Friday, 16 August 2019
A project which helps local businesses that want to develop low-carbon solutions, has been awarded funding to support SMEs in the region for another three years.
‘Energy for Business’ will enable businesses in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire region to receive support for low-carbon and energy projects until October 2022.
The University of Nottingham led project, which was launched in 2016, is delivered by the Energy Innovation and Collaboration team and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, making support free to qualifying businesses.
Over 400 businesses in the region have been supported so far, receiving free consultancy and expert advice as well as the chance to attend a number of energy themed events and lectures. An energy grant scheme has seen 24 businesses awarded funds to help them make the leap to becoming low-carbon.
The new award means that close to £3.6m has now been invested in the programme from the European Regional Development Fund. When the matching contribution from the University of Nottingham is included this results in a total project value of £7.2m, enabling support to continue for local businesses in the form of product innovation, expert consultancy, access to world-class expertise and facilities, student placements and funding through a capital grant scheme for low-carbon or energy saving projects.
The University of Nottingham is a leading international centre for energy research, with a reputation for excellence across a broad range of technologies encompassing renewable energy, decarbonised fuels, energy storage, the built environment and smart grids.
“We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with businesses who have an innovative project or energy saving idea. This new funding will really help us to drive innovation and by working together we can promote business growth, accelerate new energy initiatives and benefit the local economy.”
One company that has benefited from the support is Giltbrook Workwear. CEO Chris Jackson had already worked with the University on energy saving projects and asked for advice on what other energy saving measures he could implement.
“With the help of Energy for Business we have been able to assess the potential of a roof mounted solar photovoltaic system. As a result, we will be installing a 50 kWp system that will save one third of our electricity bill and help reduce our carbon footprint by 23 tonnes a year.”
WEGO couriers also received support through the project. They have a genuine passion for helping the environment by improving air quality and reducing harmful traffic emissions in our city centres. A successful grant application helped them buy a new ultra-low emission vehicle to add to their fleet.
Many businesses need support to take the next step to innovate and grow and can benefit by streamlining processes and working smarter to save energy and cut costs.
Contact the team for an informal chat or visit the website to find out more about the support on offer.
Contact the team for an informal chat or visit the website to find out more about the support on offer.
Email: energy@nottingham.ac.uk
Website: nottingham.ac.uk/energyforbusiness
For press enquiries please contact Michele Pattison, Senior Marketing Officer, University of Nottingham, michele.pattison@nottingham.ac.uk
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Notes to editors:
About the project funding
The Energy Innovation and Collaboration – Energy for Business project (also known as ETC6) is receiving up to £3.6m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.
About the University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a research-intensive university with a proud heritage, consistently ranked among the world's top 100. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our 44,000 students - Nottingham was named both Sports and International University of the Year in the 2019 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, was awarded gold in the TEF 2017 and features in the top 20 of all three major UK rankings. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement. We are ranked eighth for research power in the UK according to REF 2014. We have six beacons of research excellence helping to transform lives and change the world; we are also a major employer, proud of our Athena SWAN silver award, and a key industry partner- locally and globally.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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