A total of 33 sole traders and small and medium-sized businesses across Aberdeen have been allocated funding to improve sustainability over the past year.
More than £228,000 in match-funded supported has been distributed to 33 local organisations through the Aberdeen Energy Efficiency Programme, with organisations having undertaken vital energy-saving projects including solar panel installation and lighting upgrades.
Aberdeen City Council Finance and Resources Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “We are delighted to see so many local businesses embracing sustainability and making significant improvements towards their energy efficiency.
“These grants not only support immediate upgrades, but also help as we work towards achieving our net zero goals.”
The Aberdeen Energy Efficiency Programme is administered by Aberdeen City Council in partnership with SCARF, a charity and social enterprise delivering a range of services, and offered non-repayable grants of up to £10,000 to eligible small and medium-sized enterprises.
David Mackay, Co-CEO at SCARF said: “It’s great to see organisations across the city making such strong use of the programme. The response highlights the real appetite in Aberdeen to invest in energy efficiency, with many local businesses already saving money, reducing carbon, and strengthening long-term resilience. The programme has been a fantastic success, and we’re proud to have played a part in it.”
Eligible projects under the Aberdeen Energy Efficiency Programme have included:
- Renewable energy installations such as solar panels, biomass boilers and heat pumps;
- Energy efficient equipment including new heating systems, LED lighting and energy-efficient machinery, and;
- Building improvements such as insultation, new doors, windows and other measures that enhance energy efficiency.
Local businesses have spoken of the benefits they have seen from the grants.
Minnie from Braw Boutique Aberdeen said: “As a small business every penny is so important for us and the energy grant came just in time for us to give us a big help when we wanted to upgrade the lighting and heating in store. Not only did this help us financially to change the lighting and the radiators but will also help us in future to save on monthly costs.”
Roy from Airylea Motors said: “The external funding team were fantastic to work with, they were extremely helpful and quick on the replies to help us though. The whole experience was just so slick and well laid out, I was very impressed.”
The Aberdeen Energy Efficiency Programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.