With a fantastic and ever-growing green business support offer, we’re focusing on support for businesses in Eden and Barrow.
Partnership working to improve Cumbria’s electric vehicle charging network
Eden District Council, along with public and private sector representatives from across Cumbria, have come together to form a partnership which aims to significantly expand Cumbria’s Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
The partnership was formed with the appreciation that as more and more people transition towards a greater use of electric vehicles, it’s essential that the local area has a robust network of charging points to support.
Supported by EV charging infrastructure specialists, the partnership has been mapping potential locations for the installation of EV charge points across the county. Hard to reach places are a particular focus, along with locations near households with little or no access to off-street parking.
The work completed by the partnership will be used to support ambitious bids to the UK Government’s On-street Residential ChargePoint Scheme and the new Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure pilot, to fund the roll out of public EV charging infrastructure.
The private sector also has an important role to play in the provision of EV charging infrastructure and the partnership is keen to support businesses across the county, of any shape and size, who are planning to install their own EV charge points.
More information, including the location of current EV charge points and how to install your own charge point at home at work, is available at: www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/electricvehicles.asp .
Council launches new £160k fund to support sustainability projects in Eden
Eden District Council has launched a new six-figure fund to support community-led sustainability projects in the area.
The COP26 Community Fund is now welcoming applications for funding from projects that tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions or that protect and enhance biodiversity.
The COP26 community fund scheme aims to improve the natural environment in the Eden district, encourage sustainability and long-term actions, and promote community engagement and participation in environmental and sustainability projects.
Grants are available to community groups and organisations. Applicants must show how their project or event will contribute to the sustainability of Eden’s communities.
For more information, including guidance and an application form, visit www.eden.gov.uk/your-environment/zero-carbon-eden/cop26-community-fund/
Greening Eden Businesses Scheme
The Greening Eden Businesses scheme is run by Eden District Council in partnership with Cumbria Business Environment Network (CBEN).
Greening Eden Businesses will support local businesses to reduce their carbon emissions, and save money at the same time. Sustainability is at the core of Eden District Council’s work. The project will support local businesses while championing our environment.
Greening Eden Businesses Offers
As part of the project, each business will undertake an environmental assessment. CBEN will calculate the businesses carbon footprint, using data provided by the business.
CBEN will then offer practical and cost-effective advice on how to reduce emissions. These solutions could range from no cost changes, to capital investment projects.
Grants will range from £1000 to £10,000 per businesses, depending on the chosen solutions. This will help fund capital investments that deliver significant carbon reductions. The grant rate will be around 50% of the total cost of investment. We welcome businesses to apply for grant funding following their assessment with CBEN.
Who is this scheme for?
Businesses located in Eden or whose principal operations are in Eden are eligible to apply. Approximately 40 to 50 companies will receive support from the scheme, open to all business sectors. Register your interest in Greening Eden Businesses by emailing greeningeden@cben.co.uk
To learn more about the support available click here
Low carbon Barrow grants
Businesses and organisations can apply for Low Carbon Barrow small grants to help them to take action on climate change.
Low Carbon Barrow is encouraging small to medium-sized firms as well as formally constituted community organisations that can demonstrate they can reduce their carbon footprint through investment in changes at work to apply.
Low Carbon Barrow – a two-year scheme thanks to funding secured from the European Regional Development Fund and Cumbria LEP – will cover two-thirds of the cost of an organisation’s measures to reduce carbon emissions.
These measures must be a capital investment and could include the installation of LED lighting, alternative heating systems, photovoltaics or building management systems.
Applications for Low Carbon Barrow grants from between £1,000 and £10,000 will be considered. Applications will be assessed by an independent panel and successful applicants will be required to contribute around one third of the costs of their project. For example, a business that spends £6,000 on changing all of its lighting in a warehouse to LED will be able to claim back £4,000 for the cost.
Innovative proposals or trials – particularly those based on new technologies or which could be considered an exemplar in terms of the achievement of significant carbon savings – are encouraged and will be considered.
To see if they are eligible for a grant, businesses and organisations should visit www.art-gene.co.uk and complete a simple expression of interest form in the first instance. To find out more click here.