Businesses and Climate Change
Climate change is no longer a debate. It’s a business factor. Fortunately, solutions to the climate challenge are already available and economically viable. Businesses and industry have a key role in implementing technologies and innovations to address climate change.
This Carbon Trust guidance provides small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with a pathway to Net Zero, from the beginning of the net zero journey and highlights the challenges in the long term. https://www.carbontrust.com/resources/the-journey-to-net-zero-for-smes
Businesses can now access brand new advice and support to reduce their energy bills while cutting their carbon emissions, following the launch of the UK Business Climate Hub. The hub includes a free carbon calculator and a suite of new tools to help businesses measure, track and report on their emissions and save money by using less energy. It offers detailed advice on everything from sourcing products from green suppliers and reducing emissions from freight and logistics to the most cost-effective ways of installing solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.
Current funding opportunities.
Green Energy Grant
This is now closed. However these green grants have helped 11 businesses to reduce their carbon .
DDC has been recognised for its work in supporting small businesses to renovate, bring back to use, and increase energy efficiency of their premises taking the award for ‘Best Programme of Business Support in the Southeast’ at the inaugural Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Local Government Awards. See press release for more information.
South East New Energy (SENE)
Businesses in Kent can apply for free energy audits and surveys for renwable energy projects, and grants of up to £30,000 towards investment in energy projects. For more information visit https://lowcarbonkent.com/south-east-new-energy-sene/.
You can apply via SENE website and click on Enquire Now to submit interest.
Green Recovery Voucher Scheme
Businesses in Kent can apply for a voucher of up to £1,500 to implement an environmental project to help improve business sustainability, resilience and support economic recovery. For more information on how the fund can help, who can apply and how to apply visit, https://www.kent.gov.uk/business/business-loans-and-funding/green-recovery-vouchers.
Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund
Government recently announced the Platinum Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund (£3 million) will provide grant funding over three years to 2025 to support capital improvement projects to modernise (e.g. wi-fi connectivity/ build extensions) and improve the fabric of village halls (adopt more affordable heating/ energy efficiency measures).
Details on how the funding will be administered will be announced in due course.
Platinum Jubilee fund creates boost for village halls - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Green Deal Heat Network Fund
The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) is a 3-year £288 million capital grant fund that will support:
- the commercialisation and construction of new low and zero carbon (LZC) heat networks (including the supply of cooling).
- the retrofitting and expansion of existing heat networks.
The GHNF is open to organisations in the public, private, and third sectors in England. Individuals, households, and sole traders cannot apply.
The scheme opened its first application round on 14 March 2022 that will be followed by quarterly application rounds until the scheme closes in 2025.
Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Sustainable Farming Incentive
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is the first of 3 new environmental schemes being introduced under the Agricultural Transition Plan. The other 2 schemes are Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery.
SFI aims to help farmers manage land in a way that improves food production and is more environmentally sustainable, by encouraging actions that improve soil health, recognise how moorland provides benefits to the public and improving animal health and welfare.
Farmers will be paid to provide public goods, such as:
- improved water quality
- biodiversity
- climate change mitigation
- animal health and welfare
The scheme is expected to open applications from Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) eligible farmers from late June 2022.
Sustainable Farming Incentive: full guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Forestry England Woodland Partnership
The partnership scheme supports government plans for woodland creation, nature recovery and progress towards net zero targets.
The Forestry England Woodland Partnership offers long-term leases(60-120 years) with guaranteed income for public and private landowners to create new woodlands on sites of at least 50 hectares.
Forestry England will design, plant and manage every woodland created, ensuring each is resilient to a changing climate, supports wildlife, and provides wider ecosystem services.
All woodlands created through the partnership scheme will be open to the public, providing valuable health and wellbeing opportunities for communities.
Applications are open all year round. Full details and brochures for public and private landowners are available on the Forestry England website.
https://www.forestryengland.uk/woodland-creation
Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme
- The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme offers funding to farmers and land managers in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), National Parks and the Broads to fund projects that support nature recovery, mitigate the impacts of climate change, support nature-friendly/ sustainable farm businesses and provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and its cultural heritage
The programme runs from July 2021 to March 2024.
Get funding for farming in protected landscapes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)
Landowners, land managers and public bodies can apply for support to create new woodland, including through natural colonisation, on areas as small as 1 hectare.
There are four types of payments available under EWCO:
- support for the capital items and activities to establish new woodland, at 100% of standard costs
- 10 years of annual Maintenance Payments to help establish the young trees once the capital works are complete
- contribution towards the actual cost of installing infrastructure to either enable the current and future management of the woodland, or to provide recreational access
- optional Additional Contributions where the location of the woodland and its design will deliver public benefits.
EWCO is a criteria-based, competitive scheme, with funding offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
England Woodland Creation Offer - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Energy efficiency measures (insulation) and green technologies (solar panels, heat pumps etc) are exempt from VAT from April 2022 for the next five years to support the decarbonisation of buildings.
The Energy Management Standard free for SMES
The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and British Standards Institution (BSI) have partnered to help SMEs reduce their energy bills and cut carbon. BEIS is sponsoring 100,000 FREE downloads of the energy management standard, BS ISO 50005. The standard is designed to help SMES manage their energy performance, which is crucial to control energy bills and minimise carbon emissions. It simplifies the implementation of an energy management system, and gives organisations with limited resources the means to develop a practical, low-cost approach to energy management.
The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and British Standards Institution (BSI) have partnered to help SMEs reduce their energy bills and cut carbon. BEIS is sponsoring 100,000 FREE downloads of the energy management standard, BS ISO 50005. The standard is designed to help SMES manage their energy performance, which is crucial to control energy bills and minimise carbon emissions. It simplifies the implementation of an energy management system, and gives organisations with limited resources the means to develop a practical, low-cost approach to energy management.
Download your free energy management standard .
Electric vehicle loan scheme
Businesses can trial an electric van ‘for free’ for up to two months through the Kent Realising Electric Vans Scheme (Kent REVS). To find out more information contact revs@csltd.org.uk
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)
Eligible businesses can apply for financial support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charge-points. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-grants-for-low-emission-vehicles
Low Carbon Kent
Low Carbon Kent is a network of businesses tackling and adapting to climate change. The aim of the network is to help businesses reduce costs by cutting emissions and promote the opportunities of the low carbon market.
Businesses who become members of the network can potentially access grants:
- Business development grant - £1,000 to £10,000
- Grant for energy efficiency measures - £1,000 to £5,000
- Low Carbon Across the South East (LoCASE) grants - up to £10,000 (until Spring 2023)
Kent Wind Energy
Kent Wind Energy is a local network, online directory and information resource that supports local supply chain development and puts offshore wind farm developers in touch with local businesses.
Contact us
Email: energy@dover.gov.uk