Free support will help businesses across Rother reduce their carbon emissions and energy costs, while helping them to unlock the benefits of sustainability.
Rother District Council’s package of support, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, includes a free workshop and grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
It is hoped that the offer to businesses will help accelerate the move to net zero business in the district and support the council’s ambitious carbon free target for Rother.
Cllr Kathryn Field, portfolio holder for environmental, licensing, community safety and climate strategy, and joint waste contract, said: “The workshop and grant programme offer a fantastic opportunity to our local businesses, and we are delighted to be able to support them to reduce their carbon footprint.
“As well as reducing costs, sustainable businesses benefit from higher employee satisfaction, better access to tender opportunities and increase appeal to investors.”
Businesses in the district can take advantage of a fully-funded place at Net Zero 360, a one-day interactive workshop developed by the University of Brighton’s Clean Growth UK.
The workshop covers sustainability, how businesses can measure their carbon footprint and how to create a tailored plan to reduce environmental impact.
The workshop will run at different locations and dates across the district, the first one taking place on Monday, June 24 at Ashburnham Place in Battle.
Businesses will also have access to the Rother Business Energy Efficiency Grants Programme which can help pay for energy efficiency or renewable energy initiatives. The grant can contribute up to £5,000 towards a project, provided the business also contributes at least £1,000.
Open to businesses operating in the Rother District Council area with two years’ accounts, the grant covers a range of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, including LED lighting, air source heat pumps, new double glazing, solar panels, insulation, and energy efficient machinery and equipment.
The workshops and grant are delivered by Clean Growth UK, working with Rother District Council. They’re exclusively for businesses in the area and part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
For more information and to book a place on the Net Zero 360 workshop, visit https://www.clean-growth.uk/events/net-zero-360-free-sustainability-course-in-rother/ More information about the Rother Business Energy Efficiency Grants Programme can be found at www.clean-growth.uk/rother-grants/
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus or https://www.rother.gov.uk/regeneration/uk-shared-prosperity-fund/ for local UKPF information. The University of Brighton’s Clean Growth UK is a network that helps businesses access expertise and resources to tackle their carbon footprint and develop and commercialise low carbon products and services. For more information, visit: www.clean-growth.uk/
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Published: 7th May 2024
