New funding will help businesses cut carbon emissions and energy bills
Local businesses across the Winchester district can now access a new round of free carbon assessments and Green Business Grants of up to £3,000 from Winchester City Council.
The council's Green Business Grants help businesses pay for projects to reduce energy consumption, transport costs and emissions, or switch to renewable energy, with match funding of as little as 10% required to contribute to the total project cost.
Micro, small and medium-sized businesses can also apply for a free carbon assessment to identify ways in which they can reduce their environmental impact and energy costs. The assessment is undertaken by Winchester-based environmental consultants Arthian and results in a detailed carbon reduction plan for the business, which can be used when applying for a Green Business Grant.
A previous round of funding has already helped local businesses reduce their bills:
The Grange, near Alresford, received a Green Business Grant to help them install three EV chargers for customers to use. Fred Baring, Marketing Director and Partner, said: “The grant has helped us turn ambition into practical infrastructure that directly benefits our guests, as well as the wider community. The team at Winchester City Council provided welcome guidance throughout the application process.”
Caron Evans, owner of Asgard Body Piercing & Tattooing, recently received a Green Business Grant to install secondary glazing in her Winchester shop. She said: “If you are hesitant about applying for council support, my advice is to just go for it…The Green Business Grant has helped lower our overheads and allowed us to focus our resources on growing our business and building a small reserve for future green upgrades.”
Councillor Lucille Thompson, Cabinet Member for Business and Culture said:
“Through our work with businesses across the Winchester district, offering free carbon assessments and grants to help them operate more sustainably, we have reduced carbon emissions in the district by an estimated 100 tonnes per year. It's been brilliant to see the positive impact our previous grants have had for our district's businesses, so I am especially pleased that we are able to offer another round of grant funding to help more local businesses go greener faster, contribute to an overall reduction of carbon emissions across the Winchester district and reduce their energy costs.”
Businesses who would like to have a free carbon assessment or apply for a Green Business Grant, should contact Winchester City Council’s Economy team at ecodev@winchester.gov.uk. Grant applications must be received by 31 October 2026 (deadline extended).
More information is available at www.winchester.gov.uk/sustainable-business