A pioneering net-zero scheme is set to pump over £600,000 into the Vale of Clwyd economy over the next five years.
Phase One of Net Zero Horizons programme was rolled out last year on the Colomendy Industrial Estate in Denbigh where over 40 businesses received free training and consultancy to help them cut their carbon emissions with 13 of them attracting over £300,000 in grants for renewable schemes.
The businesses involved are forecast to cut their energy bills and save themselves £250,000 over five years and Phase Two could add another £375,000 to that impressive figure.
The scheme is again being run by One Earth Education, the company set up by Tom Powell, from Denbigh, and commissioned to run the project by regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd.
This time One Earth Education’s own horizons have been broadened to include businesses on the St Asaph Business Park and on Lon Parcwr Industrial Estate in Ruthin as well as Colomendy in Denbigh.
A similar take-up this time round could see a further £350,000 worth of energy savings while they are aiming to help firms secure grants totalling over £300,000.
They will be recruiting 60 businesses to take advantage of a programme of free educational training to help companies implement strategies to reduce their carbon emissions, safeguard jobs and save money while there will also be the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £50,000 for individual projects.
The programme includes the value of the training and support given by One Earth Education which will include carbon footprint assessments, one to one consultancy, tailored training programmes and bid-writing assistance for grants.
Taking charge is One Earth’s Sustainable Engagement Specialist Tesni McChesney who said: “The success of Phase One is encouraging companies to come forward to take part and we will be recruiting 60 this time around.
“It’s about more than just ticking boxes. We want local businesses to see Net Zero not as a burden but as an opportunity for cost-saving, innovation and long-term resilience.
“Businesses in both St Asaph and Ruthin are showing interest and we are also being contacted by businesses in Denbigh that didn’t come forward last year but have seen how successful Phase One was.
“It’s a great opportunity for these businesses to take advantage and get free support for projects that will safeguard their futures.
“I’m North Wales born and bred and I’m very passionate about helping businesses identify their carbon footprint and learn how to reduce it with a free programme of training for their staff.
“It’s a stepping stone to Net Zero and becoming more sustainable and more profitable and we believe this is just the start with the potential to roll the programme out across North Wales and eventually all of Wales.”
One of the companies to enrol on the first phase of the scheme was D Jones Plant Hire, based on the Colomendy Estate, which installed a 50 kilowatt solar energy system on the roof of their building.
The company’s Lydia Jones said: “We also installed a battery system and it’s definitely made a big difference to our electricity bills.
“It’s something we were considering but One Earth Education really prompted us to bring it forward and really helped us take advantage of the grants and training.
“They were a big help in the grant application process and that has continued with plenty of support available.”
Glyn Evans Autoclinic on the Colomendy Estate, also took advantage of Phase One and installed a solar panel and storage battery system and Rhian Evans said: “In the vehicle body repair sector insurance companies are now making it a requirement that we work towards a new industry standard of sustainable operations.
“Tom and One Earth have helped us and it was good to use a local company who knew the process – assessing our carbon footprint, implementing a company action plan and creating bespoke training for management and staff. This has helped us be much more sustainable.
“There are days when we have been 99 per cent self-sufficient in our energy consumption, we’ve implemented changes to our waste management and have reviewed the type of vehicles we have and our attitude to sustainability.
“One Earth have helped businesses on Colomendy Industrial Estate improve their carbon footprint with a uniform approach.”
Cadwyn Clwyd Manager Lowri Owain said: “We estimate that the energy savings in the first five years will be as much as £250,000 and One Earth Education have created a model which can be replicated across similar commercial and industrial zones across North Wales and beyond.
“The first phase was very successful and is now being extended to include St Asaph and Ruthin.
“It has made businesses more aware of how they can become more profitable by saving on emissions and is a fantastic opportunity for them.”
The scheme is part of a wider Denbighshire Enterprise Network scheme, developed by Cadwyn Clwyd, investing £2.1 million in business grants and training in Denbighshire and aimed at improving employability skills and increasing collaboration between businesses.
