Council forms trading company to compete on open market

The authority has formed Novae Consulting Ltd to to allow it to sell expertise to private firms and other councils and bring in ‘much-needed revenue to help offset its government grant cuts’.

AVDC says ‘Novae can call upon a team of over 300 skilled, dedicated professionals from within the authority and through its partners to offer a range of consultancy services from business development and service change to major project management and engineering’.

The company is also well placed to offer independent specialist advice to businesses that have to meet new energy efficiency targets.

All businesses with a turnover of more than £39 million or employing more than 250 staff now have to comply with the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme (ESOS), which involves an audit every four years of energy and transport issues, or face a fine of up to £50,000.

The council hopes that Novae will help it become self-financing by 2019 when traditional government grants are likely to disappear.

Councillor Janet Blake, cabinet member for business transformation, said: “The council is taking this step to make best use of its resources and generate a longer term, more sustainable income source for the future.

“This is an innovative idea to generate additional income for the council to support the continued financial challenges that local government faces and fits with the aim of protecting our frontline services as far as possible.”

Novae means ‘new’ in Latin.

To find out more about the consultancy services offered by Novae, visit www.novaeconsulting.co.uk

Businesses can find out more information about ESOS at a breakfast seminar at the council’s Gateway offices on 28 July. To register for places, email [email protected]