Opportunity knocks for businesses in Shropshire
News from our partners Worcestershire County Council
Businesses in Shropshire can now access support and funding to become more sustainable, saving both energy and costs.
Worcestershire County Council’s Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP) already operates in Worcestershire, Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire. Now, after a funding boost from the European Regional Development Fund, the programme is extended across Shropshire, and will kick start with a launch event on Friday 6 July 2018 at Shrewsbury Town Football Club at 9am.
Christopher Atkinson, BEEP programme manager who will be presenting at the launch event, explained:-
“BEEP helps businesses identify quick and affordable changes they can make, and gives them the support to do so.”
The BEEP programme offers a two-pronged combination of technical mentoring support and grant funding to help manufacturing and engineering businesses slash their energy usage and make cost savings. It works across other sectors too, such as distribution, hotels and professional services.
Christopher Atkinson added:-
“The Shropshire launch of BEEP will be a great introduction to the key areas businesses should focus on, from office electricity usage to manufacturing equipment and processes. It will also address the environmental issues – the easy-to-implement fixes, as well as worthy investments that can yield remarkable cost savings, often within a short period of time.”
Telford-based Digiland, an electrical goods supplier, has made significant energy and cost savings through the BEEP programme and will be presenting at the event.
Christopher said:-
“Digiland’s story represents the wide range of benefits businesses can gain from having a specialist energy assessment and implementing changes.”
Digiland received a BEEP grant of £20,000 towards a building upgrade project which included upgrading heating and air conditioning, using solar film on windows, fitting lighting sensors on existing LED lighting, and insulation.
Christopher said:
“As a result of working with BEEP, Digiland now has an annual predicted annual financial saving of £10,000. About 70 percent of the warehouse lights are now off at any one time and these energy-saving measures represent a massive cost saving.”
Businesses qualifying for the BEEP programme will receive a free energy efficiency assessment review from energy specialists Pro Enviro Ltd. Grants from £1,000 to £20,000 are also available to help businesses undertake energy efficiency improvements such as lighting, heating, variable speed drives and compressors, energy efficient equipment, refrigeration, renewable technologies and more.
Christopher said:
“Once businesses have brought down energy costs, often the next natural step is to make a capital investment focused on sustainability. But making this investment deliver value for stakeholders is often something that may not impact the bottom line until three years or so later – so this is where the grant funding comes in. The funding acts as a catalyst for businesses to make a capital investment that will significantly impact its overall energy savings, and deliver cost savings over a period of time.”
Businesses wishing to register interest in the BEEP programme can do so at www.business-central.co.uk/beep and bookings for the Shropshire launch event are via the www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk
The BEEP launch in Shropshire will take place on Friday 6 July 2018, from 9am-12.30pm at the Sovereign Suite, Shrewsbury Town FC, Montgomery Waters Meadow, Oteley Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ST as part of a business support and funding session organised by The Marches Growth Hub Shropshire. Further details can be found here
The Business Energy Efficiency Programme is part-financed by the England European Regional Development Fund Programme as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
Worcestershire County Council, along with its partners Shropshire Council, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, Herefordshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council, and the Worcestershire district councils, were awarded up to £1.8 million funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s European Regional Development Fund to help small and medium-sized businesses.
Further information
European Regional Development Fund
This project is receiving up to £1,797,112 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund.
Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.
