Businesses save over £9,000 on energy bills with support from the LEP
Businesses in West Yorkshire could save an average of more than £9,000 on their annual energy bills thanks to a carbon cutting scheme from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership.
8 February 2022
Carbon cutting business support scheme saves firms an average of £9,000 on their annual energy bills
Businesses in West Yorkshire could save an average of more than £9,000 on their energy bills thanks to a carbon cutting scheme from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP), backed by the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin.
Delivering on the Mayor’s pledges to support local businesses and tackle the climate emergency, the Resource Efficient Business (REBiz) programme offers free energy efficiency audits, consultancy advice and grant funding to help small and medium-sized enterprises improve resource efficiency, reduce energy bills and minimise their environmental impact.
Last year the project helped businesses in West Yorkshire to save an average of £9,689 on annual energy bills and reduce their carbon emissions by 26 tonnes.
A total of 27 grants, worth over £276,000, were issued to assist with the installation of energy-saving equipment including lighting, insulation and heating upgrades.
Excellent Relax, a Batley-based manufacturer, is forecast to save over £17,000 per year on energy bills after receiving support from the project. An audit and grant funding helped the business identify inefficiencies and install a new heating system and compressor that will reduce their carbon emissions by an estimated 62.32 tonnes per year.
Commenting on the support, Azeez Akudi, Operations Director of Excellent Relax said:
“Without the LEP’s support, the business would not have had the understanding or the funds to invest in the new equipment.
“The entire process has been straightforward and our LEP account manager was always there to help and guide us through the project.
“The upgrades have made a significant difference to our energy bills and carbon emissions, and we’re now keen to explore the benefits of solar panel installation.”
Businesses can also benefit from up to 30 days of free consultancy to identify and implement schemes to reduce waste, cut costs and develop sustainable products and services.
A local packaging manufacturer accessed support from the LEP to overcome supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using circular economy principles, the business now returns cardboard packaging from its clients directly into its supply chain, reducing the need for raw materials from external suppliers.
Sir Roger Marsh OBE, DL Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and NPII said:
“I am delighted that through the LEP, we are continuing to prioritise sustainable growth support for businesses and helping them to prepare for a net zero future.
“Our resource efficiency support is a brilliant opportunity for businesses to benefit from expert advice to reduce their impact on the environment.
“I’d encourage all eligible businesses to get in touch and apply for a free consultation to find out how they can reduce costs and develop more sustainable products and services.”
The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said:
“In West Yorkshire, we’re working towards creating a net zero carbon economy by 2038 at the latest. To help meet this goal, we’re providing flexible support that allows SMEs to decarbonise and enhance their competitiveness.
“Creating a clean, safe and inclusive economy, as we recover and move beyond COVID-19, creates significant opportunities for firms, investors and innovators to shape the new economy of West Yorkshire.”
To access free support for your business, visit the REBiz page.
The project is part-funded by the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.