Extra funding boost to help businesses go green

This additional funding from the pilot Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS), awarded to Worcestershire County Council, will bolster other funding streams, including the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to deliver the Net Zero Worcestershire and the Marches Energy Grant programmes. 

The programmes offer free energy assessments and grant funding to implement energy efficiency measures to small and medium businesses in the West Midlands. The pilot Business Energy Advice Service is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. 

In Worcestershire, UKSPF is individually managed by the six District Councils: Bromsgrove District Council, Malvern Hills District Council, Redditch Borough Council, Worcester City Council, Wychavon District Council, and Wyre Forest District Council. Worcestershire County Council is delivering the support programmes in partnership with the six District Councils. 

Councillor Richard Morris, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for the Environment at Worcestershire County Council, said: “As a council, we are committed to developing a sustainable Economy and taking action to tackle climate change; this includes providing support which will help businesses to make the transition to Net Zero. This additional funding means we can deliver Net Zero Support to even more businesses, which is brilliant. 
“It is programmes like this that help businesses to become more resilient and more sustainable for the future, whilst also helping to alleviate rising costs. I urge eligible businesses to take the first step to reduce their carbon emissions and make use of this fantastic programme.”

Delivered flexibly, the decarbonisation reviews enable businesses to gain a better understanding of their carbon emissions, how to use energy more efficiently and will receive an outline of where cost savings can be made. 
 

After a business has received its decarbonisation review, it will then become eligible to apply for grant funding to implement energy-saving initiatives such as renewable technology, LED lighting and energy management. The amount of grant funding on offer will be dependent on location and project. 

One of the many businesses supported through the council’s scheme was Kidderminster Manufacturer, Storm Environmental. The company benefited from huge energy and cost savings after receiving a free decarbonisation assessment and grant funding.

The business used grant funding to partially fund the cost of adaptations to be made on its rotary machinery, a key piece of equipment for its manufacturing. 

Since making the adaptations, the business has benefited from, increased efficiency, a boost in production and reduced costs. It has generated an estimated saving of 1 million KWH/ per annum (enough to power around 750,000 homes for an hour) and is expected to save 180 tonnes of CO2e per annum.

More information on the programme Net Zero Worcestershire programme can be found on the Net Zero Worcestershire pages of the County Council website.

More information on the Marches Energy Grant Programme can be found on the Marches Growth Hub website.