Scheme to help over 1,000 West Midlands businesses cut energy bills

A £15 million pot has been made available through the Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) pilot scheme being led by West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero.

The money will enable 1,300 businesses to cut their bills as well as help the region get to the desired net zero by 2041.

It is one of a number of regional schemes that have already helped 2,400 businesses to identify measures to decarbonise and reduce energy demand, with match funded grant support available.

If fully implemented, they would save £16 million a year in gas and electricity costs and reduce their annual carbon emissions by 34,000 tonnes – the equivalent to the amount produced by 20,000 cars each year.

The new funding will save businesses a further £8 million in annual energy costs and cut 17,000 tonnes of carbon.

SMEs can apply for a free energy efficiency audit leading to an opportunity to secure between £1,000 and £100,000 of match funding to implement recommended measures that can reduce their energy demand.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said: “High energy costs are holding businesses back. That’s why I’m taking action to make them cleaner, greener and more competitive.

“We’ve already helped more than 2,000 businesses cut millions of pounds off their gas and electricity bills and reduce their carbon emissions thanks to this expert advice and funding.

“I’m helping to power up businesses so they can invest in their own future and take on more staff. That’s part of my plan for a stronger and more prosperous future for everyone.”

Birmingham-based craft beer maker Attic Brew Co was awarded funding to help install new energy efficient beer making equipment as well as a more efficient boiler, double glazing and lighting for its brewery in Stirchley.

This has resulted in the firm cutting annual carbon emissions by 65 tonnes and fuel bills by around £30,000.

Managing director Sam Back said: “The support we’ve had means we’ve been able to reduce equipment running costs, the level of heating we need and the co2 we produce.

“It has also unlocked additional support to help find future avenues for improvement.

“Without this help it’s likely we’d have had to scale down our plans to maintain the fantastic growth we’ve seen since we began brewing commercially in 2018.”

Businesses wanting to out more about BEAS and a range of support programmes for SMEs can visit www.businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk.