The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 13: Autumn 2019 | Page 10

INVEST IN BATH
Delivering a supply of modern workspace and tailored business
support to help you grow in Bath & North East Somerset
New grants to help businesses in the West of England
improve their energy efficiency
With environmental responsibility headlines in the news daily it has
become impossible to ignore the importance of sustainability within
your business. Now there is an opportunity for positive change.
You could soon start reducing your
energy use and start saving money with
a Green Business Grant. The West of
England Combined Authority (WECA)
has £1million to help small and medium
sized businesses become more energy
efficient. The cashback grants of £1,000-
£15,000 can be used for:
• capital works to improve the energy
efficiency of buildings such as
insulation, heating and lighting
• capital purchases to improve business
operations such as electric vehicles
or more efficient production or
refrigeration equipment.
The grant pays for 40% of your eligible
costs once your project is complete, so to
qualify for the minimum cashback grant of
£1,000 you must spend a minimum of £2,500
on eligible costs. You can also get a free
energy survey to help you decide what needs
to be done.
Your business must be VAT registered
and based in Bath & North East Somerset,
Bristol, North Somerset or South
Gloucestershire. Projects must be new – the
grant cannot be used for any works that have
already commenced.
Opportunities like this do not come
around often and the application period
for Green Business Grants ends on 1st
November 2019, so don’t miss out!
Find out more from the website:
www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/green-
business-grants
West of England Green Business Grants
are delivered by the West of England
Combined Authority and funded through
the European Regional Development
Fund.
The team behind Invest in Bath at Bath & North East
Somerset Council has now developed an employment
“hub” called Achieve. The aim of Achieve is to integrate
residents, support services and employers within Bath
& North East Somerset and boost local employment.
The new service is specifically targeted at every
resident in Bath & North East Somerset considering
entering employment, progressing in their career
and developing new skills. Our focus is to build an
accessible network of support to help individuals
reach their full potential and goals.
To support this work we are building a network
of local businesses as well as support services, who
can confidently offer real jobs, opportunities in the
routes to employment and support which meets the
needs of the residents, both now and for a productive
future.
Employers who are engaged understand and
buy into employment support services, as well as
investing in their current and future workforce.
We are looking to sign up more forward-thinking
employers to our network, so do get in touch if you
would like to work with Achieve in developing your
workforce. We also offer free promotion of events
and opportunities that relate to employment, skills
and progression; you can see “good” jobs, courses
and events all published on the Achieve website right
now.
Our focus is equally on actions that can prevent
unemployment, such as working with employers to
improve their workplace practices. This activity can
not only prevent employees becoming unemployed
due to health issues, but also increase workplace
productivity, support the aging workforce and guide
those in need of a better work-life balance.
If you wish to find out more about Achieve, or sign up to become a partner,
support service or opportunity seeker please visit the website or follow us
on twitter. Please get in touch with us via the contact details:
10
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019
@achievebathnes
For more info:
www.achieveinbathnes.co.uk