Funding available for energy efficient Midlands SMEs…
Funding is now available to help lower running costs for energy efficient businesses.
Worcestershire County Council along with its partners Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, Herefordshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council and the Worcestershire Districts have been awarded £1.45 million funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government’s European Regional Development Fund to help small and medium-sized businesses.
The Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP) will help small and medium-sized businesses to lower running costs, by reducing energy consumption and also help the environment by cutting carbon emissions.
Businesses on the programme will receive a free energy efficiency assessment review which will help businesses understand their energy usage and provide advice and recommendations on how to make improvements. This technical appraisal is equivalent of two days of business support.
Grants from £2,000 to £20,000 (maximum 40% of project costs) will also be available to help businesses undertake energy efficiency improvements such as lighting, heating, variable speed drives and compressors, energy efficient equipment, refrigeration, renewable technologies, behavioural change programmes, feasibility studies and more.
There will also be a series of energy efficiency events working alongside local partners to provide further support and learning opportunities to businesses.
Cllr Anthony Blagg, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Environment said:
“Being energy efficient is more important than ever, and this support is fantastic news for businesses and for the environment. I would encourage all businesses to look into the Business Energy Efficiency Programme, both to benefit from the support available and to consider ways in which they can be more energy efficient.”
The Business Energy Efficiency Programme follows on from the successful Resource Efficient Worcestershire programme which ran from 2012 to 2015 and helped businesses receiving grants to reduce energy costs by an average 22%. The new programme will now encompass the added areas of Herefordshire and Telford & Wrekin.
European Regional Development Funding criteria applies, so to be eligible businesses must: be situated in and trading from Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Telford & Wrekin;
employ fewer than 250 employees; have a turnover of less than the equivalent of 50 million Euros per annum or an annual balance sheet of less than 43 million Euros.
Some industries such as primary agriculture and retail are not eligible. The Business Energy Efficiency Programme is part-financed by the England European Regional Development Fund Programme as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
For more information visit www.business-central.co.uk/beep or call .
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Tags: BEEP, Business, Cllr Anthony Blagg, Department for Communities and Local Government, Finance, Funding, Hereford Council, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce
