The Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) sector is growing fast, helping businesses from all areas to improve their environmental performance and reduce their impact on climate change. It is also enabling organisations to take advantage of the new technologies that are being developed in response to our changing environment, capitalising on the benefits offered by ‘greener' technology.

This September, Peterborough will be hosting the inaugural East of England Energy & Environment Expo' - E₅xpo - promoting and showcasing innovative businesses and organisations in the EGS sector.

Making the right contacts and having access to the most appropriate and efficient technology provides the tools for any organisation to improve its environmental performance. The E₅xpo is designed to bring these contacts and technologies under one roof, providing excellent networking and collaboration opportunities for those organisations that buy or supply environmental technologies, products or services.

With an exhibition of around 100 exhibitors and a programme of seminars on environmental topics, the event will enable delegates to learn more about how to make climate change their business.

Peterborough has been chosen as the location of the E₅xpo as it has the largest cluster of EGS companies in the country. More than 300 organisations in the Greater Peterborough area are active in the sector, employing around 5,000 people and accounting for around 5% of Peterborough's GDP. Known collectively as the EnviroCluster, members of this initiative will be actively participating in the event.

"With so many business sectors adopting more sustainable business practices, E5xpo will attract key decision makers from many industries and public sector organisations," said organiser Gareth Jones. "E5xpo will also demonstrate the strength of Peterborough's EnviroCluster and support the city's position as the UK's Environment Capital and attracting more organisations into the region."

The E₅xpo will bring together exhibitors and delegates from across the East of England, with representatives of energy companies, environmental technologists and vehicle manufacturers. Other exhibitors are expected to include construction companies, renewable energy hardware manufacturers and environmental consultants.

Alongside the exhibition there will be a series of seminars running throughout the day, providing guidance and support for organisations working to improve their resource efficiency and to reduce their environmental impact. These will be based on central themes of resource efficiency and environmental enterprise, with topics including visions for renewable energy technologies, sustainable construction and business resource efficiency.

The EGS sector is currently facing a shortage of specialist skilled workers in areas such as green design, clean technology, renewable energy and waste water management. Peterborough University Centre will be on hand to discuss how its planned sustainable construction faculty will take on this challenge and help to plug this skills gap. With the introduction of further environmental legislative measures, such as the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive, providing specialised training programmes is essential to achieving the UK's sustainability aspirations.

The E₅xpo is being supported by Renewables East, the renewable energy agency for Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Their objective is to bring the development of the East of England renewable energy economy into the mainstream by increasing public understanding and supporting improvements in skills and awareness.

James Beal, Managing Director of Renewables East commented that "Climate change and high energy prices aren't going away, more needs to be done. In response to these challenges the East of England is already leading the way on taking forward low carbon solutions. This exhibition is aiming to get everyone in the same room (albeit a large one) to discuss and share the challenges we are all facing and seeing what we can do to accelerate its growth."

With so many sectors moving towards more sustainable business practice, E₅xpo is expected to attract key decision makers from diverse areas of interest. From local authority officers, construction and development companies and environmental consultants to private industry, transport, skills development and the media, the range of attendees is expected to bring real vitality to the event.

"Peterborough is proud to be hosting the very first E₅xpo," said Trevor Gibson, director of environment and community services at Peterborough City Council. "We are working with our partners to promote Peterborough as the UK's Environment Capital for environmental technology and research and to secure commitment from 40 per cent of Peterborough's businesses to an ‘investing in the environment' scheme by the end of 2010. The E₅xpo will help us to achieve these aims by engaging directly with businesses involved in and engaging with the environmental goods and service sector."

The E₅xpo is set to take place in the KingsGate Centre, Peterborough, a modern and easily accessible venue conveniently located just five minutes' drive from the city centre, 10 minutes' drive from the A1 and on a local bus route. The flexibility of the centre is enabling the E₅xpo to include external exhibits and demonstrations to bring the solutions to climate change to life.

The event itself is aiming to be as sustainable as possible, encouraging delegates to travel by public transport or car-share and providing a shuttle bus station to transport visitors to the event.

Further information on the event is available from www.e5xpo.co.uk or call John Pickstone on 01733 311644.