Almost half a million pounds of grants has been awarded to businesses across the county by the Warwickshire Business Energy Advice Service (WBEAS).

Grants totalling £490,716 have supported 14 businesses which will collectively save an estimated 240 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

The funding is expected to help the 14 businesses save £163,100 on their energy bills in the first year alone.

WBEAS was launched earlier this year as a part of the £4.6 million Business Growth Warwickshire Programme, developed and commissioned jointly by Warwickshire County Council and the five district and borough councils in the county. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is also funding an expansion to the service as part of a West Midlands Combined Authority pilot including a grant scheme managed by the County Council. 

Coventry City Council is delivering WBEAS on behalf of the county council and the districts and boroughs. The service starts with a free energy audit to ascertain the needs of each business and then offers bespoke advice and support. This potentially includes capital grants of up to £100,000 towards the costs of investing in energy efficiency and low carbon technologies.

Businesses supported across the county include Harry Burrows Fabrications in Exhall, Rugby Care Centre in Rugby and Just Nice Clean Cars in Warwick. Recently-awarded grants include to Brewsters Corner in Southam, Rugby-based Technoset, Datagraphic and Hertz Electrical Contractors and two Nuneaton companies, Excel Machine Tools and Harris Repair Consultancy.

There is still some WBEAS grant funding available but the deadline for applications is expected to be in January, so any interested business is asked to express an interest in an audit here as soon as possible.