Council’s green fund for business

Kirklees Council has announced a new grant giving small to medium enterprises in the region the chance to get grant funding of £5,000 or to a maximum of 50 per cent match funding for environmental improvements.

The Kirklees Business Environment Grant has been set up to help businesses save money on bills through the purchase of new waste or energy saving equipment, or more efficient machinery.

Coun Mehboob Khan, leader of Kirklees Council, said: “These grants will enable local businesses to save energy and become more efficient and therefore save money. We don’t want people to don’t delay in applying as funding is limited and will be on a first come, first served basis.

“The initiative will both create and safeguard local jobs by enabling participating businesses to be more competitive by reducing energy needs and raw materials and by opening up work opportunities for local contractors.”

The scheme follows a similar one in 2011/12 in which £258,845 went to 42 Kirklees businesses.

Following the grants, the companies invested more than £414,195 in the local economy, and it is hoped that this year’s scheme can produce similar results.

Businesses interested in applying for this year’s grant can contact Jim Porter at [email protected] or on 01484 221660 to organise an environmental audit of their premises.

The audit will make recommendations of the best measures to put in place, and businesses can then apply for grants.