Grant scheme helps SMEs cut costs and cut emissions

A grant scheme to help small and medium sized enterprises implement environmental improvements in the Yorkshire and Humber region has been re-launched.

The Business Resource Efficiency Improvement Grants (BREIG) scheme will help businesses to operate more efficiently, save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

Supported by CO2Sense Yorkshire, with funding from Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund, the scheme provides up to £8,000 for capital equipment, consultancy grants of up to £2,000 and training grants of up to £500 to SMEs across the region.

Chris Charles, resource efficiency business support manager at CO2Sense Yorkshire said: “The re-launch of the BREIG scheme comes at a crucial time for many smaller companies as they look for ways to cut costs and improve efficiency, but lack the time and funding to put their plans into action.

“A grant from BREIG can be used to support a diverse range of environmental improvements that translate into immediate cash savings - from improving lighting and heating to implementing equipment that reduces energy, waste and water costs.”

Run by YFM Business Development, the BREIG scheme has helped more than 150 local companies across all sectors (retail, manufacturing and service) to make cost savings of £1.4 million by taking practical steps to improve their environmental efficiency and reduce waste.

The first round of the scheme, which came to an end on 31 March 2008, achieved the following results:

• 20,000 tonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent) 
• 14,000 tonnes of materials diverted from landfill 
• 29,000 tonnes of water saved

Burgess Supafeeds, based in Pollington near Goole, used an £8,000 BREIG capital grant to contribute towards the purchase of a £40,000 waste recycling machine. The family-owned business which employs 90 people has been producing animal feed for over 35 years. It is now able to recycle 75% of its process waste, saving the company over £55,000 per year in landfill costs.

Robin Watson, managing director of YFM Business Development said: “The BREIG scheme provides a much-needed incentive for companies to address environmental efficiency, at a time when saving money is the bottom line motivator and investment funding is tight.”

Grants are available until 31 March 2012.  For more information, contact Leanne Adams at breig@co2sense.org.uk or call on 0113 368 5232.

More information

CO2Sense Yorkshire

• CO2Sense Yorkshire is a not-for-profit business development programme, which helps businesses in Yorkshire and Humber to succeed in the low-carbon economy
• It is a fully-owned subsidiary of the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward
• It is funded by Yorkshire Forward and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
• It has four programmes:
  Resource Efficiency, which helps businesses to use fewer resources and helps businesses in the environmental sector to grow
  Carbon Reduction, which helps the region’s largest businesses to adapt their business plans to a changing environment and to prosper in the low-carbon environment
  Renewable Energy, which helps businesses to find sources of low-carbon energy and helps generators of low-carbon energy to sell their energy
  Carbon Capture and Storage, which encourages industry and investors to develop CCS infrastructure in the region