About

The Marches Energy Grant (MEG) offers free advice, energy assessments and grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures to SMEs from all sectors in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. The funding is also available to support community buildings. As well as the grant funding, the project will also run related networking and webinar events for SMEs and other organisations.

The MEG project builds on the success of previous programmes such as the Marches Renewable Energy (MarRE) fund and the Business Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) grant scheme. It is intended that the MEG project complements the Cool Shropshire & Telford platform and Herefordshire’s 30 for 2030.

Grant intervention rate will be 40% up to a maximum of £20,000. Businesses who have had a BEEP or LOCOP assessment previously can go straight for the grant as long as what they are asking for a grant for is not wildly different to what was in their report.

Programme Information

Step 1: A free assessment offering to assess your equipment, premises, processes and performance to find opportunities for improvements in energy usage. The scale of the assessment will vary according to need. Generally, a 12 hour assist, including onsite assessment will be required. However, the assistance could range from a 2 hour telephone advice for very simple proposals, through to a deep-dive, 5-day assist for complex or large sites.

Step 2: Following the assessment, you will be sent a report containing recommended actions. You can then apply for a grant for projects worth up to £20,000. The grant intervention rate is 40% and your business contribution is 60% for the project. For example, if your project costs are £30,000, your contribution is £18,000 and we provide £12,000.

Step 3: If your application is successful, we will require you to sign an agreement detailing the grant conditions. Once signed and returned you can carry out the approved activities.

Step 4: We will monitor your project to ensure that it is on track.

Eligibility

Eligibility

Operating with a business address in Worcestershire or the Marches

And either:

an organisation responsible for a community building [limited availability]

defined as a building with the primary objective to improve the area, neighbourhood, and/or community and its social welfare and recreation. It can include village halls, community halls, places of worship and youth centres but excludes schools.

a small/medium size enterprise including limited businesses (SME);
a sole trader or partnership;
Trading over 12 months
Below the Subsidy Control threshold of £315,000 over previous 3 years, inc value of the support

Both B2B and B2C will be eligible for this programme.

Excluded sectors not eligible for support include;

Primary agriculture, Schools, Public sector funded organisations (unless parish or town councils)