Businesses in West Devon are receiving free specialist help and advice on how to reduce their environmental impact, thanks to support from Libraries Unlimited and funding from West Devon Borough Council.
Libraries Unlimited is providing specialist consultancy for businesses across the borough to help them develop a decarbonisation plan for their business. These plans identify a range of actions a business could take to reduce their carbon footprint and impact on the planet.
Those who take part in the scheme can also apply for Rural England Prosperity Fund decarbonisation grants, which could help to pay for implementing one or more of the measures highlighted in their decarbonisation plans.
The programme links into one of the Council’s key priorities by supporting businesses important to the local economy, helping them to save money by becoming more efficient, boosting their resilience for the years ahead while reducing their carbon footprint.
Businesses can sign up for the project by registering an interest online.
The project has received £60,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) money from West Devon Borough Council, so that the project can be rolled out to as wide a range of businesses as possible. Any type of business can apply for the support.
So far, 11 businesses in West Devon have signed up to receive a decarbonisation plan.
Cllr Lynn Daniel, West Devon Lead Member for the Natural Environment, said: “We’ve been delighted to support the work of Libraries Unlimited with funding from the UKSPF. When I have spoken to business owners across West Devon about the environment, most are always keen to hear about how they can reduce their carbon footprint. This vital work will help them to do that, with practical advice and tips on what steps can be taken.”
Richard Love, Business and IP Centre Manager for Libraries Unlimited, said: “As a charity, Libraries Unlimited are keen to support the businesses of West Devon to reduce their carbon footprint. Working in partnership with the council, we designed a consultancy and decarbonisation programme that would cater to businesses small and large, to provide them not only with a carbon footprint baseline, but also a decarbonisation plan with recommendations to reduce their emissions."
Upon receipt of your Decarbonisation plan, the businesses are then eligible to apply for a grant of up to £10,000 to implement those measures.
“We’ve created a tailored programme that takes into account whether your business is at the start, or at a more advanced stage on your sustainability journey, and all it takes to register your interest in joining.
Tavistock House Hotel is one of the businesses to have signed up for a decarbonisation plan.
Brad Walker, who runs the hotel in Tavistock with his wife Gill, said: “I wanted to find out how we can as a small businesses, reduce our carbon footprint.
It’s a lot more at the forefront these days than it has been, and I want to know how I can do my bit and get that knowledge and actually pass it on to my daughter as well, so that she is a lot more conscious about it.”
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