Net Zero Growth Grant Scheme

Update: The Net Zero Growth Grants scheme is now closed to applications

The Net Zero Growth Grant Scheme will provide grant funding for existing businesses to support decarbonisation projects leading to job creation and retention.

General information

The grant can contribute towards the purchase of capital equipment, including energy generation and recovery systems. In addition, businesses can also apply for funding to adopt low carbon technologies and processes, retrofitting solutions, and to support net zero product development and innovation. This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Grants of up to £25,000 are available to existing businesses via the Net Zero Growth Grant Scheme. The scheme is currently live and will end on 30 September 2026 (the scheme will close early if applications hit capacity).

The Net Zero Growth Grant scheme aims to remove the financial barriers for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to make cost savings though increased energy and resource efficiency, invest in new net zero technologies and processes, and introduce new net zero products and services to the market.

The scheme will provide:

• Grants of between £1000 and £25,000 for existing businesses (trading 12 months or more)
• Up to 80%* of the total project cost can be applied for up to a maximum of £25,000; the remaining percentage of the cost of the project must be funded by the business applying for the grant.

*maximum grant contribution of 80% of the project cost up to £25,000 is not guaranteed. The Grant Panel have the discretion to offer a lower grant intervention rate to applicants.

The grants will support businesses to purchase equipment and technology that will help them to become more energy efficient and cost effective, and fund projects that lead to the development of new net zero products and services. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Physical improvements to support decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures of buildings.
• Adoption of new technologies and processes to support carbon reduction.
• Projects that tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions or that protect and enhance the environment.
• Introducing new technologies, products, services, and processes in (for example) energy efficiency, decarbonisation, power generation, heat generation, and storage.

SMEs will also benefit from a free energy efficiency audit leading to opportunities to secure grant funding to implement recommended measures that can reduce their costs.

If you would like support with your Net Zero growth project, or to arrange an energy efficiency site audit of your business to see where you could save costs, get in touch with the Bolsover Net Zero Innovation Programme (NZIP) Team. They can help:

• Develop your net zero growth projects for funding.
• Offer Net Zero expertise, advice, and guidance.
• Support with research, development, and potential routes to market following a successful application.

For further information, you can contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or complete an enquiry form and a member of the team will get back to you.

How to apply

1. Register your interest – start by contacting our Economic Development Team.
2. Complete an EOI - submit an Expression of Interest which will give you the opportunity to supply information about the business and your project proposal.
3. Free site audit and assessment – arrange an energy efficiency site audit with our This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A report will be made after an on-site review of your business with energy efficiency recommendations.
4. Grant application – you will have the chance to apply for a grant to fund the report’s recommendations, or other Net Zero growth projects you have identified

For further information, please contact a member of the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on 01246 242512.

• The scheme will close to new Expressions of Interest on 4 May 2026 at 5pm.
• The scheme will close to new applications on 1 June 2026 at 5pm.
• Any new Expression of Interest forms or Application Forms received after these dates will not be considered.
• Projects must be deliverable before the scheme end date of 30 September 2026
• Applications for complex projects that cannot be completed within this timeframe will not be considered.

Before you submit an application

Before applying for a Net Zero Growth Grant, businesses must have:

1. Completed an Expression of Interest to supply information about the business and your project proposal.
2. Had an energy efficiency site audit carried out by a member of the Bolsover Net Zero Innovation Programme Team. Grants can be sought for solutions to one, some, or all the recommendations for energy reduction measures provided within the assessment as well as any other net zero growth projects you have identified. You will need to include a copy of your assessment with your Net Zero Growth Grant application.

Your project must meet the Net Zero Growth Grant eligibility criteria.

Eligibility criteria

To be considered for the Net Zero Growth Grant funding you must be able to answer yes to each of the questions below prior to applying.

