Supporting Businesses to Reduce Carbon Emissions and Build Climate Resilience
Business Gateway worked closely with local businesses to support decarbonisation, improve energy efficiency and strengthen resilience to climate change. Through a range of grant programmes delivered in recent years, businesses were able to invest in practical measures that reduced emissions, lowered energy costs and helped prepare for future climate challenges. While these programmes are now closed, the examples below highlight the positive impact they achieved for businesses across the region.
Impacts
During 2025/26, the Business Gateway supported 54 net zero projects, awarding £148,786 in grant funding to local businesses. Funded by UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Climate Resilience programme enabled investment in a wide range of energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies, including LED lighting upgrades, solar PV installations, EV charging infrastructure, insulation improvements and low-carbon heating solutions. These projects helped businesses reduce energy consumption, lower carbon emissions and take positive steps towards net zero.
In 2024/25, approximately £47,000 was awarded, also through the Climate Resilience Fund, to support business adaptation measures addressing climate-related risks. Projects included flood resilience improvements such as tanking and waterproofing works, raised flooring, relocation of electrical equipment and investment in flood pumps. These measures helped businesses become more resilient to the increasing impacts of severe weather and flooding.
We also supported the transition to low-emission transport during 2024/25, awarding approximately £197,000 towards the installation of 75 electric vehicle charging points. This investment encouraged the adoption of electric vehicles, supported the decarbonisation of business operations and helped address visitor concerns around charging availability, particularly in rural tourism destinations.
Earlier, in 2023/24, approximately £81,000 was awarded through the Net Zero Fund to support projects including e-bikes, EV charging infrastructure, solar PV installations and LED lighting upgrades. These investments helped businesses reduce their carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency and adopt more sustainable ways of working.
These programmes demonstrate the positive impact that targeted support can have in helping local businesses reduce emissions, adapt to climate change and contribute to a greener, more resilient regional economy.
