Decarbonisation transport opportunities for businesses in rural Warwickshire 

Business in rural Warwickshire are encouraged to explore a new £2 million programme launched to cut emissions and grow local economies. 

Under the Transport Decarbonisation Demonstrators programme, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), businesses can apply for up to £500,000 to run innovative trials that tackle local transport challenges on the ground. Any Warwickshire business can apply but half of the £2million fund is reserved for deployment in rural areas, supporting business there to unlock the benefits of technology and innovation to tackle challenges such as access to jobs and reducing loneliness.

The programme is particularly relevant to North Warwickshire borough and other rural areas of Warwickshire, as it could provide funding for innovative trials that can help to reduce transport emissions in these more rural locations.

For example, the programme could fund trials of new technologies, such as electric vehicles or autonomous vehicles, that could be used to provide more sustainable transport options for people who live in rural areas. The programme could also fund trials of new ways of working and travelling, such as car-sharing schemes, new public transport routes, or innovative shared transport solutions for employees that could help to reduce the number of car journeys made in rural areas. 

The competitive grants will be awarded and delivered by Innovate UK - part of UK Research and Innovation - and the UK’s national innovation agency, which helps businesses to grow and develop new technologies.

Businesses can apply to the Transport Decarbonisation competition online until it closes on 8 January 2024. For more information, please visit Competition overview - Transport Decarbonisation Demonstrators - Innovation Funding Service 

Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said: "The Transport Decarbonisation Demonstrators programme is a great opportunity for businesses to develop innovative solutions to local transport challenges, making their own businesses more cost-effective while also making a positive contribution to the environment. I encourage all businesses in Warwickshire, and particularly those in rural areas, to find out more to see if the programme could benefit them."