Promising Response To Green Entrepreneurs Scheme From Derbyshire Businesses
More than 130 people from businesses and community groups across Derbyshire joined the virtual launch of Derbyshire County Council’s Green Entrepreneurs Fund this week – a £2 million grant fund for organisations interested in developing and investing in green energy and carbon reduction schemes.
Businesses and organisations heard details about how they can apply for funding through the scheme being run in partnership with the University of Derby to help support green economic recovery across Derbyshire.
There are three separate funds:
• Green Entrepreneurs Demonstrator Fund -- £1.2m set aside for a small number of high quality projects from entrepreneurs wanting to establish green, alternative energy or low carbon initiatives in Derbyshire to provide community heat and power schemes. The minimum grant available through this fund would be £100,000. Applications for expressions of interest will open 1 April 2021.
• Green Entrepreneurs Small Grant Fund – Grants of £10,000 - £20,000 for new and existing businesses with game changing proposals in alternative energy, clean fuel and carbon reduction. £500k will be made available through this fund. There will be three separate rounds in which to apply for funding – the first will launch on 1 April 2021 followed by further rounds opening on 4 October 2021 and then 3 January 2022.
• Green Entrepreneurs Scholarship Fund – A training fund to support individuals to retrain with skills to enable them to enter the field of alternative energy. £100,000 will be made available through this fund. Grants will be awarded monthly from July 2021 onwards.
Leader of Derbyshire County Council Councillor Barry Lewis added: “We’re championing business innovation and want Derbyshire to become a leader in the field in the development of green energy as part of our bold ambition to cut the council’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2032 and that of the Derbyshire economy by 2050.
“We believe there is a unique opportunity to bring greater benefits to local communities and the local economic conditions to create high quality jobs driven by utilising the local skills base in engineering and manufacturing.
“We’re excited to be able to offer businesses the financial support needed to help turn their ideas into reality, through game changing proposals that help to tackle climate change and impact positively on the way we all live in the future both in Derbyshire and further afield.”
Councillor Tony King, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, said: “We’ve had an unbelievable response to the scheme so far from businesses and community organisations across Derbyshire.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the applications start to come in with proposals for projects to kick-start the county’s carbon reduction and alternative energy agenda and boost the local economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I would urge anyone who was unable to join the virtual launch to visit derbyshire.gov.uk/gef to find out more.”
Professor Kathryn Mitchell DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “I am delighted that the Green Entrepreneur launch was such a success. It is really encouraging to see so much interest and enthusiasm from local businesses in taking up opportunities like this to operate more sustainably and to make a real contribution towards reducing their carbon footprint.
“We look forward now to working with the County Council to deliver the scheme to our entrepreneur community, and to make Derbyshire synonymous with sustainable business.”
The programme is being funded through the county council’s Covid Recovery Fund as part of its COVID Economic Strategy and climate change commitments.
For more information about the programme including application forms, timetable for grant funding and eligibility criteria visit derbyshire.gov.uk/gef
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