Leeds City Region launches £2.65m scheme for businesses to be more resource efficient

The Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has launched a new £2.65m scheme to help SMEs save resources, save money and become more efficient.

The LEP’s Resource Efficiency Fund will provide specialist advice and financial support to help make businesses more efficient with their energy, water and waste and have a more positive impact on the environment.

Eligible businesses will first benefit from a free efficiency audit of their current operations to assess where they can make efficiency savings. Following the audit and technical assessment, businesses are able to apply for financial support to invest in efficiency measures with 50% capital grant funding of up to £10k available from the LEP.

This sheme is the latest support available through the LEP’s growth service, which supports businesses across the Leeds City Region.

Paul Hamer, chair of the LEP’s Green Economy Panel, who has led the development of the new scheme, said: “Having engaged small businesses across the region on the types of support they need to help them grow and improve operations, we know that saving money and saving resources is high on the agenda, especially for the more resource intensive businesses such as those in the manufacturing sector.

“With the cost of running a business continuing to rise, businesses are looking to find ways of making savings across the piece and that is why the LEP has developed this new business support programme.

“Our specialist advisers will work with businesses to address where they could improve their operations and in turn save money on resources.

“With grant funding available to help support these improvements, we look forward to seeing the benefits of businesses investing in their operations, saving money and having a positive impact on the environment.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, added: “This kind of business support hasn’t been available for many years in the region and is still not widely available nationally through LEPs.

“Leeds City Region’s support to businesses will help them with rising resource costs as well as free up time and money to invest in other areas of activity such as exploring opportunities in new markets or investment in skills and training. I’m pleased we’ve been able to provide it.

“We look forward to working with businesses from across the Leeds City Region to help them find new ways to grow and continue to make the region a great place to do business.”

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