Green business support and grants

Benefits of going green

It improves your reputation with your customers, employees, suppliers and the local community.
You reduce the risk of prosecution by complying with relevant environmental legislation.
You reduce the cost of energy, water, transport, waste disposal and packaging.

Kirklees Council offers these free services through a dedicated Environmental Business Advisor:

A comprehensive review designed to show where you can save money and reduce your environmental impact.

Help and advice to help your company put in an environmental management system and get accreditation to ISO14001 (an internationally accepted environmental standard), including an initial environmental management system audit
help identifying relevant environmental legislation
help identifying significant impacts and aspects; and provision of key documentation.

Sharing through e-updates and best practice events on particular issues
Or through the larger Eco-Fair event designed to provide practical advice to local companies and put them in touch with local suppliers who can help.
- Eco-Fair (external link)

Easy to follow and sector specific, toolkits provide helpful tips and advice on how to make easy changes to reduce the environmental impact of your business.
Each toolkit provides suggestions on pollution prevention, reducing energy costs, renewable energy, waste management, water use, transport, advice on sustainable purchasing and environmental training, details of current environmental legislation, funding opportunities, local recyclers and where to go for further help.
Available toolkits:
- Care homes
- Office based businesses
- Manufacturing sector
- Retail sector
- Hospitality sector

Tool to support businesses to start to think about how climate change will affect their business.
A risk assessment template, with guidance, is available which enables businesses to to identify their priority risks and opportunities.

A grant of up to £1,000 is available to install the most effective energy efficiency and/or carbon reduction measures at business premises as identified by the GBN.
All businesses with ten or under employees and based in Kirklees can apply.
The aim of the grant is to help local micro businesses make long term efficiency savings that ensure the sustainability of local businesses, retain jobs in times of recession and reduce carbon emissions. The grant can be used to fund, for example:
- Heating and heating controls
- Insulation
- Lighting and lighting sensors
- New 'A' rated equipment
The grant is offered by Kirklees Council and the Green Business Network (GBN). It is available thanks to funding from Kirklees Council and CO2Sense Yorkshire.

Contact the Green Business Network to discuss your energy efficiency proposal.
- Contact us
The GBN will visit the company to complete an environmental audit and confirm which measures achieve the most cost effective carbon and financial savings. The business will then be supported by the GBN to apply for the grant.
Once the application has been received, it will be assessed by the project team. Projects that are successful will have a legal agreement drawn up before funding is released.