The aim of The RED Initiative is to enable small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the East Midlands region to implement Resource Efficient Design in their products and services.
// RED Product – works with design consultancies and manufacturers to design and develop products whilst reducing their environmental impact. // RED Retail – focusing on energy efficient design for retail interiors, RED can help you transform, update and refresh your retail environment to provide a new look for your customers whilst reducing your energy bills.
Funded by The East Midlands Development Agency and based at the Faculty of Art and Design at De Montfort University, The RED Iinitiative is able to offer free, practical, individually tailored Resource Efficient Design advice.
The RED Intiative is an industry based program that intends to respond the needs of businesses. The program offers advice and assistance in reducing your businesses environmental impact whilst achieving the attractive and affordable design solutions that you require.
The continued rise of fuel prices is inevitable as demand begins to outstrip supply. These increased costs will begin to cut into retail profit margins. With stiff competition on the high street and with small retailers battling it out with the supermarket giants, this is an additional overhead that can be ill-afforded.
At the most basic level The RED Initiative offers an opportunity to investigate the potential energy and cost savings that your business could make with minimal initial outlay, but why stop there. The RED Initiative is able to assist businesses to reach their development goals, whether that is investigating suitable new technologies, searching for exciting new materials or even working with design consultants to redesign your entire premises.The program is open to small and medium enterprises within the East Midlands.
// RETAILERS - RED Retail advises on practical and achievable energy-efficient interventions which will improve the environmental impact of your retail space. // DESIGN CONSULTANCIES AND SHOP FITTERS RED Retail also works in collaboration with design consultancies and shop fitters to develop new retail environments. Here The RED Initiative works on a project-by-project basis and offers advice to designers about energy-saving interventions, new technologies, materials and end-of life strategies to reduce the carbon-footprint of retail interiors.
Potential projects in this sector include: - // Retail interior design // Point-of-Sale/Purchase stands // Lighting technologies // Material research // Eco-strategies // Graphics and branding
The RED Initiative intends to respond to the needs of SMEs - whether you have a specific idea or would like to discuss how to get involved in the programme, please feel free to get in touch.
The RED Initiative team can be contacted either by
email (design@dmu.ac.uk)
or by telephoning
0116 250 6238.
As an East Midlands Development Agency (emda)
funded programme, The RED Initiative is able to work
with local businesses and offer a consultancy service
in tangent with the research and development
resources at De Montfort University,
FREE OF CHARGE.
A diagnostic evaluation is a free, individually tailored analysis of your retail environment. A member of The RED Retail team will visit your premises to analyse it’s environmental impact. A unique report pack is produced for each business, including a range of improvement measures at different levels complexity:
// MAINTANENCE – For example, switching to energy- saving light bulbs etc. This would involve minimal cost and input from the retailer. // TRANSITIONAL – Strategies for long term energy and cost saving opportunities that require more intervention from the retailer. // ADOPTION – Opportunities for redesign of the retail environment to incorporate environmentally preferable materials and technologies in order to maximise the premises customer impact whilst minimising its environmental footprint.
Please take a look at our case studies to see how it works!
RED Product is a programe run within the Faculty of Art and Design at De Montfort University, which has its main campus situated in Leicester city centre. The RED Initiative works with Small to Medium-sized companies across the whole of the East Midlands
Is my business eligible for assistance under The RED Initiative?
In order to receive support from the European Union, your business must meet certain requirements:
// Fewer than 250 employees // Not more than 25% owned by an enterprise that in itself is not an SME // Located within the East Midlands // An annual turnover less than 40 million Euros, // Or, a balance sheet less than 27 million Euros
