The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis are still being felt widely across the country, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often feeling the consequences the most.
Among other issues, the price of energy is something that small businesses might struggle with as costs continue to rise.
As a business, understanding your energy use and how you could improve sustainability and reduce your carbon footprint could not only save your company money in the long run but help combat climate change, too.
Through a new energy efficiency scheme, small businesses in Wiltshire can now apply for free energy health checks and grants to install carbon-saving measures.
Funded by Wiltshire Council as part of its Wiltshire Towns Programme, the new scheme is open to micro and small businesses (with up to 50 employees) in 22 towns across the county, with a focus on retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors.
Sustainability charity Severn Wye Energy Agency, which recently delivered the county's Fit for Net Zero programme, will conduct the surveys and recommend the most effective measures for businesses to take.
Businesses can apply for the free energy-efficiency survey and detailed report, which then allows them to apply for up to £6,000 to install recommended measures.
Examples of eligible improvements include more efficient heating systems, insulation, lighting upgrades and renewable energy installation.
Councillor Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council and cabinet member for economic development, said: "Small businesses are critical to the health of our high streets and have an important role to play in Wiltshire's sustainability journey, but high energy costs can make a big dent in their profit margins.
"With energy costs still fluctuating, this scheme will provide much-needed expert support for businesses struggling to manage their overheads.
"We're delighted to be able to offer this funding to help business leaders understand their energy use, reduce their operating costs, and cut their carbon emissions. No match funding is required, so businesses can benefit directly from up to £6,000 to invest in energy-efficiency improvements, helping Wiltshire to become carbon neutral.
"In our Business Plan, we have committed to supporting local businesses and reducing Wiltshire's carbon emissions, and these grants are just one of the many ways we are doing that."
SMEs in Wiltshire have recently benefited from Severn Wye's expertise as part of the EU-funded Target 2030 programme in 2020-2023.
Seventeenth-century Howard's House Hotel (reopening as Teffont House) is in picturesque Teffont Evias. Its ten guest bedrooms are particularly popular in the summer.
The owners approached Severn Wye to explore energy savings across the site, both to reduce costs and reduce their carbon footprint. The business installed a new heating and hot water system and replacement fridges.
These measures cost a total of £3,484 and are set to return annual savings of £820, equating to 2.2 tonnes of CO2 a year, and saving nearly £12,000 over their lifetime, according to Severn Wye.
Lisa Whitaker, Severn Wye's business energy services manager, said: "However committed smaller businesses might be to sustainability, it can be hard to know where to start, especially without dedicated in-house resource.
"Severn Wye has helped hundreds of businesses across Wiltshire and the southwest understand their energy use.
"Our experts will work with business owners to help them reach the right solutions, backed up by a bespoke and completely impartial report that offers no-cost, low-cost and capital cost options."
Get involved
If your small business could benefit from the funding, you can apply to take part in the Wiltshire towns small business energy efficiency scheme.
For your business to be eligible for support through the programme, it must operate in the retail, leisure or hospitality sector and be located within one of the following Wiltshire Towns Programme locations: Amesbury, Bradford on Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Cricklade, Devizes, Downton, Ludgershall, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Melksham, Mere, Pewsey, Royal Wootton Bassett, Salisbury, Tidworth, Tisbury, Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, Wilton.
Qualifying organisations must also employ less than 50 people, have a turnover of £10.2 million or less, and have £5.1 million or less on their balance sheet.
If your business is eligible for funding, the amount it will receive is decided on a case-by-case basis. The scheme is open until October 2025, but applications may close sooner, depending on the number received.
