Barnsley businesses keen to reduce carbon emissions are being offered free support and a possible grant worth up to £10,000 to invest in green innovation.
This project is delivered across South Yorkshire and is supported and part funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the Local Growth Fund.
Net Zero Barnsley, at The Business Village, has launched a second eco-accelerator in partnership with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC) and Sheffield City Council, who will be the lead partner, following the success of its first, which helped 36 businesses to start their net zero journeys last year.
Every business in the UK is required by government legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100 per cent relative to 1990 levels by 2050, and Barnsley Council has set an earlier target of 2045 for businesses across the borough to achieve this ahead of time.
Net Zero Barnsley will deliver six intensive six-month programmes for cohorts of up eight businesses at a time over the next two years.
Businesses in all sectors including manufacturing, retail and service industries; as well as third sector, education and community organisations, are invited to apply for one of 48 fully-funded places.
Participants will receive specialist sustainability coaching to help them work through carbon calculators to define and measure their existing CO2 outputs and identify priorities for action. They will then be helped to draw up detailed plans to reduce emissions; and there will be workshops and peer-to-peer support to share ideas.
On completion of decarbonisation plans, companies could be eligible for capital grant funding of up to £10,000, to be match funded, which they can invest in new green technology or practices which will lead to saving energy as well as money on bills.
Actions to reduce carbon include switching to sustainable forms of energy, investing in new equipment to improve efficiency, adopting smart technology, making behavioural changes in the workplace, reducing waste, considering supply chains and supporting sustainable transport schemes for staff.