Funding Opportunities

• By 2 September 2020. Young people can apply for an award to make their business idea a reality. The Award includes a £5,000 grant, tailored business support and a living allowance.

• By 2 September 2020. Businesses can apply for a share of up to £26 million for new projects focusing on a sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19.

• By 16 September 2020. Up to £800,000 is available to fund projects to reduce the harm that plastics have on our environment and to increase productivity and growth of the UK economy.

• By 16 September 2020. Up to £20m is available to develop and demonstrate innovative solutions for clean, affordable and secure energy in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

• By 14 October 2020. Businesses can apply for a share of up to £27 million to support growth in advanced low carbon propulsion capability in the automotive sector.

• By 15 October 2020. UKRI invites proposals for interdisciplinary research and innovation consortia under the second wave of the Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF) Clean Air Programme.

• By 19 October 2020. The MCS Charitable Foundation is making funding available for a range of projects that accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and low carbon technologies.

• By 28 October 2020. Organisations can apply for a share of up to £30 million for grants for energy efficiency projects that reduce fuel bills and carbon emissions in the industrial sector.

• By 4 November 2020. Businesses can apply for a share of £8 million in grant funding for projects supporting recovery and growth of the UK’s foundation industries. 

• By 30 June 2021. The Worcestershire Natural Networks project aims to boost biodiversity in an ERDF-funded venture which includes our members Worcestershire County Council.

• By 31 December 2021. Businesses in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent can benefit from free energy audits and 60% grant funding towards energy efficiency measures.

• By 31 December 2021. Marches Renewable Energy Grant Scheme allows eligible applicants to apply for a 50% grant for the installation of renewable technologies. 

• By 31 December 2022. GBSLEP Habitats Grants Programme is focused on reducing dereliction and the improvement and development of natural habitats. 

• By June 2023. Coventry City Council has extended a further £8.1 million of funding to support small and medium-sized business in Coventry and Warwickshire.

• By 2025. The Severn Trent Community Fund is open for applications to support community groups making a difference and to help with the recovery from Covid-19.

• Monthly. Monthly themed funding is available for Birmingham based projects that aim to deliver positive change.  

• On-going. A recycling Fund for Communities is now available from Veolia. It is worth up £50,000 in total and is offering grants of £2,000.

• On-going. £12 million is available under the Green Recovery Challenge Fund as part of flagship UK PACT programme, with target countries in Asia, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

• On-going. The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) is a £10 million programme which supports rural communities in England to develop renewable energy projects.

• On-going. The Community and Environment Fund is there to provide benefits to communities along the route disrupted by the construction of HS2.

Over the past year, we have promoted approximately £1bn of accessible funding.

Upcoming SWM and Member Events

• Coventry City Council is running a webinar on 3 September focusing on the Coventry Station project, delivering new infrastructure to meet future passenger growth.

• EnTRESS is running a session on 8 September focusing formulation engineering, which will also include how its processes can be done as sustainably as possible.

• Low Carbon SMEs and Bryt Energy are hosting a three part webinar series during September focusing on energy bills, electricity usage and renewable energy.

• SHAP is running a series of webinars week commencing 14 September that will examine the principles of the circular economy in housing.

• Worcestershire County Council is hosting a Low Carbon Opportunities Programme event on 16 September, focusing on helping SMEs thrive in a Low Carbon Economy.

• sben is hosting a virtual networking event on 22 September where you can make new contacts and  showcase what you do.

• SWM, in collaboration with the Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands, is running the next Innovative Low Carbon Working Group meeting on 24 September.

• Environment Agency and CIWEM have revised their plan for Flood & Coast 2020 which will now be a digital series of events taking place between 13 October 2020 and 14 April 2021.

• Cenex's annual LCV event takes place on 18-19 November in Millbrook; there are numerous exhibitor and speaker opportunities to get involved in.

• SWM is supporting Solar & Storage Live, the UK’s largest renewables expo taking place 2–4 December, including over 520 participations at the event’s Innovation Zone.

A full list of upcoming events is available here as well as our full member list here.

Other SWM and Member Updates 

• SWM has published advice for the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) on improving the accessibility of the next UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) evidence report.

• SWM has also supported the CCC with the launch of its brand new website dedicated to the UK CCRA; check it out now!

• SWM also contributed to a report written by AECOM for the CCC that looks at understanding how behaviours can influence climate change risks.

• SWM has published a case study on the second part of its work with City of Wolverhampton Council, focusing on the delivery of climate emergency virtual workshops for staff and Councillors.

• SWM's Chief Executive Anna Bright has been shortlisted for an IEMA Impact Award in the category of 'Sustainable Leader!' Arup and Mott MacDonald are also in the running for awards.

• National Express West Midlands joins SWM as new members. They are leading the way in providing low carbon alternatives to traditional diesel buses.

• Oxfordshire Greentech, the business network for the low-carbon economy in Oxfordshire, is aiming to cross-pollinate ideas with SWM by joining us as new members.

• The Centre for Research into Environmental Science & Technology (CREST), based at University Centre Shrewsbury, also joins as new SWM members this month.

• Low Carbon Homes is recruiting a volunteer Content Writer to join their small dynamic team focussed on reducing the carbon impact of our homes.

• BECCI is has launched a new Innovation Incubator to support businesses across the Black Country and Shropshire with clean technology and low carbon ideas. Applications close Monday!

• City of Wolverhampton Council would like to invite your feedback on its Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles strategy by taking part in this statutory consultation.

• sben has released its legislative update for Summer 2020, summarising the various low carbon and sustainability legislation for businesses to be aware of.

• WMCA is working with experts from business and academia to deliver a plan for advancing a Circular Economy in the region.  Have your say on the next stage of their work.

• WMCA announce that two rail companies pledge £300,000 to boost apprenticeships at small companies in the region.

• WMCA has announced a new West Midlands cycling network in Coventry, in collaboration with Transport for West Midlands.

• Transport for West Midlands has issued its advice on commuting to work safely, outlined towards businesses in order to make sure the network runs smoothly.

• Cenex conclude in a new report that local authorities need to take an active role in the deployment of e-scooters within cities in order to maximise their benefits.

• Energy Systems Catapult has released a report that suggests that energy systems must become smarter to realise the UK’s ambition of a Net Zero carbon economy. 

• Noreus has released a list of ten ways to stay your cool in your home during a heatwave... despite the recent weather the summer is not over yet!

SWM members can send their events, research or other contributions to enquiries@swm.org.uk to be included in the next newsletter. Not a member? There are many advantages to SWM membership; find out more here.

Other News and Events

• Midlands Energy Hub recently released their Summer 2020 newsletter, titled ‘Reducing fuel poverty and driving clean growth’.  

• Innovation Alliance WM is running an Innovation Tracker to highlight the great things that are already being done by firms all over the West Midlands.

• The Government has published its new Cycling and Walking Plan, with the vision to make England a great walking and cycling nation. 

• Public Health England has published a new strategy focusing on how local authorities can improve access to their local green spaces.

• The LGA and UKSSD have launched a guide to help councils engage with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• HS2 has launched an Accelerator Programme that would offer businesses the opportunity to drive innovation.

For a full list of all our upcoming events, visit our events page here. For news items, visit our news page here.

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