The initiative will provide five £5,000 grants, worth a total of £25,000, to help small businesses invest in improved sustainability practice. Additionally, five companies will receive a dedicated workplace electric vehicle (EV) charger, including standard installation, supplied by Pod, EDF’s electric vehicle charging company. Businesses can apply for the grant, the electric vehicle charger, or both.
The funding can be used for a variety of sustainability projects, including upgrading to more energy-efficient equipment, improving the energy performance of commercial facilities, installing renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or battery storage, or investing in workplace electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The scheme is open to UK-based businesses with fewer than 50 employees who have been trading for at least 12 months and operate from physical business premises.
“Small businesses are at the heart of the UK economy, but many face barriers when it comes to investing in sustainability,” said Claire Nutt, Director of Small Business at EDF. “Through the Powering Local Businesses Sustainability Grant, we are helping businesses turn their ambitions into action by investing in energy efficiency, renewable technologies and other practical improvements that can reduce emissions and support long-term growth.”
Applicants will be asked to describe how they would use EV financing or charging to make their business more sustainable. Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges, and successful applicants will be contacted directly by Enterprise Nation.
“Small businesses have ambitions to be more sustainable, but access to finance can often hold them back,” added Aaron Asadi, CEO of Enterprise Nation. “By partnering with EDF Small Business, we are giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to invest in changes that are good for their businesses and the environment. We look forward to seeing applications from innovative businesses across the UK.”
Applications are open from July 21 to August 31.
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