforming it into a welcoming space for hosting classes, workshops, meetings, parties and more. Gloucestershire College students played a key role in the project, using lime plaster to restore 'The Green Room,' while honouring the building's 120-year history. Attendees also had the chance to visit ‘The Green Room’ to see the students handiwork in person!
(L-R) Ian Mean MBE, Luke Freeman, Hayley Selway, Natalie King
We also updated stakeholders on progress of our Education & Skills and Net Zero & Climate Action subgroups, both of which have exciting developments in the works. Keep an eye on our monthly bulletin for more.
The Forest of Dean is so fortunate to have a business community that is not only diverse but collaborative, with a shared passion for sustainable economic growth in the district. Our latest meeting showcased the businesses all contributing to the region's thriving economy and the energy we have in the Forest. We cannot wait for our next meeting, are you joining us?