Small and medium enterprises in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, and Northamptonshire are being invited to apply for a grant to help reduce their energy consumption and the carbon emissions of their commercial premises. Businesses in the property and real estate sectors can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000.

The grant funding pot of £850,000, which has been made available by the Low Carbon Workspaces programme, aims to help SMEs fund up to a third of the cost of eligible projects which cover energy-saving measures including lighting systems, heating and cooling upgrades, renewable energy systems, equipment upgrades and building fabric improvements.

Programme manager Daniel Cope explained: “These grants are intended to help businesses implement positive changes to ensure that they are working towards building a more sustainable future and saving money.

“Investing in low carbon measures can help businesses reduce overheads, cut carbon emissions, and boost eco-credentials and be part of the nationwide goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”

He added: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognise that many businesses may struggle to implement energy-improvement measures despite increasing energy rates, so we are pleased to be able to bring this scheme to businesses in these regions to help reduce this burden and build a more sustainable future.”

Businesses can check their eligibility for a grant and identify suitable projects by clicking here.