BUSINESSES in Worcestershire and the Marches will receive an additional £2.3million in funding to help reduce their carbon footprints and move towards net zero.
The Net Zero Worcestershire programme has been part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the Pilot Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) and Worcestershire County Council.
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 UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and will provide £2.6billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.
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.
The schemes offer free energy assessments and grant funding to implement energy efficiency measures to small and medium businesses in the West Midlands.
It is believed the programmes’ decarbonisation reviews will enable businesses to better understand their carbon emissions and how they can use energy more efficiently.
Once a business has received its decarbonisation review, it will become eligible to apply for grant funding to implement energy-saving schemes such as renewable technology, LED lighting and energy management. The amount of grant funding on offer will depend on the project and its location.
Speaking after the plans were announced, Coun Richard Morris, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member with Responsibility for the Environment, 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.”
He urged eligible businesses to take their first step to reduce their carbon emissions and make use of the programme.
