Green Grants available to help Cambridge businesses cut their carbon emissions
Allia works with Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce to manage grant funding to local businesses.
Businesses in Cambridge can apply now for up to £10,000 grants to help reduce their energy consumption, save money and improve their productivity.
Cambridge City Council is launching the Cambridge Green Business Grants scheme to help businesses in commercial premises in the city that are registered for business rates. Allia is working with Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce to manage the grants on behalf of the council. The grants can be used for improvements such as better insulation, energy management systems, solar photovoltaic panels, low-energy lighting and water-saving measures. No ‘match-funding’ is expected, though businesses may choose to top up the grants with their own money for larger carbon-saving projects.
Businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications providing all the necessary details will be assessed as they are received. Although the application deadline is 11 March 2022, the scheme may close earlier, once all the funding has been awarded.
Grants will be paid to successful applicants by 31 March 2022 and recipients will need to complete the improvements within the following year.
This scheme follows the council’s adoption last year of a new and ambitious Climate Change Strategy, which outlines a vision for Cambridge to achieve net zero carbon by 2030. Since declaring a climate emergency in 2019, the council has continued to support businesses in the city to take their own steps towards effecting change that will reduce carbon emissions across the city and the wider region.
The Cambridge Green Business Grants are being managed on behalf of the council by the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce and social and environmental business support specialists, Allia. It also provides an opportunity for businesses to discuss measuring, monitoring and improving their carbon footprint.
Vic Annells, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “If your business is planning a project to reduce carbon emissions and minimise waste, then we are here to help. You can save energy, save money and help save the planet by visiting our Cambridge Green Business Grants web pages.”
Cllr Mike Davey, Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, said: “We’re very pleased to have launched the Cambridge Green Business Grants scheme, and would urge all eligible businesses to take a look at what they do, and see how one of these grants could help them make improvements to reduce their carbon emissions. Local businesses of all sizes can play a huge part in helping the city reach our vision of becoming a net zero carbon place.”
The Cambridge Green Business Grants scheme sits alongside other government-funded support to help businesses to bounce back from the Coronavirus pandemic. The council is also making arrangements to provide additional support (announced by the government just before Christmas) to businesses based in Cambridge who have been impacted by the Omicron variant. For more details, visit www.cambridge.gov.uk/coronavirus-financial-support-for-businesses.
Business can find out more and make an application by visiting the Cambridge Green Business Grants website at www.greenbizgrantcam.co.uk
Notes:
1. The council’s Climate Change Strategy for 2021-2026 shares a vision for Cambridge to be net zero carbon by 2030, subject to Government, industry and regulators implementing the necessary changes to enable the city and the rest of the UK to achieve this. The strategy sets out six key objectives for addressing the causes and consequences of climate change, and a wide range of actions that we will take to help reduce carbon emissions and reduce climate impacts over the next five years. To read the council’s Climate Change Strategy, please visit: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/climate-change-strategy
2. Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce is committed to inspiring business success by independently representing the interests of businesses across the region. As one of 53 Chambers across the UK to be accredited to the British Chambers of Commerce, its 3,800 members are part of one of the most influential business groups in the UK. The BCC pro-actively and successfully lobbies on behalf of over 104,000 businesses, of all sectors and sizes, representing their interests on a national and international level. Members also have access to a unique benefits package and quality export services to ensure international success.
www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk | chamber@cambsccci.co.uk | @cambschamber
3. Allia is a not-for-profit organisation that supports businesses – through flexible workspace, social finance and free business support – so that they can grow and create positive impact, on their communities and on the planet. Allia Future Business Centres offers flexible workspace and a vibrant community for small businesses who are creating change. Allia Impact runs free business support programmes and innovative funded projects. Both are dedicated to supporting businesses to thrive, grow and create jobs, so that they can make a positive impact on their community, as well as addressing social and environmental global challenges. www.futurebusinesscentre.co.uk | hello@futurebusinesscentre.co.uk | @ftrbusiness
4. Contacts
Cambridge City Council Cllr Mike Davey (Labour), Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, email: mike.davey@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 07540 128320 Cllr Jamie Dalzell (Liberal Democrat), Opposition spokesperson, email: jamie.dalzell@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 07854 332635 Cllr Naomi Bennett, (Green/Independent group), email: naomi.bennett@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 07903 383081 Fiona Bryant, Director of Enterprise and Sustainable Development, email: fiona.bryant@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 01223 457325 Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce Vic Annells, Chief Executive, email: v.annells@cambscci.co.uk, tel: 01223 237414
