History

The Network is a partnership between Clarkslegal LLP and The Environmental Industries Commission, established to facilitate investment in environmental technologies and services.

The UK’s low carbon and environmental sector is currently worth £107 billion a year, representing 7.4% of GDP. The sector is expected to employ over 1 million people by the middle of the next decade.

Drivers such as climate change, increasing energy demand, political pressure, new environmental legislation, corporate social responsibility and the financial incentives of increased efficiency are generating a demand for environmental goods and services that has never been known before.

Despite these trends, securing funding to develop new environmental technologies and services is often a major hurdle for many businesses, particularly start-ups and those lacking an established track-record. Support for small and medium size businesses and academic institutions is urgently required and it is on this basis The EIC Environmental Investment Network was developed.

“Business has a vital role to play in putting Britain’s economy on a sustainable footing. The EIC Environmental Investment Network makes a huge contribution to ensuring that business fulfils this role in the most positive and effective way, for the benefit of both our economy and our environment.”

Tim Yeo MP, Chairman, The Environmental Audit Committee

“This investment network is a unique example of how we need to shift - these are exciting developments and there are potentially huge markets”

Angela Eagle MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury

Huge opportunities await innovative businesses...this not only helps meet our targets of reduced impact on the environment but also boosts our economy – a ‘win, win’ situation."

Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, Wales’ Deputy First Minister and Minister for The Economy and Transport