Falkirk Council's discretionary fund provides financial assistance to help small and medium-sized businesses reduce their carbon emissions to help Scotland reach its national net zero target by 2045.

The fund can provide grants to cover up to 75% of your project costs, with a maximum of £25,000 per grant. The fund can be used to make changes to business premises and business operations to reduce their carbon footprint from energy consumption. This might include:

• changing to a low carbon heating system
• installation of low and zero carbon generating technologies, such as solar PV, biomass and micro-wind
• building fabric upgrades such as insulation, energy-efficient lighting, draught-proofing, double or triple glazing

Before you begin your application, you will need a record of:

• the trading name of the business
• the number of employees, your turnover and export sales (where applicable)
• the proposed expenditure
• your business bank details
• the rateable value of your premises - this can be found on www.saa.gov.uk, external link which will open in a new windowopens in a new window 
• a copy of your lease if you are paying non-domestic rates for the premise
• your latest set of accounts and management accounts, and a business plan (or mini business plan)
• 2 quotes for each item being purchased
• a calculation of your baseline carbon footprint
• the projected emissions reduction from this investment

Yes, if your business:

• operates from a commercial premises in the Falkirk Council area
• has a legally constituted signed lease, rental or licence agreement
• is not connected to a tax haven, as set out in the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Act 2020
• is classified as a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME), with less than 250 employees and a turnover of less than £45 million
• is not in any debt to the council - for example, through arrears on non-domestic business rates
• operates on a full-time basis and has a business bank account
• is not in bankruptcy, liquidation or similar at the time of application
• is not a community group, not-for-profit organisation or a voluntary or charitable organisation (except social enterprises)

This fund will provide support for up to 75% of your project costs, with a maximum grant value of £25,000. You will have to cover the rest of the cost from other sources.

The minimum grant value is £1,000, which means your project must cost at least £2,000.

Small to medium-sized enterprises that operate in the Falkirk Council area and want to reduce their carbon emissions.

Falkirk Council will aim to assess applications within 10 working days.

Once accepted, businesses have 3 months to claim the award.

Visit the Falkirk Council for more information and to apply.