Dragons' Den come to the Environment Agency 2009

As long term fans of Global Entrepreneurship Week, for 2009 the Environment Agency opened the floor to ideas from staff in a Dragons’ Den style event.

Employees were given the opportunity to submit an idea for a new project around efficiencies, innovation for income generation and carbon reduction within the ethos of the environment. Four of the entries submitted were invited to pitch in the Dragons’ Den made up of the Environment Agency senior management team.

The delighted Richard Groom came up trumps with his green transport idea aimed at breaking the dependency on non-green travel. He will take his idea forward with the help of senior management by implementing green directions to the agency and encouraging other organisations to so the same by influencing the ISO 14000 standard.

According to Melissa Boon, Regional Business Planning Manager at the agency ‘The Dragons’ Den not only encourages staff to think and work in an innovative way, but builds confidence and develops presentation, influencing and project management skills.’

The Dragons were so impressed with the entries they’ve decided to implement all four of the ideas that were pitched. These included renting out parking spaces, floodline warnings direct system and producing a series of case studies highlighting the importance of working with the Environment Agency.