5 UK Business Grants to Help Improve Your Energy Efficiency
Small and medium sized enterprises all across the country are eligible for a surprisingly large number of grants designed to give them a boost in their overall energy efficiency. To address the ongoing climate emergency and lower carbon emissions, one of these grants could be precisely what your business needs to take the next step towards environmental responsibility. The world of energy efficiency and environmental grants can be a little overwhelming at first, but it’s definitely worth pressing on to discover exactly what loans, grants and government initiatives you are eligible for. Here are a few pointers.
Clarify your starting position
The support that’s available to you will greatly depend on the size, type and location of your business, as well as on the type of project you’re hoping to receive help with. To make sure you’re giving yourself the best chance of success on applying, make sure to iron out a clear plan on what increased energy efficiency looks like for your business, and what you’re hoping to achieve.
Next, decide on the approach you’d like to take, i.e. if you’re seeking a grant, a loan or something else. That’s where Nexus comes in – we can give you a clear idea of where you stand currently and help you conduct a comprehensive energy audit. From there you can estimate the cost of your desired intervention (for example the installation of solar panels) as well as have figures for the estimated environmental impact they’ll bring. Once you are crystal clear on what you’re after, you can start looking for grants accordingly.
Great energy-efficiency grants to consider
Grants Online will point you in the direction of grants locally, nationally and within the EU, and is a good place to start. Sign up for notifications so you are aware when new opportunities arise, and avoid applying for grants that are closed. Another option is to search gov.uk for a range of different financing opportunities for UK businesses.
Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme
Like many grants in this area, this one is designed to lower carbon emissions. The Warwickshire District Council is willing to pay for up to 40% of an energy-efficiency project such as the installation of LED controls. They can furnish grants up to £50,000, and the program is set to run until June 2023. You’ll need to meet a few eligibility requirements – for example your small or medium sized business should have no more than 250 employees – but application is fairly straightforward. The initiative also offers free energy and resource efficiency audits, so it’s worth a look if your business is in this region and you’d like help lowering your carbon footprint.
BEEP (Business Energy Efficiency Programme) Worcestershire County
Worcestershire County are proudly offering local business owners free energy audits as well as grants of up to £20,000 – they’ve already helped over 300 businesses. If you’re in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Telford, Wrekin or Shropshire you can apply, although you’ll only be considered if your yearly business energy spend exceeds £2000. You can apply by giving them a call or sending an email.
BEE (Business Energy Efficiency) Anglia
Grants of up to £10,000 are available (for very strong applicants) but you could secure 30 or 40% intervention. If you have a small or medium sized business anywhere in Norfolk or Suffolk, and have a firm objective for cutting your carbon emissions, you could receive a boost to help fund heating and lighting upgrades, or even extra money to invest in electric cars or more energy-efficient tools and machinery. It’s a good idea to register and get talking with one of their consultants who can help you understand how best to apply.
Energy for Business, Nottinghamshire
Is your business in Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire? If you would like to improve your energy footprint and set up more sustainable business operations, you may be able to apply for a grant of up to £8000, or 40% of your project. As with all grants, you’ll need to meet a few criteria first, and grants are only awarded for projects costed between £2500 and £20,000. Something else to bear in mind is that this grant is only awarded after the project work is completed.
LCR Future Energy Liverpool
This grant is for a maximum of £7500 in the Liverpool City Region, LCR, and is specifically aimed at bolstering the renewable energy supply chain. You’ll need a turnover of less than 50 million Euros and less than 250 staff members. You’ll also need to be currently operating in the renewable energy supply chain or actively looking for ways to enter it.
Of course, these are just 5 business grants currently available for SMEs interested in sustainable development. But opportunities are constantly evolving, and if you’re committed to improving your energy efficiency, there is almost certainly a grant in your area that’s perfectly suited to your business. Nexus has helped many UK companies in their missions to secure such funding, so we know that the first step is a professional commercial energy audit.
