EDF Small Business has launched a grant to help small businesses overcome the upfront cost of investing in greener technologies and practical sustainability improvements.
Launched in partnership with Enterprise Nation and with support from business technology and payments platform Square, the initiative will provide five £5,000 grants to help small businesses invest in practical sustainability improvements.
Funding can be used for a range of sustainability projects, including upgrading to more energy efficient equipment, improving the energy performance of business premises, installing renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or battery storage, or investing in workplace EV charging infrastructure.
Five businesses will also receive a workplace electric vehicle (EV) charger. Businesses can apply for the grant, the EV charger or both.
The programme is open to UK based businesses with fewer than 50 employees that have been trading for at least 12 months and operate from a physical business premises.
“Small businesses are at the heart of the UK economy, but many face barriers when it comes to investing in sustainability,” says Claire Nutt, director of small business at EDF.
“Through the Powering Local Businesses Sustainability Grant, we’re helping businesses turn their ambitions into action by investing in energy efficiency, renewable technologies and other practical improvements that can reduce emissions and support long term growth.”
Applicants will be asked to outline how they would use the funding or EV charger to make their business more sustainable. Applications will be reviewed by an independent judging panel, with successful applicants contacted directly by Enterprise Nation.
Applications are open from 21 July to 31 August.