1. Are you an established SME (trading 12-months or more) that is trading from business premises in the Bolsover District? To be classed as an SME your business must meet one of the following requirements:
   • Employ less than 250 people,
   • Have a turnover of less than €50 million, or
   • If owned by another company, or combination of other companies, have an annual balance sheet that does not exceed €43 million.
2. Can you provide evidence that you have registered your business?
   • If you are a limited company, you will need to provide Companies House registration.
   • If you are a partnership, you will need to provide a copy of your partnership agreement.
   • If you are a sole trader, you will need to provide evidence of self-employed status with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
3. Are you a profit-seeking business?
4. Can you provide full financial accounts for two years, or one year’s accounts plus trading figures up to the point of application if the business is less that 24-months old.
5. Can you deliver your project in a three-month period following receipt of your offer of grant? Priority will be given to projects which can be completed within three-months (for more complex projects, timescales are subject to negotiation).
6. Do you pay business rates to Bolsover District Council?
   • If you need to check whether your postcode fits into the district, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. us.
   • This includes businesses that receive small business rates relief.
   • If you are a new start-up business and haven’t yet started paying business rates, your business needs to be based in the district to be eligible.
7. Do you have an eligible Net Zero Growth Grant project?
8. Do you have cash match? Cash match funding is the difference between the grant you are seeking and the remaining cost of your project.
   • Up to 80% of the total project cost can be applied for up to a maximum, of £25,000; the remaining percentage of the cost of the project must be funded by the business applying for the grant.
   • All applications must provide evidence of cash match, which can be sourced from the private sector but not other public sector funding. Asset finance or similar financial products involving a financial arrangement where an item is paid for in instalments is not accepted.
   • Loans, overdrafts, savings, credit cards, or company funds are considered to be eligible cash match and these must be secured and in place prior to approval of a grant.
9. Can you obtain a minimum of 3 competitive quotes for each item above £1,000?
   • Only 1 written quotation is required for items up to £1,000.
   • For items costing £1,001 and above, at least three competitive written quotations are required.
   • Quotes for project expenditure should not be from persons or businesses connected to your business, directors, or shareholders.
10. Has your business had an energy site audit?
    • You will need to include a copy of your energy site audit report with your application form.
    • If you have not yet registered for an energy site audit, you can contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or complete an enquiry form and a member of the team will get back to you.

If you can answer yes to all of the above then you can proceed to submit your application. Please note that awards are limited to one grant per SME from the Net Zero Growth Grant programme.

*maximum grant contribution of 80% of the project cost up to £25,000 is not guaranteed. The Grant Panel have the discretion to offer a lower grant intervention rate to applicants

What can the Net Zero Growth Grant be used for?

The scheme will fund capital expenditure and includes but not limited to the following.

Improvements to support decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures of buildings, such as:

• Equipment and machinery
• Solar panels
• Refrigeration
• Insulation
• Recycling and waste (compactors, balers, and crushers)
• Ventilation
• Heating (replacement boilers, burners, heat pumps)
• Water management
• Energy-efficient lighting (LED, controls, sensors)
• Heat generation and recovery
• Monitoring and targeting systems
• Retrofit/fit out of the premises

Projects that tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions, or that protect and enhance the environment, such as decarbonisation of the:

• Supply chain
• Transport and logistics (please note that vehicles are not eligible expenditure)
• Production and manufacturing
• Packaging and waste production

Net zero innovation projects that introduce new to the business technologies, products, services, and processes in (for example) energy efficiency, decarbonisation, power generation, heat generation, and storage:

• Introducing new net zero products and services to the market.
• Computer hardware/software - any ICT purchases should form part of an overall investment strategy and a comprehensive rationale will need to be provided for why the investment is required.
• Websites where this is a critical part of the business model, for example to incorporate new products/services introduce or additional functions.

Please note: Priority will be given to projects which can be completed within three-months (for more complex projects, timescales are subject to negotiation).

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Tags

• funding
• district
• business
• energy
• climate change