With the high level of energy prices continuing Somerset Council is taking action to help businesses to reduce their carbon emissions and, in turn, save money.

The 'Go Green Scheme' and the 'Somerset Green Business Grant Scheme' are being introduced to offer businesses practical help and financial support to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Launching in October the 'Go Green' Scheme is being delivered by the Net Zero specialist consultancy Balanced Energy and will help eligible Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to understand their energy consumption and show how it can be reduced. The scheme offers free energy audits and support to develop individual, costed and prioritised sustainability plans.

For SMEs who already have sustainability plans in place, the Somerset Green Business Grant Scheme can provide financial assistance to take forward identified measures to reduce energy consumption and costs as well as carbon emissions. Grants can be capital and/or revenue and fund up to 50% of total eligible project costs, with the remainder funded by the applicant.

The grant scheme is now open for applications for activity and expenditure which must be completed by end of March 2024. The deadline for submission is 31st October.

Cllr Ros Wyke, Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets at Somerset Council, said: "We are asking everyone who runs a business in Somerset to consider ways in which their business can help tackle climate change. Reducing the amount of energy that businesses use leads to a lower carbon footprint and reduced energy costs. These pioneering schemes not only underline our commitment to local businesses, but they also align with our priority of creating a greener and more sustainable Somerset.

The Go Green Scheme and Green Business Grant Schemes are receiving around £200,000 in 2023/24 from the UK Government from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Further information on the Go Green Scheme 'empowering Somerset businesses to go greener' is available at www.gogreenscheme.org.uk/go-green-scheme

Further information on the Somerset Green Business Grant Scheme is available at https://www.somerset.gov.uk/business-economy-and-licences/funding-and-grants-for-business/

For businesses who are not ready to make an application for funding this year Somerset Council expects further grant opportunities for similar project activity to be announced in early 2024.