Low-Carbon Support for Businesses This grid details available national and regional support and funding for low-carbon business activity.
National Business Support & Funding Category
Description
Timelines & Eligibility
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). A Government backed initiative that requires some (SEG licenced) electricity suppliers to pay small-scale generators (SEG generators) for low-carbon electricity exported to back to the National Grid.
Energy
More information
Eligibility: Businesses that have installed a renewable electricity generating technology under 5MW (such as Solar PV, wind, anaerobic digestion) and up to 50kW for micro CHP and Your energy supplier may be obliged to offer a tariff and make payments to you as grid exporting potential. you export energy to the National Grid.
See more on the Smart Export Guarantee here.
Green Gas Support Scheme. New anaerobic digestion biomethane plants receive financial incentives to increase the proportion of green gas in the gas grid.
See more information on the Green Gas Scheme and apply here. . See more here.
Registered participants receive quarterly payments based on the amount of biomethane inputted to the gas grid Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). Provides capital grant to support building decarbonisation. Grants are available for the installation of heat pumps and depending on circumstance, biomass boilers.
Business rates relief on Renewable Energy Technology. Targeted business rates exemptions for onsite renewable energy generation and storage.
Timeline: Closes November 2025. Eligibility: Must be a plant producing biomethane via anaerobic digestion, which is injected into the grid. Timeline: Ends April 2025. Eligibility: The grant is available for some nondomestic buildings and homes in England and Wales. Eligibility: Business in England, investing in eligible green plant and machinery. This
See more here.
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Category
Description
Timelines & Eligibility
More information
includes technologies such as solar panels, battery technology and heat pumps. Green heat network fund. 3 year, £288 million capital grant fund supporting commercialisation and construction of new low and zero carbon heat networks and the retrofitting and expansion of existing heat networks.
The GHNF main scheme Round 4 is open to applications until 24 February 2023. There will be a series of quarterly application rounds until the scheme closes in 2025.
See more here
GHNF is open to organisations in the public or private sectors in England. Tax and Capital Allowance. Businesses can benefit from tax and enhanced capital allowances from purchasing cars of certain emissions standards.
Eligibility: Any business that has bought or uses a car.
Transport
For the tax advantages, see here. For capital allowances on cars and the associated emission standards, see here.
Plug-in grants. You may be eligible for a discount on the price of brand new lowemission vehicles through a grant to dealerships.
Timeline: Van and truck grants extended to April 2024. Car grants have ended.
Find out more here.
Eligibility: To qualify, you need to purchase an approved low-emission vehicle. 2 V12 Date Issued: 17/01/2024
Category
Description
Timelines & Eligibility
More information
Workplace Charging Scheme. Support on the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of charging points through vouchers. Maximum grant of £350 per socket and total value of up to £14,000.
Eligibility: Must be registered with Companies House or have a VAT registration. Workplaces must be able to provide private parking for staff or fleet use only.
See more here, along with guidance for applicants, installers and manufacturers.
Transport
The Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme. Grant funding to cover the additional operating costs incurred by companies, if they choose to transport freight by rail and water. The Energy Savings Trust. Fleet advice for public and private sector businesses. Fleet support could save your fleet up to £300,000 and 250 tonnes of carbon annually. Access a Green Fleet Review, which provides advice on vehicle choice, fuel economy, fleet management and staff engagement. This review can extend to air quality, low-emission vehicles and HGV fleets (grey fleet).
From early 2022, the scheme will open up funding to other businesses, including SMEs, small accommodation businesses, owners of commercial let premises at more. Timeline: Runs until 31 March 2025. Eligibility: The business must distribute freight. Eligibility: Energy Savings Trust advises to contact fleetadvice@est.org.uk.
Transport Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Support through a range of grants, loans and investments to encourage the move towards a more circular economy. This includes support on the use of recycled materials, growing recycling capacity, waste and resources efficiency etc.
Find out more here.
Eligibility: Varies by scheme, see the next column.
More information on the scheme can be found here. There is other information relating to funding and advice on their website here. Find out more about grants, loans and
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Category
Description
Timelines & Eligibility
More information investment here. View WRAP services here.
