A furniture restoration and manufacturing company is making savings in the region of £35,000 a year and reducing its carbon footprint thanks to a programme run by Staffordshire County Council.
Taylor’s Classic Furniture, based in Stafford, has been given a boost on its journey to becoming net zero since signing up to the Green Solutions programme.
Ran by the council’s Staffordshire Business and Environment Network (Sben), the initiative offers grant allocations of up to £100,000 to cover half the cost of introducing energy-saving measures.
Taylor’s Classic Furniture designs, restores and manufactures furniture predominantly for the hospitality sector. It has a factory, office and showroom which has been modified with programme backing, which has included installation of solar panels to reduce energy consumption from the national grid.
Richard Forrester, Warehouse and Sustainability Manager, said: “The programme team provided us with free energy assessments and through the grant we installed solar panels to help reduce our demand from the grid and become more self-sustainable as a business.
“We’re saving in the region of £35,000 a year, meaning we can invest again in our journey to be net zero.
“Any business wanting to get started on their sustainable and energy efficient journey should get in touch with Sben. The team has been fantastic, with lots of free tools available – free energy assessment, and carbon tracker tool. There’s also grant funding available. It’s been hugely beneficial to us as a business in reducing our carbon emissions and also saving a substantial amount of money.”
Support available includes free energy assessments tailored to each business, providing recommendations for improvements and modifications.
As well as the grant allocations, eligible businesses can also be offered accredited carbon literacy training, equipping them with the expertise and skills to proactively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said: “The Green Solutions scheme offers a fantastic opportunity for businesses to make essential improvements to their operations that will support their growth, increase productivity and reduce carbon emissions and energy costs.
“It’s great to see it making a difference to Taylor’s Classics Furniture – an established business with a national customer base.
“It is a fundamental part of a business’s evolution that their operations become more sustainable, whether through improvements to their premises or production methods.
“It is a county council priority to support our businesses and tackle climate change and we’re sure this programme will help to deliver those commitments. It is essential that businesses get in touch now as there is a deadline for project completion.”
A full story on the scheme can be found here and people can register for the scheme here.
