A new grant funding pot of £475,000 has been made available by the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) to help small and medium sized enterprises in Bedfordshire to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of their commercial premises.
The Low Carbon Workspaces programme is delivering 95 grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 to SMEs to help fund up to a third of the cost of eligible projects which cover energy saving measures including lighting systems (e.g. LED lighting), heating and cooling upgrades, renewable energy systems (e.g. solar panels), equipment upgrades and building fabric improvements.
Programme Manager Daniel Cope explains:
‘These grants are intended to help businesses implement positive changes to ensure that they are working towards building a more sustainable future and saving money.
‘Investing in low carbon measures can help businesses reduce overheads, cut carbon emissions, and boost eco-credentials and be part of the nationwide goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.’
Daniel continues:
‘During the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognise that many businesses may struggle to implement energy-improvement measures despite increasing energy rates so we are pleased to be able to bring this scheme to businesses in Bedfordshire to help reduce this burden and build a more sustainable future.’
A dedicated Project Officer will be available to guide businesses through the process, advising them on how to tackle energy consumption, helping identify suitable projects for funding and providing support to businesses struggling to take their first step towards sustainable practices.
The Low Carbon Workspaces team can be contacted on 01494 927 131 and at info@lowcarbonworkspaces.co.uk.
Businesses can check their eligibility for a grant and identify suitable projects at www.lowcarbonworkspaces.co.uk.