Other Funding Opportunities & Support
Other Funding Opportunities & Support
Innovate UK Edge. A range of innovation funding (not limited to low-carbon) is available through the Innovate UK Edge website. Their innovation and growth programmes aim to drive innovation, source funding and finance and open up new markets for businesses.
Eligibility: Innovation driven SMEs in the UK. Specific eligibility is dependent on individual funding schemes.
UK Research and Innovation Funding Finder. A range of funding is available on innovation and research supporting environmental sustainability. This site collates available funding from a range of different funders. Funding is updated frequently.
Eligibility: Varies by scheme, see the next column.
West Midlands SME Grant Programme- The grant is for start-up SMEs based in the West Midlands Region (grants of £2,500 to £7,500 are available) or existing SMEs based in the West Midlands region (Grants of £5,000 to £10,000 are available).
Eligibility: Businesses from all sectors are eligible for consideration, except for: charities, those of a political or religious persuasion and business activity that is illegal.
See more here.
See funding here.
See more eligibility requirements here
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Category
Description
Timelines & Eligibility
More information
Net Zero Grant Programme- The Net Zero Grant Programme (NZGP) aims to provide information and expert advice and support to businesses enabling them to make significant changes to resource and energy efficiencies in their business. This Programme is part of the wider West Midlands Business Support activity funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Eligibility: Excluded activities are charities, those of a political or religious persuasion, and any business activity that is illegal or deemed as unsuitable for public support by Birmingham City Council.
See more details here.
Regional Business Support & Funding Description
Timeline & Eligibility
More information
Staffordshire Business and Environment Network (SBEN). Range of support on Eligibility: Varies, see next column. offer including: • The low carbon business evolution programme which enables businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency. • Environmental sustainability growth mapper which is a free diagnostic tool. • Smart energy monitor funding. Clean Air Zone (CAZ) Support. Birmingham City Council created brumbreathes, Eligibility: Varies, see next column. a website which details updated guidance, support and information on the CAZ.
See more here.
Modeshift STARS Travel Planning. Free travel plan support through an online tool. Organisations have experienced many benefits for the workforce, including staff support, healthier lifestyles, and savings. Additionally,
Find out more about Modeshift STARS here.
Eligibility: Free for organisations in the West Midlands.
See more here.
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Description
Timeline & Eligibility
organisations can use the scheme to support Corporate Social Responsibility objectives and obtain Modeshift STARS accreditation.
More information For support with the scheme or to find out more contact connected@birmingham.gov.uk
Low Carbon SME. Free support and advice from energy efficiency experts to SMEs. This includes a free energy audit and matching funds of up to £12,250 for energy saving equipment or new business processes. Collaborative and workshop activities are included. Various National and Regional Funding Opportunities. Sustainability West Midlands provide frequent updates on various funding opportunities on environmental sustainability practice. Birmingham and Solihull Industrial Symbiosis Project (BASIS). Free consulting on business waste to be used by other businesses as a resource to generate revenue. This includes maximising waste and resources efficiency.
Eligibility: SMEs in the Black Country, Birmingham and Solihull area.
Further guidance and support on sustainable travel can be found here. Find out more here.
Eligibility: Varies by scheme, see the next column.
See all listed funding here.
Eligibility: SMEs in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull area.
See more here.
Climate Innovation Platform (CIP). This scheme aims to drive energy technology innovation through offering a package of support to encourage innovative energy products and service commercialisation. The scheme aims to support 100 SMEs over a four-year programme. Energy and Bioproduct Research Institute (EBRI). EBRI supports businesses on the circular economy, energy, innovation and by providing free sustainability health checks. The scheme has supported over 300 SMEs so far.
Eligibility: SMEs with innovative energy products and services.
Find out more here.
Eligibility: SMEs. Check individual schemes.
See more here.
West Midlands Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS). The Pilot Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) programme has six Primary Delivery Partners (PDP). Warwickshire County Council, Worcester County Council and Staffordshire County Council will deliver a mix of standard and energy-intensive
Eligibility: small businesses across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton, as well as Worcestershire
Offers 4000 free energy assessments to small businesses across the West Midlands. Following the assessment,
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Description
Timeline & Eligibility
More information
assessments and grants on behalf of the programme in their specific geographic areas.
and the Marches, Warwickshire and Stoke and Staffordshire.
businesses have the opportunity to apply for grants up to £100,000. Find out more here.
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