The announcement follows research highlighting a gap in awareness of support. The Growth on Hold survey, published by Enterprise Nation in partnership with Square and EDF Small Business, found that three quarters (75 percent) of small businesses were unaware of energy efficiency grants or reliefs available to them. Among those able to estimate the impact, rising energy bills had reduced margins by around 18 percent on average.
“When budgets are stretched, finding the money for energy-saving improvements can be difficult” said Claire Nutt, Director of Small Business at EDF. “These grants give small business owners the opportunity to invest now and benefit from savings in the years ahead. With so many small businesses unaware of the support available, we also want to help more owners understand their options and take their next step.”
The sustainability grants will fund projects including solar panels, battery storage and energy-saving improvements. Among the recipients is Birtley Community Pool, which will install fans to circulate warm air that collects near the ceiling back around the pool hall.
“This grant will help Birtley Community Pool to invest in destratification fans, which will reduce our annual carbon emissions by 28,000kg, and our annual energy costs by £7.3k” said Matthew Grant at Birtley Community Pool. “It will also improve the environment in our pool hall by eliminating cold spots which are quite challenging for the elderly and very young children.”
Fellow winner Tilefield Nature will use its funding to support its environmental, educational and community work.
“We are absolutely delighted to receive this £5,000 award” said Amanda Barton at Tilefield Nature. “It means we can go ahead with the full solar and battery project now, rather than having to delay or reduce it, helping us cut our reliance on grid electricity while supporting the environmental, educational and community work taking place at Tilefield Nature.”
Applications for the new round of 25 grants worth £1,000 each open on 20 October. Alongside the funding, the Powering Local Businesses programme will open a pop-up shop in London on 30 November, giving small business owners the opportunity to trial a physical space, test a new location, meet customers and reach a new audience during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. The shop will be based at Notting hill and run until 13 December.
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