Marches Energy Programmes and the Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS)

About

The Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS), Marches Energy Grant, Shropshire Energy Programme and Telford & Wrekin Energy Programme are working together to offer free advice, energy assessments and grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures to SMEs in Herefordshire*, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. 

Assessments are for SMEs who wish to use their energy more efficiently, reducing costs and improving environmental credentials. Up to £100,000 in match funded grant is available to eligible businesses through BEAS. For businesses not eligible for BEAS, a very limited grant pot is also available for grants worth up to £30,000 through The Marches Energy Grant and The Shropshire Energy Programme.

To be eligible for the programme you must be:

• Operating within the Marches and have a Marches business address

• A small/medium size enterprise including limited businesses (SME);

• A sole trader or partnership;

• Below the Subsidy Control threshold of £315,000 over the previous 3 years, including the value of the support

In addition, to qualify for BEAS you must be:

• Trading over 12 months;

• Incorporated under the Companies Act and registered on Companies House

• Using a minimum annual energy consumption of 25,000kWh 

Sectors not eligible for support include:

• Primary agriculture

• Schools

• Public sector funded organisations (except parish or town councils)

How will it work?

Step 1: A free assessment offering to assess your energy usage, equipment, premises, processes and performance to find opportunities for improvements in energy efficiency. The scale of the assessment will vary according to need. The assistance could range from 2hrs desktop advice for very simple proposals, through to a deep-dive, 35 hour assist for complex or large sites.

Step 2: Following the assessment, you will be sent a report containing recommended actions. You may then have the opportunity to apply for a grant for eligible projects worth up to £30,000 under The Shropshire Energy Programme and The Marches Energy Grant, or £100,000 from the Business Energy Advice Service. The grant intervention rate is up to a maximum of 50% and your business contribution is a minimum of 50% for the project. For example, if your project costs are £30,000, the minimum contribution you will make is £15,000 and we provide up to £15,000 maximum.

Step 3: If your application is successful, we will require you to sign an agreement detailing the grant conditions. Once signed and returned you can carry out the approved activities.

Step 4: We will monitor your project to ensure that it is on track.

Projects Eligible for Support Schemes

Grants are available to support a wide range of projects, including:

• Renewable energy systems, such as solar panels

• Lighting – including LED conversions, movement / light sensors

• Fast acting / roller doors

• Variable speed drives & compressors

• Electrification of plant & machinery

• Energy efficient equipment for process improvements

• Waste heat management systems

• Energy management system

• Heating (including heat pumps), insulation and double/triple glazing

• De-stratification fans

Please complete the contact form below and be sure to include your company name, and postcode, a contact number, your estimated annual energy usage and a brief description of the project. If you have any questions please contact us at:  MarchesEnergy@worcestershire.gov.uk.

How is this project funded?

The Marches Energy Grant is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). UKSPF is individually managed by Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils.

The Pilot Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) offers free energy assessments and grant funding to implement energy efficiency measures to small and medium businesses in the West Midlands. The programme is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. 

*Businesses in Herefordshire currently only have access to BEAS for a free energy assessment and must meet the full eligibility criteria for this programme.