News from our partners: Company slashes energy costs thanks to BEEP

News from our partners Marches Growth Hub

A Shropshire company has significantly reduced its energy costs after being awarded a grant from a pioneering new efficiency scheme.

Oswestry-based Cold Move – which specialises in temperature-controlled cold storage and distribution – says it will save in excess of £15,000 over the next two years  thanks to the Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP).

James Woodward and Emma Chapman at Cold Move in Oswestry.

The £19,400 grant from BEEP is one of the first to be made in the Shropshire area after the launch of the scheme in the county in July.

It has allowed Cold Move to install new state-of-the-art LED lighting in both head office and outside yard areas and two rapid roll freezer doors at its base on the Maesbury Road Industrial Estate.

Cold Move managing director James Woodward said the measures would pay for themselves within two to three years and save around 70 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year.

Part of Cold Move’s base in Oswestry.

The family-run company, which employs 52 full time staff, received help from the Marches Growth Hub Shropshire with its application to BEEP, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Mr Woodward said:

“Because we have a large site which needs to be maintained at low temperatures we have a high energy demand. We were interested in the BEEP scheme as soon as it launched in Shropshire because we want to do everything we can to be as efficient and sustainable as possible.

“Under the scheme, we received a free energy efficiency assessment from an independent advisor who helped us identify these savings and then applied for the grant as a result of the findings.

“The grant provided 40 per cent of the cost of installing the lights, which are fitted with motion sensors so that they are only turned on when necessary, and the doors, which dramatically reduce the amount of cold air which enters in and out of the freezer chambers.”

The company had previously installed solar panels at its base to generate some of its own power, fitted LED lighting in its freezers and uses an energy management system to monitor and help them manage their energy requirements.

Growth Hub Shropshire manager Emma Chapman urged businesses across the county to follow Cold Move’s example and make use of the BEEP scheme to boost their efficiency.

“We are delighted to have been able to help Cold Move with this successful application. The scheme will cut their energy costs significantly, saving them money in the long term and benefitting the environment.”

Shropshire Councillor Nic Laurens, the cabinet member for economic growth, said:

“Having only recently visited Cold Move, I think it’s extremely positive that their application has been sorted so quickly.

“Ensuring that we use energy efficiently is really important, and increasingly so. BEEP is a great way to enable businesses to lower their energy usage, save money and help the environment. I would encourage interested businesses to find out more.”

The BEEP programme has already helped 250 businesses across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Telford & Wrekin prior to its launch in Shropshire.

For more information visit www.business-central.co.uk/beep

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 Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, Herefordshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council, the Worcestershire Districts Councils and Shropshire Council were awarded up to £1.8 million funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government’s European Regional Development Fund to help small and medium-sized businesses.

Further information

About the Marches Growth Hub

• The Marches Growth Hub brings together all national and local business support in one place for the first time and is fully aligned to the Government’s ‘Business is GREAT’ campaign.
• A comprehensive business support website – www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk – and dedicated enquiry line – 0345 6000 727 – provide businesses across the whole Marches region with access to funding, support and advice. All resources are available to enterprises of all sizes, from start-ups to large employers.
• This is supported by physical hubs in Telford at the University of Wolverhampton’s Telford Innovation Campus, at Skylon Park in Hereford and at the Food Enterprise Centre in Shrewsbury.

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 Department for 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.

Savings are £15,000 annually.