New grant fund for projects cutting carbon emissions in Highlands and Islands
Businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands looking to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations can now apply to a new Green Grant Fund.
The three-year, £2.7 million fund was developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). It provides grants of between £20,000 and £250,000 towards projects that reduce carbon emissions and contribute to the region’s net-zero ambitions.
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The fund is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and social enterprises that have been trading for at least a year and are eligible to pay non-domestic rates. Those in receipt of non-domestic rates relief are also eligible.
Commercial enterprises should have at least five employees in rural areas, or 10 if they are based in the Inverness area. Social enterprises can have any number of employees.
Applicants should also be following fair work principles, including paying their employees at least the real Living Wage.
The grants will cover between 10 per cent and 40 cent of total costs of projects, or up to 50 per cent for eligible applicants in “remote and rural” areas.
Activities could include improving energy efficiency in production, operations or premises, electric vehicle charging points, improving waste management or sourcing more renewable energy.
Rachel Hunter, HIE’s director of enterprise and community support, said: “We’ve developed the Green Grant Fund to help businesses to benefit from the transition to a net-zero region and to generate wider economic benefits such as productivity, turnover and jobs.
“We are keen to hear from SMEs and social enterprises interested in reducing their environmental impacts while improving their viability prospects.”
This is the second round of HIE’s Green Grant Fund. The first round was piloted in 2023 for the creative industries, food and drink and tourism sectors.
More information about the Green Grant Fund is available on the HIE website.