Hounslow Council is helping borough businesses to reduce their carbon footprint through the Green Innovation Fund.
Published: Monday, 7th March 2022
Hounslow Council is supporting 20 local businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and become greener, thanks to an environmentally friendly funding scheme.
As part of the Council’s Innovate and Grow business support programme, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the borough could apply for a £7,000 grant to help them become more energy-efficient.
The Green Innovate and Grow Fund will support businesses to understand their carbon footprint and how reducing it could help them to become more profitable. It could mean a full audit of the business’ energy use to identify savings or investment in solar panels, electric vehicle charging and energy-efficient lighting.
The successful businesses can also opt into the Mayor of London’s Better Future + programme that could give even more support on cutting their carbon.
Businesses receiving the funding come from a diverse range of sectors, including retail, hospitality and leisure and property management.
Successful applicant Pamela Ohene from So Fresh Kitchen on Hounslow High Street, said: We plan to spend the grant on replacing all our delivery packing with eco-friendly alternatives and updating our cooking equipment to energy saving appliances.”
While Adrian Thompson from Isleworth-based Refurb-a-sash said of their successful Green Innovation Fund Grant: “We are planning to spend the grant on an electric delivery vehicle so we can continue operating around London while cutting our emissions.”
The Innovate and Grow business support programme, funded by the government’s COVID-19 Additional Restrictions Grant, offers a wide range of support for businesses to navigate the challenges of the pandemic, re-establishing confidence within the local economy.
In 2019, the council declared a Climate Emergency and has pledged to become a net-zero carbon local authority by 2030.
The Green Innovate and Grow initiative is part of a wider plan to support the borough’s businesses to reduce the amount of carbon they produce and to cut costs.
The council is working with partners to develop a Green Innovation and Enterprise Hub, which will provide support to businesses with a testbed, routes to market and commercial scaling. Hounslow Council’s ambition is to create a defined Green Innovation and Enterprise Zone for businesses in emerging net-zero sectors and established businesses looking to go green. Hounslow Council also has 250 free licences for a special online carbon footprint reduction tool, which businesses can apply for.
Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Climate Emergency, Councillor Katherine Dunne, said:
“The pandemic hit businesses in our borough hard, but we are continuing to provide unique innovative ways to help them bounce back. The Green Innovate and Grow grants are a fantastic way for businesses in the borough to prepare for future challenges by helping them reduce their carbon footprint.
“If we are to achieve our climate emergency ambitions, then everyone has a part to play and the borough’s business community is crucial to its success.
“By introducing carton-cutting and energy-saving measures, we are showing that a good business can also be a green business.”
Businesses can find out more about the Green Innovation and Enterprise Hub and the free licences for the carbon footprint reduction software by emailing: green.recovery@hounslow.gov.uk
For more information about the Innovate and Grow business support programme.
