Funding, Support and Resources
Services offered by Sunderland City Council
Green Action Plan
For support from Sunderland's Low Carbon team in creating your green action plan, join the Sunderland Green Network and request support here: Join the Sunderland Green Network
Trade waste, cleansing and maintenance - Sunderland City Council
Sunderland City Council offer a comprehensive waste management service to meet every waste and recycling need. Services include:
- Commercial waste collections
- Recycling and waste minimisation advice
- Bulky/unusual collections, including fridges, TVs and furniture (beds/wardrobes).
- Building cleaning services
- Cleansing services
- Landscaping, grounds maintenance and tree services
Go smarter to work - Sunderland City Council
This scheme is delivered by Sunderland City Council to support employers promoting sustainable travel to employees by providing:
- Advice to individual employers, business sites or new developments
- An assessment of present travel arrangements
- Information about sustainable travel options and facilities
- Advice for a healthier workforce
Advise to help reduction in CO2 emissions
BREEZ - Business Renewables Energy Efficiency Sunderland
Sunderland City Council's BREEZ team provides businesses with a free, Energy-Saving Opportunities Review and could also award a 50% grant towards the total cost of installing cost-effective energy-efficiency upgrades and improvements.
BetterPoints Sunderland
Do your staff, walk, cycle, or use public transport into work? Encourage them to sign up to the BetterPoints app and they can earn points while they travel. There are daily prize draws for walking/wheeling, cycling and using public transport in Sunderland.
Funding
BREEZ - Business Renewables Energy Efficiency Sunderland
Sunderland City Council's BREEZ team provides businesses with a free, Energy-Saving Opportunities Review and could also award a 50% grant towards the total cost of installing cost-effective energy-efficiency upgrades and improvements.
Business and IP Centre North East (BIPC North East)
BIPC North East have introduced their new City Life Business Support through which North East SMEs from all sectors can receive up to 12 hours of fully-funded support from 1 or 2 experts in residence at the BIPC North East. These experts can support by identifying gaps in internal skills, knowledge, expertise and capacity that are barriers to growth and development of businesses, and there are several who are focused on Green Business.
To explore the topics of expertise available and book an appointment visit Citylife Business Support - BIPC North East
Sunderland Business Support Fund
The fund will help local growing businesses to access high quality external expertise to deliver business improvement projects. SBSF will provide up to 40% funding for projects that cost between £3,000 and £6,000 (VAT costs cannot be funded).
The project can support consultancy, design or development projects. Examples include: Green Business Growth and Sustainability, Web design / development, Video production, Marketing planning and Strategy Development.
Delivery Organisation: Northumberland Business Services Limited
Sunderland Business Support Fund Overview
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you could get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler.
You can get one grant per property. Current grants are available for:
- £7,500 towards an air source heat pump
- £7,500 towards a ground source heat pump (including water source heat pumps and those on shared ground loops)
- £5,000 towards a biomass boiler
- You cannot get a grant for a hybrid heat pump system (for example a combination of gas boiler and air source heat pump).
Funding for Electric Vehicle (EV) charge points:
The following grants are available towards the installation of EV charge points and infrastructure:
- Electric vehicle infrastructure grant for staff and fleets - GOV-UK Find a grant (find-government-grants.service.gov.uk)
- Electric vehicle chargepoint and infrastructure grants for landlords - GOV-UK Find a grant (find-government-grants.service.gov.uk)
- Workplace Charging Scheme - GOV-UK Find a grant (find-government-grants.service.gov.uk)
Park That Bike
Businesses can apply for free cycle parking to be installed at their premises.
Click: ParkThatBike
Low Emission Vehicle Plug-In Grants
Some types of low-emission vehicles are eligible for a grant from the government, so that you can buy them more cheaply.
You do not apply for the grant. The seller includes it as a discount in the purchase price.
Only vehicles that have been approved by the government are eligible.
The discount you can get depends on the type of vehicle.
The types of eligible vehicles are:
Support
Energy Saving Trust
Did you know you could reduce energy bills by 18-25% by installing energy efficiency measures and implementing behavioural change? Explore key areas that will benefit from energy efficiency improvements, including heating, lighting and equipment.
SME Climate Hub
A non-profit global initiative that empowers small to medium sized companies to take climate action and build resilient businesses for the future.
Join thousands of businesses tackling climate change. Begin your journey to reduce emissions with free tools and resources.
Carbon reduction and Net Zero for SMEs
Reduce your carbon footprint with The Carbon Trust's free introductory guides. The Carbon Trust provides simple, impartial, effective advice to help businesses take action to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. Take your first steps and explore energy efficiency best practice by sector or technology.
A guide to carbon footprinting for businesses - The Carbon Trust
The introductory guide explains carbon footprinting and why carbon footprints matter for your business. It looks at how to both calculate and communicate your businesses and product carbon footprints effectively, as well as how to use your carbon footprint as a starting point for setting science-based and carbon neutral targets.
Go smarter to work - Sunderland City Council
This scheme is delivered by Sunderland City Council to support employers promoting sustainable travel to employees by providing:
- Advice to individual employers, business sites or new developments
- An assessment of present travel arrangements
- Information about sustainable travel options and facilities
- Advice for a healthier workforce
- Advise to help reduction in CO2 emissions
Further considerations for your business:
Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID)
Sunderland BID is a business led, working partnership with one clear vision - to create a vibrant city centre and opportunities for everyone. Since 2014, the BID has invested more than £3m into the city centre and with the support of our business owners, stakeholders and key partners, the BID has developed a relevant and achievable plan for the future.
Federation of Self Employed & Small Businesses (FSB)
Supporting small businesses and the self-employed on their journey to net zero. Explore resources, tools and information from the Federation of Small Businesses to help you to go green and become more sustainable.
Resources
BetterPoints Sunderland
Do your staff, walk, cycle, or use public transport into work? Encourage them to sign up to the BetterPoints app and they can earn points while they travel. There are daily prize draws for walking/wheeling, cycling and using public transport in Sunderland.
Refill Sunderland - Sunderland City Council is a proud supporter of the global scheme Refill.
Being a Refill station means customers can refill their water bottle, coffee cup and lunch box on the go, and it has never been easier. Join the Refill Revolution and sign up to the free app to help your community find a positive solution to plastic pollution.
It's super simple to be added to the map for free! Click: Get Involved - Refill - Join the Refill Revolution and prevent plastic
Too Good To Go
Food waste is a big problem. Too Good To Go is the app that lets you save good food from going to waste. Share with staff. Sign up your business for a food waste solution.
Click: Join Our Food Waste Movement - Too Good To Go
Olio
Share more, waste less. Beat waste with Olio: the app for finding what you need and sharing what you don't with local people.
Click: Olio - Your Local Sharing App
WRAP's: Resources can help with this
WRAP's Steps to reduce water risks: A checklist to understand our water usage and take steps to reduce it.
WARPiT - Waste Action Resource Portal, is an online tool which supports businesses to recycle furniture and equipment. Businesses interested in signing up to WARPit can access the link here; www.warp-it.co.uk/
Helpful tips poster for your business:
Download and share: Helpful Low Carbon tips for your Business