The Circular Economy and Green Skills Hub

The Vision

The Circular Economy Hub is a hub for regenerative economic development and will act as a focal point for training, education, incubation, and dissemination of learning in moving from extractive manufacturing and unsustainable patterns of consumption to sustainable, low carbon living.

The hub will be a regional engine and living laboratory for problem solving, innovation and sharing solutions for economic development activities that have net benefits for society and the environment, as well as creating sustainable jobs.

The Mission

The Circular Economy Hub will drive the transition to a resource efficient economy and low-carbon, sustainable future. Modelled on Europe’s first circular economy demonstration centre, Rediscovery Centre Ballymun, the centre will act as an innovation hub, delivering education, citizen engagement and collaboration to support community action.

Recognising that a just transition requires a social movement, local and regional skills and expertise will be enabled to ensure that those most affected by those most affected by the intentional shift away from fossil fuel-related activities in favour of a climate positive future benefit from, and can participate in, the circular economy.

The Goal

The objective of this hub is to provide much-needed education, skills, and training for a circular and low carbon economy for people experiencing educational disadvantage, unemployment, or redundancy. 

Key Objectives

• Regenerate a vacant training and educational facility in a disadvantaged area to stop the decay and bring a local asset into a sustainable re-use.
• Deliver accredited educational and skills training programmes accessible to local communities in green and circular economy where job progression in regenerative sectors is achievable.

Future Objectives

• Build on the skills and learning developed to incubate regenerative start-ups and social enterprises in a supported environment.
• Provide a learning laboratory open access to share best practice in regenerative practice, bioeconomy, and nature-based solutions through the Climate Action Regional Offices network, influencing behavioural changes beyond the hub environs.

The Outcome

Local communities will be empowered to become agents in their transition towards meaningful, sustainable, and secure employment in future-proofed economic activity ensuring that economic activity is decoupled from climate change and biodiversity loss and provides climate positive outcomes.

Kildare County Councils Mission Statement

Leading the way towards a sustainable and inclusive future by enhancing quality of life for all people. Kildare County County strive to deliver efficient and innovative infrastructure and services, foster balanced growth, and build a connected and vibrant community through collaborative partnerships and community engagement.

Kildare County Council’s Strategic Goals are:

1. To show leadership in the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral local economy.
2. To enable an inclusive, economically vibrant County that attracts the resources and investment necessary for continued sustainable growth.
3.  To lead and support high standards of energy management practices and maintain this across the organisation to ensure the 2030 energy efficiency target is met.
4. Revitalising the economic and social activity of our towns and villages
5. Address housing provision by providing housing services and supports and implementing Kildare’s Housing Delivery Action Plan.
6. Build resilient communities, supporting everyone to live full, healthy and inclusive lives and to enjoy a high quality of life at all stages.
7. To enable and deliver sustainable and accessible economic, social, and physical development, to meet the needs of the County’s growing and diverse population.
8. Continue to implement the Local Government Reform Programme, supporting communications and service delivery by maximising the impact of our people, funding, services and ICT resources.

Arna chomhchistiú ag Rialtas na hÉireann agus an Aontas Eorpach trí Ciste an Aontais Eorpaigh um Aistriú Cóir 2021-2027.

Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund”

For further information please see www.emra.ie/eu-jtf and www.eufunds.ie