What you can do as an organisation or business

Schemes currently available include: 

• VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme (opens new window): This is a £25.5 million funding package to support voluntary, community and social enterprise organisation in England improve their energy efficiency. There are 2 elements to the scheme. Firstly, a fund to apply for the cost and delivery of an independent energy assessment. Secondly, a fund for those eligible organisations with an energy assessment to apply for capital grant (up to £150k) to install recommended energy efficiency measures. The scheme is being managed through Groundwork UK and it is anticipated that there will be multiple rounds of funding in 2024.
• Westmill Solar Co-operative: Community Funding (opens new window)
  Although based in Oxfordshire, Westmill Solar Co-operative provide community funding opportunities within a 25 mile radius of the solar farm site which includes parts of the Wiltshire Council administrative area. The Community Grant Scheme is for eligible non-profit community organisations of between £500-£5,000 and is one of a number of initiatives they run to support climate change action.
• Workplace charging scheme (opens new window)
  Get a voucher for installing charging points in your workplace. Vouchers cover up to 75% of purchase and installation costs, up to a maximum of £350 per charging point, and a maximum of 40 charging points per site.
• Plug-in charging grant scheme (opens new window)
  Grants are available to help pay for low-emission vehicles. These are worth up to £2,500 of the purchase price of a car. Eligible cars must cost less than £35,000. The grant will also pay for 35% of the purchase price for selected small vans, up to a maximum of £3000, and 35% of the purchase price for selected large vans, up to a maximum of £6,000.
• Capital allowances claim scheme (opens new window)
  You can claim enhanced capital allowances (a type of first year allowances) for buying energy and water-efficient equipment for your business. This includes some cars with low CO2 emissions, energy saving equipment, water saving equipment, gas, biogas and hydrogen refuelling equipment and new zero-emission goods vehicles. You can claim on your tax return

Switching to a green energy provider can significantly reduce your organisation's carbon footprint.

For further information about the types of green tariff visit Energy Saving Trust (opens new window).

Use green web hosting to reduce the impact of all of the data you use.

Reduce energy - Conduct an energy audit to identify where you can reduce usage and cost.

Install energy efficient light bulbs, automatic switch offs and insulation.

Make sustainable commuting easier for your staff, through schemes such as 'Cycle to Work (opens new window)' or a 'lift share' programme or consider whether working from home options could help

Reduce your long-distance journeys and save money by attending conferences online, instead of in person.

Compost the food waste from your kitchens and canteens.

Recycle all of your metals and electronics.

Go paper-light or even better, paper free, by changing your printing habits. "Be Green - Keep it on the screen!"

Wherever possible, make sure that what you buy is sustainably produced and distributed, including stationery, food and equipment.

Pledge your commitment by signing up to the SME Climate Commitment (opens new window). Not only will your business receive the support and resources needed to help you understand your emissions and how to tackle them, but you will also be recognised by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign (opens new window).

The UK Business Climate Hub (opens new window) includes a free carbon calculator and a suite of new tools to help businesses measure, track and report on their emissions and save money by using less energy. It offers detailed advice on everything from sourcing products from green suppliers and reducing emissions from freight and logistics to the most cost-effective ways of installing solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

The SME Climate Hub (opens new window) and Oxford University have partnered together to produce a suite of resources to help SMEs reduce their carbon emissions.

Visit the SWLEP Growth Hub's Sustainable Business (opens new window) portal for local news and events.

The Carbon reduction and Net Zero for SMEs (carbontrust.com) (opens new window), and knowing your carbon footprint (opens new window) give you a baseline for measuring the improvements you make.