AN INITIATIVE aimed at helping over 200 small businesses across the East of England to save money and become more efficient has been launched by Resource Efficiency East (REE) – but businesses have only until next Friday to apply for the cash. REE has sec

AN INITIATIVE aimed at helping over 200 small businesses across the East of England to save money and become more efficient has been launched by Resource Efficiency East (REE) - but businesses have only until next Friday to apply for the cash.

REE has secured funding to run the Supply Chain Network, which it hopes will drive up productivity across the region by encouraging small and medium-sized businesses to work with the supply chains of up to eight larger regional organisations.

Public and private sector organisations in the East of England are invited to apply to become hosts within the network. They will work with and mentor their supply chain to deliver improvements in resource efficiency.

The Supply Chain Network aims to help host organisations understand the opportunities of working with their supply chain, by making internal procurement procedures more sustainable and sharing resource efficiency understanding and learning with suppliers, distributors and wholesalers.

The organisations will share ideas and experiences through formal network meetings, training workshops, collaboration and discussions.

REE director Antony Gough said: "Each Supply Chain Network will be supported by up to 30 days of fully-funded assistance to help facilitate the network and encourage the stimulation of innovative solutions to joint issues."

INFORMATION: To find out more, visit http://www.resourceefficiencyeast.org.uk/supply-chain-network.asp or email supplychain@resourceefficiencyeast.org.uk. Completed application forms must be returned by 4pm on December 11, and successful applicants will be notified by December 21.