Social enterprise Fuel Change and car retailer Arnold Clark will collaborate to create the only dedicated alternative fuel car education centre in Scotland.
The partnership will see Fuel Change take over part of the new Arnold Clark Innovation Centre in Glasgow for its challenge showcases. These will see teams of young people aged between 16 and 24 working together to come up with new ideas to tackle environmental issues. It will also use the space to exhibit some of the concepts the teams develop.
Arnold Clark added it has put some of its apprentices forward to take part in the challenges, which are set by companies across the UK and task teams to brainstorm “innovative yet practical solutions to real-life issues”.
Located on Dumbarton Road in Glasgow’s West End, the centre features a range of electric and hybrid cars. Arnold Clark aims to educate customers about the benefits of alternative fuel vehicles, as well as highlighting the different types of AFVs currently available, including Tesla and Jaguar.
The car dealer is also sponsoring the forthcoming national Big Tonnes Challenge, which will focus on solutions that will influence industries that have a significant impact on CO2 emissions.
Hazel Shields, manager at the Arnold Clark Innovation Centre, said: “Everyone at the Innovation Centre is delighted to partner and sponsor Fuel Change as we look towards working with the future generation.
“We’re specifically an innovation, information and educational centre, and we believe Fuel Change has similar values. We can’t wait to host the Big Tonnes Challenge and see what exciting and innovative ideas come from it.”
The next event to be held at the £5million Innovation Centre will be a campaign showcase at the end of October, when teams of students and young professionals from creative marketing agencies will present ideas for a global climate crisis campaign. The winning campaign will be presented at the New York Times Climate Hub during COP26 then taken forward after the summit to be developed further.
