Support schemes for businesses

Energy efficiency grants for small and medium sized businesses in Westminster  

Funding is now available for small and medium sized enterprises (SME), voluntary and community organisations, and landlords with SME tenants in Westminster to implement quick, energy saving retrofits and solutions through our new Energy Efficiency Grant. The grant is open from 17 June to March 2025, however it is a first come first serve, so be quick to submit an expression of interest.

As part of our efforts to help businesses to keep bills down and to reduce the city’s carbon emissions, this grant has been made available. This includes:

1. Getting Your Energy Savings Plan

Receive a bespoke ‘Energy Savings Plan: Carbon and Energy Assessment’ from GEP Environmental to identify recommendations to reduce energy consumption, provide a baseline of energy use and emissions, and directly inform each grant application.

2. Energy Efficiency Grant

Receive funding of up to £10,000 (£20,000 for social enterprises) to deliver the recommendations from your Energy Reduction Plan.

3. Reducing Your Bills

Benefit directly from retrofitting through reduced bills. If you are a micro-business (ten or fewer employees) you will also be invited to join our Sustainable City Charter to enjoy the benefits the Charter offers.

Download further details from our brochure or contact [email protected] for enquires or assistance.

Apply for the Energy Savings Plan Apply for the Energy Efficiency Grant

Who can apply?

Small and Medium businesses, organisations and landlords across all sectors are welcome to apply for both the Energy Savings Plan and Energy Efficiency Grant, but they must meet the following criteria:

• have fewer than 250 employees
• have a total balance sheet of less than £18m
• have a physical trading address in Westminster
• is not undertaking in difficulty.

You must have a GEP Environmental Energy Savings Plan or pre-approved equivalent energy and carbon audit which provides recommendations for the line items you apply to the Energy Efficiency Grant for.

If you do have further queries about the criteria or to see if your business is eligible, please contact our Green Economy Business Engagement Team at [email protected].

What does the Energy Efficiency Grant fund?

The grant is available for any retrofit to help businesses improve their energy efficiency and does not require planning approval. This grant excludes items which would require planning approval (e.g. solar panels). The specific retrofits eligible for will be identified in the Energy Reduction Plan. This can include:  

• Insulation and draught proofing
• Electrification of commercial kitchens
• Air curtains
• LED lightbulbs and upgrades
• Hand dryer upgrades
• Other recommended items which are considered light-touch, carbon saving retrofits.

FAQs

How much funding is available?

The grant amounts available are:

• Up to £1,000 
• £1,001 to £10,000 (with 20% match funding required)
• Up to £20,000 for charities and social enterprise (with 10% matched funding over £10,000).

If you have recommended works which exceed the available amount, we will endeavour to provide funding for what portion we can, and to direct you to other funding solutions.

How long will the grant process take?

The time from application to receiving funding may vary depending on your business’s circumstance. The intention is that you will have your Energy Saving Plan shortly after registering your interest, and the decision on your grant application will be made within a month of submission.

Do I have to deliver the Energy Reduction Plan recommendations?

No. The Energy Reduction Plan is a guide and receiving this plan does not require you to deliver its recommendations or apply for the grant. You can use this plan as an assessment for any other energy use and carbon emissions reporting your business may require. You will need this plan or an approved equivalent from within the last two years in order to apply for the grant.

I am unsure if my business space meets the criteria for this grant

There may be scenarios where you are unsure if you meet the criteria (e.g. you share the space with other businesses or have multiple tenancies under the same business). If you have any questions, reach out to us on [email protected] and we can help you find the answer.

If you are unsure if your tenancy allows you to receive an Energy Reduction Plan, then please check with your landlord or tenancy agreement.

How does this contribute to Westminster City Council's climate targets?

As part of our work to deliver net zero carbon emissions in the city by 2040, we are committed to supporting local businesses and organisations with premises in Westminster to take action to reduce their impact on the climate. In addition, energy efficiency also enables businesses to reduce their own energy costs, contributing to our Fairer Economy plan.

How is the Energy Efficiency Grant application assessed?

The grant applications are assessed on a first come, first serve basis. Applications are assessed by an internal panel who will consider, within their discretion, the capex per lifetime tCO₂e savings of the retrofit, with a flexible maximum target of £633/ tCO₂e

Other Grant conditions 

• Applications for the Energy Efficiency Grant must be supported by the GEP Environmental Energy Savings Plan or an energy and carbon efficiency assessment (conducted by a third party), showing specific measures and their projected costs and carbon reduction. 
• The Energy Efficiency Grant is a contribution towards the retrofit works that you have applied for. WCC is not obliged to pay the full amount asked for. Our decision is based on the capital expenditure quotes in the assessments provided for your property and balanced against the number of grant requests we are receiving. The grants are not awarded based on the quotes you have received from retrofit contractors.
• Organisations are required to use the funds for energy and carbon efficiency measures within six months of receipt or return funds to Westminster City Council.
• All grant recipients should expect to be visited by a Council Officer once the modifications have taken place. If you are successful in receiving the grant we will explain the required evidence needed to confirm you have completed the works (copies of invoices etc).
• You do not need to own your business property to apply for this grant, but you must have the required landlord’s permission to do any retrofit works and a minimum of two years left on the business’s rental agreement.
• If you have several properties in Westminster and would like to apply for grant funding in respect of all the properties, please contact the Project Officer ([email protected]) before submitting your grant funding application.
• If you are applying for any works that will require ongoing maintenance this is the responsibility of the applicant/landlord (depending on the terms of your tenancy/lease if you are a commercial tenant) and not the responsibility of the City of Westminster.