Large energy efficiency grant for small businesses

What you can get

You can apply for grant money for large infrastructure works that will improve the energy efficiency of the premises of your business and reduce its carbon emissions.

You could get up to £10,000 for measures such as:

• replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump
• installing solar photovoltaic
• or other larger measures including insulation projects

If you want to replace lighting or buy other small-scale electrical equipment, you should apply for the Energising Small Business grant instead.

Eligibility

The grant scheme is open to all businesses (commercial enterprises only) who:

• are in Islington;
• have less than 50 employees;
• and a turnover of less than £10million.

In addition, you must commit to at least two initiatives which will provide benefits to the local community. We call these ‘social value initiatives.’

Your social value initiatives must be from each of the following two tiers.

Tier one initiatives

• Commit to London Living Wage accreditation
• Participate in 100 hours World of Work programme
• Employ an apprentice or trainee
• Co-produce a case study for the project
• Hold site visits for other businesses
• Use cargo bikes for delivery of products

Tier two initiatives

• Deliver on other ‘green skills’ priorities as defined by project officers
• Become an Islington Sustainability Network member, if not already
• Open an Islington Working Account
• Use local suppliers or installers for the project

How to apply

You can apply online. You'll be asked to provide information about: 

• your annual turnover and number of staff
• details about your premises and whether you rent or own them
• what measure(s) you are requesting the funding for
• any additional environmental benefits to your proposed measure(s)
• what you are doing to minimise energy use in your organisation
• which social value initiatives you plan to deliver

Apply for the Larger Energy grant

How we assess your application

Applications are reviewed and approved by a panel of local economy and energy services officers. We assess applications based on the projected carbon savings, value for money and commitment to social value initiatives.

Following your application, we will arrange a visit to your premises to discuss it in person and verify the potential works.

We will work with you to calculate the savings that your project will make, to check it will meet the minimum 20% energy savings. The measures must be for a commercial premises and achieve energy savings of at least 20% as long as they do not conflict with good energy or environmental practice.

If you are successful

• You must provide at least two quotes for the works, ideally from Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installers.
• You must spend the funds within six months of receiving your money. and you must supply the council with copies of relevant invoices for the work within this time. Once you have notified the council that the works are complete, an officer will visit your premises to validate the fact that the works have taken place.
• If you do not carry out the works or do not provide the council with copies of relevant invoices within the six-month time, you must repay the money to the council. If you spend less than you were awarded, you must repay the difference.
• It will be your responsibility to fund any ongoing maintenance for the measures you installed
• You must complete a follow-up survey 12 months after your grant award

More information

For any other information on the scheme, contact greengrants@islington.gov.uk.

This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.