The Net Zero Grant offers local businesses in Renfrewshire funding of up to £10,000 to cover up to 50% of eligible costs to allow them to make changes to their business premises and operations to reduce their carbon footprint. This might include:

• changing to a low carbon heating system
• installation of low and zero carbon generating technologies, such as solar PV, biomass or micro-wind
• building fabric upgrades such as insulation, energy efficient lighting and draught-proofing
• purchase of equipment to allow new operating processes, such as a move to digital services, optimisation of resources or enhanced waste management

The grant will be paid when the project has been completed and the supplier has been paid. This means that initially you must be able to afford the project’s full cost until you are refunded.

The grant is available to small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) based in Renfrewshire.

To be eligible, a business must:

• be a full-time business
• have a business bank account
• operate from commercial premises within the Renfrewshire Council area, for which there is a signed lease/rental/licence agreement in place
• not be in bankruptcy, liquidation or similar at the time they apply

The following costs are not eligible:

• upgrades of existing equipment
• upgrades of existing energy systems - for example, a replacement gas boiler
• routine property maintenance
• carbon offsetting activities
• purchase of consumables
• purchases that exacerbate or do not reduce carbon emissions
• feasibility studies or consultant fees
• staffing costs
• projects where emissions reduction cannot be demonstrated

It is free to apply.

Renfrewshire Council will cover up to 50% of the eligible costs, up to a maximum of £10,000. Applicants will have to cover the remaining costs through other sources.

The grant will be paid when the project has been completed and the supplier has been paid. This means that initially you must be able to afford the project’s full cost until you are refunded.

Small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Renfrewshire that want to make changes to their business premises and operations in order to reduce their carbon footprint.

The Net Zero Grant can be applied for all year round.

Once your application is received, a member of the council's Business Development Team will be in touch to discuss your application. A decision will be made shortly after this discussion.

You should not spend money on a project until you've submitted your application and a formal grant offer has been made.

The grant will be paid when the project has been completed and suppliers have been paid.

In order to complete the application, you will need:

• an up-to-date business plan, or if not available, a mini business plan consisting of a one-page summary of the company setting out its plans for the future
• details of any previous funding you have received
• scans or photographs of quotes
• scans or photographs of accounts
• calculation of baseline carbon footprint
• projected emissions reduction from this investment

Successful applicants will be required to submit monitoring information on their carbon footprint at the conclusion of the project and a further update 12 months later.

Visit the Renfrewshire Council website for full details and to apply.